he fatigue which almost overpowered him.

"Wait a while. In the first place, you need rest, and secondly, those
men will soon come back to find you, after which a hunt is certain to
be made for both of us. Hold on until we see what they are going to
do, in order to the better decide upon our own course of action."

Jet was not sorry to sit down again, although, in view of the desperate
situation, he knew he could afford to halt but a short time.

"Do you think you can make another round trip to-day?" Harvey asked
after a short pause.

"It has got to be done, so there's no use in thinking anything about
it. What troubles me is how you are going to get along without food or
water while I am gone."

"Probably in the same way you will keep on your feet after having
walked nearly all night--by sheer force of will."

"But suppose----"

Jet ceased speaking very suddenly, for at that instant the sound as of
some one coming through the underbrush was heard.

Harvey drew his revolver, and Jet followed his example.

Both weapons were fully loaded, and those in hiding knew it must be a
fight to the death, if they were discovered.

By parting the bushes in front of him slightly, Jet could see through
to where the foliage was less dense, and, as he did so, Joe, the tall
man who had been the cause of all his trouble, came in view, walking
slowly, and peering from side to side.

That he was searching for Harvey there could be no doubt, and, seeing
him alone, a bold plan came into Jet's mind.

Without making any sign to his companion he began to move noiselessly
toward the new-comer on his hands and knees, arriving at the edge of
the bushes just as Joe had passed.

Harvey laid his hand on Jet's leg as a signal for him to come back; but
the boy paid no attention to the mute command.

Joe had halted about three feet from the edge of the bushes, and was
evidently trying to decide in which direction he should go, when Jet
rose up behind him so noiselessly that not even the rustling of a leaf
could have been heard.

By reaching up, he could just touch the back of the man's head, and,
suddenly pressing the muzzle of the revolver against the fellow's neck,
he said quickly:

"Throw up your hands or I'll fire!"

Under such circumstances there was but one thing for Joe to do.

He raised both hands, not daring to so much as turn his head, and Jet
continued, sternly:

"Stay where you are, or a bullet goes into your head.