don't say?" remarked the scoutmaster, with cutting emphasis;
"well, the chances are the lot of you will get what you've been richly
deserving a long time back, if you keep on meddling with our affairs.
And now, suppose you skip out. We couldn't come to any agreement if we
talked an hour. And we have some other things we want to do. Take your
fat friend away, Waffles; he's liable to explode before long, unless
you do."

Amazed at the cool defiance of the boy, the man called Waffles
mechanically started to obey. But before they had taken half a dozen
steps backward, Thad heard a strange, hissing sound that he could not
understand. The next instant, to his astonishment, he saw Waffles
pulled over backwards, his feet sprawling awkwardly. His calls for
help were half muffled, and for a very good reason; since he was being
partly choked by the loop of rope which the young Crow Indian had
thrown over his head with so much dexterity, and then jerked tight.

CHAPTER XII.

"JUST TURNED AROUND, AND WENT AWAY!"

It was certainly a time for quick thinking, and speedy action, if the
boys expected to avoid a tragedy. Naturally enough, Kracker and his
one remaining companion, hearing the cries of the fallen Waffles,
would think that they were being actually set upon by their enemies,
and that no matter what followed, they must fight.

It was to offset this that Thad first of all turned his attention. A
collision must be averted at all hazards. It would be a terrible thing
if the scouts became embroiled in a fight with such men, and either
received wounds, or were compelled to give them.

And so Thad, acting instantly on impulse, darted forward the very second
he saw what was happening. Fortunately for all parties, the big man
having been so dazed by his late baiting did not seem able to grasp the
situation quickly enough to draw a weapon before Thad was upon him.

The only thing the boy did was to snatch the big six-shooter from the
hand of Kracker, now trembling with various emotions, in which fear
may have had as much space as anger.

"Surround the other, and don't let him raise a hand, boys!" shouted
the scoutmaster to those who had followed close at his heels when he
thus rushed forward.

With the words he turned to where Waffles was still sprawling on the
ground; but there was now more reason than ever why the fellow could
not get up, because some one was sitting astride his body, and
threatening him with a kni