he tried in vain to throw
Ted.

When he thought he had enough rope, Ted bent his head once more, and his
fingers grasped the knife with which he cut the rope and was free.

Suddenly a shrill whistle left his lips, and there was a nickering
answer as Sultan left the other horses and came galloping to his side.

Stella threw up her hat and shouted, and the soldiers followed her
example.

As Sultan galloped on, Ted leaped into the saddle, and began to make a
noose in his lariat, for he now was equally armed with his enemy.

But Woofer was game, and came galloping back. He didn't know how good a
roper Ted was, but he felt confidence in himself.

Around they went, circling like horsemen in a circus ring, with watchful
eyes and whirling lariats.

But suddenly Ted's rope left his hand before Woofer could divine his
meaning, and pinioned the cow-puncher.

At the same moment Ted gave Sultan a prick with the spur, and the little
stallion leaped into the air.

Woofer left his saddle and struck the ground with a bump that knocked
the wind out of him.

This was not to the liking of the soldiers, who ran howling toward Ted.

"Drag him from his horse," they shouted.

"No, yer don't. Fair play fer all!" a clear voice rang out above the
din, and the soldiers turned toward the hill behind the cabin.

On the summit stood Bud Morgan, his long, fair hair floating in the
breeze, and on either side of him ten cow-punchers with their
Winchesters trained upon the unarmed soldiers, whose carbines were
stacked in the house.

"Three cheers for the broncho boys!" yelled Stella shrilly. "You can't
beat 'em anyway you try."

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE MOTHER LODE.

As the boys swarmed down the hill to where Ted and the girls were
standing apart from the soldiers, who stood staring at them in
amazement, they let out the Moon Valley yell, and acted as though they
were a victorious army taking possession of a conquered city.

Lieutenant Barrows stood in the doorway in open-mouthed amazement at the
change of scene, in which he and his men were not the captors, but the
captured.

He started to bluster by ordering Hallie to get ready to accompany him
back to her father.

"I shall not go," she said positively. "I don't believe that my father
sent for me."

"I know he didn't," said Ted firmly.

"What do you know about it?" asked Barrows, with a sneer.

"I know that it was your intention to kidnap Miss Croffut and take her
to