hen stopped. What if they
had gone away?

After a long time, it seemed, he heard a stealthy noise overhead. Some
one was crawling through the window. Then there was a light step
overhead.

"Ted! Hallie! Where are you?" It was Stella calling to them, and they
both raised their voices in a joyous shout. Then the bolt slipped, and
the trap was raised.

"Come up out of there," cried Stella, "unless you like it. Singing Bird
and I started out after you. I met her on the way, and she trailed you
here. She has just started back for the boys."

CHAPTER XXXV.

A DUEL WITH LARIATS.

Outside it was night, and beyond the clearing the woods were dark. Both
Ted's and Hallie's horses were gone, and it would be impossible for them
to start back toward the camp without them.

"We'd better hide in the woods until morning," said Stella. "Singing
Bird will guide the boys here. Besides, we do not know when that brave
warrior Barrows will return with his soldiers."

"That is a good idea," said Ted, and they crossed the clearing to the
woods, and found a place of concealment from which they could see all
that took place at the house.

The night was far advanced, and the girls were sleeping on a couch of
dried pine needles, which Ted had gathered for them.

Ted was on watch to shield them from harm, and to drive away the animals
of the night.

He was half asleep himself, sitting with his back to a tree with his
head on his arms, which were crossed on his knees.

An unusual sound brought him to his senses instantly, and he was
listening intently.

He heard the sound of horses' feet, and the subdued rumble of men
talking.

There were only two horses, and they were coming on uncertainly.

Evidently their riders did not know their way, and were feeling along in
the dark, which was intense.

"It ought to be along here somewhere."

It was the voice of Woofer.

"Well, I hope it is," said another voice, "I'm tired of this night
riding. When did the boss say he'd be here?"

"Early in ther mornin'. He's goin' ter make an attack on ther cow camp
ter-night, an' what he don't kill he's goin' ter bring here, an'
stampede ther cattle an' scatter them all over ther range."

Woofer laughed as he said it.

"I don't care much what he does," he continued, "if he'll only turn over
ther Injun gal ter me. That'll be ernuff fer you an' me, I reckon."

"Then what's he goin' ter do?"

"He's goin' ter take that Croffut gal, he's j