ttle niche and laid out on the ground in front of him his supply of
cartridges.

Each man--and by "man" I include the boy ranchers--had a rifle and a
revolver, or, rather, automatic, each weapon using cartridges of the
same caliber. Thus only one sort of ammunition had to be packed, and
there was greater efficiency afforded.

"Get ready," called Yellin' Kid in as low a voice as he ever used.
"They've come to a stop for a talk, and they'll begin shooting soon I
reckon."

The feet of the steeds ridden by the advancing horsemen had raised a
cloud of dust which hung about them like a hazy curtain, preventing a
clear view. In fact, after the first glimpse of the riders they had
only been seen as dim figures approaching through this haze of dust.

But now, as they had stopped, as Yellin' Kid had said, the dust began
to drift away, and, for the first time our friends had a comparatively
clear view of those surrounding them.

It was Bud who first gave the good news. Looking intently at a
horseman nearest him, the boy suddenly leaped to his feet and gave a
shout that could be none other than joyous in its meaning.

"Get down, you idiot!" cried Snake. "Do you want a bullet through you?"

But the lad continued to shout and yell, waving his hat, and there was
no fusillade of shots from the ring of horsemen. Then, for the first
time Bud made himself understandable, for he shouted:

"They aren't Indians! They aren't Indians! They're United States
Troopers! Hooray! Now we've got our help!"

"Troopers?" repeated Snake, for a cloud of dust had blown about him,
greatly obscuring his vision.

"Troopers--sure!" yelled Nort, now seeing what Bud had beheld.

And a moment later it was clear to all of the surrounded band that the
horsemen were, indeed, mounted men of Uncle Sam's cavalry--a company of
lancers, a type of the armed force that has gone out of existence now,
but one which was very effective in some Indian fights.

A bugle rang out clear and sweet from somewhere in that surrounding
circle of troopers, and instantly the outer edges of the ring began
closing in. Then our friends, knowing their fright had been without
foundation, rose up from their hiding places and, standing together,
with Snake at their head as commander, waited for what was to come next.

It was not long in manifesting itself. A trooper, evidently an orderly
from a group of officers in front of our friends, rode up, waved his
hand in place