lcott again, and that they wanted
four more of them to join him.

They at once resigned their places with their employers, and soon
reached their ranch.

They were each supplied with a Winchester and cartridges, and told to
capture every cattle thief that they found on the range, even if they
had to bring them down with a bullet.

CHAPTER X.

CONCLUSION.

As the news spread around through the county of Fred's having shot an
apple from the fingers of another man, it seemed so incredible that
scores of people came to the cowboys to inquire as to the truth of the
story.

One day, when Tom was sent to town with a wagon to bring back some
things that Fred had ordered, he told a story at the depot, when a man
challenged him to prove it. He said that be had seen Mr. Olcott fire at
a tree with his revolver at a distance of thirty paces, and then plant
the rest of the bullets in the weapon in the same hole in the tree.

Said the townsman:

"I've got a hundred dollars, which says that that is not so. That no
such thing ever happened."

"Well," said Tim, "I haven't got one hundred dollars, for I don't carry
my money with me wherever I go; but I will have to come up again on
Saturday, and I will see if I can get Mr. Olcott to come up with me and
prove it to you by shooting for you." 7

"All right," said the man. "I will meet you here, and put up the money,
and I will bet one hundred dollars that Mr. Olcott can't plant all the
bullets in his revolver in the same hole at a distance of thirty paces,
and if you want to make another bet, I'll bet ten dollars that Mr.
Olcott won't undertake it."

"That's a go," said Tom, "Just meet me here on Saturday, and I will
bring up my money ready to bet any amount that I can get you to put up
that he can do it."

When he went home Tom told Terry of the bet that he had made.

"Now, Mr. Olcott, I haven't got much money, but I'll put up every cent I
have on your marksmanship, and I beg you, as a favor, to go with me on
Saturday and give me a chance to win that bet, for I need it, as I am
engaged to a girl up at Ranchman's Rest, whom I want to marry just as
soon as I can get money enough ahead to build a little home for her."

"All right. Tom. I'll help you out. I'll go up with you, and if that
fellow or any other man wants to bluff you, I'll check enough out of the
bank for you to cover whatever he or his friends may put up."

The next Saturday Terry went up to