ed.

"Poor fools!" he thought; "they expect to win, and nine-tenths of them
are bound in the end to be fleeced out of all they possess. Why men who
have brains will throw away good money in this fashion is more than I
can understand."

"Thar's Stillwater," whispered Cal Clemmer. "Hang hez hide, I'd like ter
wring hez neck fer him."

"Better wring his money bag first," smiled Pawnee Brown.

Without hesitation he called Stillwater outside and explained the
situation.

"You can say what you please, Stillwater," he said. "I am certain you
have been cheating, for I know your past record. You must restore that
money and do it right away."

A stormy war of words followed, but Pawnee Brown was firm and at last
Stillwater gave up about a hundred dollars--all he had with him.

He went off vowing vengeance and when at a safe distance turned and drew
a pistol from his pocket.

"He's going to shoot ye!" cried one of the boomers, but Stillwater was
afraid to fire. As Pawnee Brown started after him on a run the gambler
fled toward the river.

"Let us go after him!" cried one of the others, and away they went. Soon
they came in sight of the river and saw Stillwater in a small craft,
sculling his way to the opposite shore. Presently a bend in the stream
hid him from view.

"Hullo!" sang out Pawnee Brown. "Here comes another rowboat, and--yes,
there is Dick Arbuckle in it. What can he be doing on the river?"

"The boat is makin' fer thet half-sunk tree!" interrupted Cal Clemmer.
"He'll strike ef he don't look out! Heavens!"

"Look out there, youngster!" yelled Pawnee Brown, and those were the
words which attracted Dick's attention, as mentioned in the former
chapter.

It was useless to say more. Standing upon the bank, Pawnee Brown and the
cowboy boomer saw the craft strike and go to pieces and saw Dick thrown
out into the madly rushing current.

As the boy sped along his head came into painful contact with the
furthest of the tree branches, and he was partially stunned. His eyes
closed and he struck out wildly and ineffectually.

"He'll be drowned!" gasped Clemmer. "It would take a strong swimmer to
gain the bank with the water runnin' ez it is to-day."

"I don't believe he could catch a rope," answered Pawnee Brown, starting
off down the river bank. "Cal, hunt one up somewhere; I'm going in after
him!"

"But the risk----"

"Never mind the risk. Get the rope if you can," and away went the scout
again.

"Help!"