re.

"Whar's ther lootenant?" asked Woofer. "He'd be glad ter see this
tablow."

"He's gone out inter ther woods ter walk his mad off. When he got within
strikin' distance o' ther cow camp last night his sand run out, and he
started back. Then when he found that his birds had flown that was ther
last kick what sent him down."

"What's he goin' ter do now."

"I reckon he'll make ther best o' what he's got now. Come, git up."
Woofer spoke roughly to the two girls, and they arose. "Come along back
to the cabin. Ther lootenant will be mighty glad ter see yer. One o' you
sour doughs hunt up ther lootenant an' tell him ther lost is found."

Ted saw that resistance was useless, and, taking the girls by the hand,
he crossed the wide clearing between the woods and the cabin; at the
door of which they arrived just as Barrows strode up.

One of the soldiers was busy preparing breakfast, and the others were
grouped around jesting about their night's work.

The two girls were sent into the room in which Ted and Hallie had been
taken the night before, but Ted was not confined, and was allowed to
walk up and down in front of the cabin.

Barrows did not attempt to hold conversation with any of them, but sat
at his table with his head in his hand, thinking moodily.

Evidently Barrows was an arrant coward. He had set out with the
intention of ruining the Moon Valley herd, and killing all who attempted
to resist him, but his courage had failed him.

Ted saw hope in this, if the boys would only arrive on time.

He thought over the conversation he had heard the night before on the
arrival of Woofer and his companion at the cabin, with regard to his own
fate. Evidently it meant something out of the ordinary, for it seemed to
have given extreme pleasure to Woofer, for it was evidently the
intention that all the advantage was to be with the cow-puncher. Well,
it didn't matter much, so long as he had the ghost of a show himself. He
was willing to take a long chance.

Breakfast was announced, and, as the soldiers sat down to eat, the cook
came out with three tin plates on which there were bacon and bread, and
tin cups of coffee for the prisoners, and they sat down together in the
shade of the cabin and ate their food gratefully, for they were very
hungry.

The meal was soon over, and Woofer began to strut up and down in front
of the cabin.

"I reckon here's where I get my revenge, ain't it, lootenant?" he said,
stopping in fron