ly half a mile, and as far back as what we call the second
foothills. If we had horses I could ride you around and show you."

"Are there any mines in the foothills?" was the young man's next
question.

"There used to be a few, but they have all been abandoned because they
did not pay."

"Perhaps this Captain Grady has struck something that will pay."

"Hardly. My father and Uncle Barnaby went over every foot of the ground
half a dozen times, and they were both better prospectors than the
captain."

Noel Urner was about to ask more questions, but a sound outside of the
stockade caused him to pause. They all listened, and then Chet gave a
shout.

"Somebody is coming! It must be Allen or Ike Watson! Come on out and
see!"

CHAPTER XI.

Ike Watson's Arrival

Let us go back to Allen.

We left him just as the sound made by Paul's horse aroused the leader of
the horse thieves, whose full name was Saul Mangle.

"The feller that went over into the river, as sure as fate!" burst from
the lips of Mangle, and he started back in astonishment.

"Impossible!" cried Darry, the second man. "That feller must have been
killed!"

"See for yourself."

With these words Saul Mangle sprang forward to stop Allen, who was about
to mount Jasper. He reached the young man's side as Allen gained the
saddle.

"Come down out of that!" he cried, roughly.

"Not much!" returned the young man. "Clear the track, unless you want to
be run down!"

He urged the horse forward. Jasper started, but ere he had taken three
steps, Mangle caught him by the bridle.

"Whoa!" he cried. "Whoa, I say!"

"Let the horse go, do you hear?" ejaculated Allen, sharply.

"I won't do it! Darry! Jeff! Come here, why don't you?"

The others leaped into the brush. Allen saw that affairs were turning
against him. He leaned forward to Jasper's neck.

Smack! Mangle caught a sharp blow full across his mouth. It came so
quickly that he staggered back and his hold was loosened.

"On, Jasper, on, my boy!" cried Allen, slapping the animal with his
palm. "Come, Rush! Come, Rush!" he added to Chet's horse, which stood
close beside.

Off went Jasper with a bound, and Rush followed at his heels.

"Stop him! Hang the measly luck!" roared Saul Mangle. "Darry! Jeff! What
are you at?"

As he cried out, the leader of the horse thieves felt for his pistol.
But before the weapon could be drawn both horses and Allen had
disappeared behind a clump of cottonwo