e top of his voice. "Hal! Here I am, wounded and a
prisoner!"

The woman hurled herself upon the lad and bore him back out of sight. In
his weakened condition he was no match for her. She thrust him back into
the chair. He turned his eyes to the window. Hal had passed on.

"Great Scott!" ejaculated Chester. "He didn't hear me!"

But Hal had heard. He recognized the sound of his friend's voice, and
realized that he was in trouble of some kind. Likewise he surmised what
the trouble was, for he knew that they were in the heart of a hostile
country. Therefore, he did not check the speed of his horse at once, but
rode some distance further before drawing rein. Then he dismounted and
tied his horse to a sapling.

Springing in among the trees, he advanced cautiously toward the house.
Both women, secure in the belief that he had passed on, turned to taunt
Chester. The latter shut his lips grimly and refused to make a reply.

Suddenly, from the next room, came a tremendous clattering of pots and
pans.

Both women jumped to their feet.

"There is someone out there!" cried one of the women excitedly.

With her revolver pointed straight before her she moved softly toward
the door. At the same moment Chester realized Hal's ruse and cried:

"Look out, Hal!"

CHAPTER XXII.

AT BAY IN THE PASS.

When Hal, after creeping into the house through a window, had
inadvertently bumped into several pots and pans, knocking them to the
floor with a clatter, he drew his revolver and stood stockstill. He
heard Chester's cry of warning, and, realizing that an enemy was
approaching, he drew a bead upon the doorway.

An arm with a pistol appeared through the opening; there was a flash of
fire and a bullet sped past him. He fired quickly in return, and the
weapon of his unseen enemy dropped to the floor with a crash, followed
by a shrill scream of pain.

"Great Scott, a woman!" cried Hal and leaped forward.

But the woman was more frightened than hurt. Realizing that she was
uninjured, as Hal came toward her, she leaped forward and threw her arms
about him, pinioning the lad's hand that held his revolver to his side.
At the same moment she cried out to her companion:

"Quick! Pick up the revolver and shoot him while I hold him!"

Hal realized that he was in grave danger and struggled fiercely to free
his hands. But his adversary was a very powerful woman, and having
gained a secure hold, Hal was unable to free himself.

T