The young fellow was creeping away, stooping and on tiptoe. Pete uttered a frightful imprecation and sprang after him with his rifle clubbed and raised above his head. "Stand where you are!" he commanded, "or I'll bat your foolish head in!" And he looked enraged enough to do it. Pratt dared not move farther; he crouched in terror, expecting the blow. He had bravely assailed Pete with his tongue when Frances seemed in danger; but the girl had escaped now and Pratt hoped she was each minute putting rods between this place and herself. Pete suddenly dropped his rifle and sprang at the young man. Pratt's throat was in the vicelike grip of Pete on the instant. Both his wrists were seized by the man's other hand. Such feeble struggles as Pratt made were abortive. His breath was shut off and he felt his senses leaving him. But as his eyes rolled up there was a crash in the brush and a pony dashed into the open. It was Molly and her mistress was astride her. Frances had lost her hat; her hair had become loosened and was tossed about her pale face. But her eyes glowed with the light of determination and she spurred the pony directly at the two struggling figures in the middle of the hollow. "I'm coming, Pratt!" she cried. "Hold on!" CHAPTER XXIV A GOOD DEAL OF EXCITEMENT Pete twisted himself around to look over his shoulder, but still kept his clutch on the breathless young man. However, Pratt feebly dragged his wrists out of the man's grasp. Frances was riding the pinto directly at them. Under her skillful guidance the pony's off shoulder must collide with Pete, unless the man dropped Pratt entirely and sprang aside. The man did this, uttering a yell of anger. Pratt staggered the other way and Frances brought Molly to a standstill directly between the two. "You let him alone!" the girl commanded, gazing indignantly at the rascally man. "Oh! you shall be paid in full for all you have done this day. When Captain Rugley hears of this. "Quick, Pratt!" she shrieked. "That rifle!" Pete was bent over reaching for the weapon. Frances jerked Molly around, but she could not drive the pony against the man in time to topple him over before his wicked fingers closed on the barrel of the gun. It was Pratt who made the attack in this emergency. He had played on the Amarillo High football eleven and he knew how to "tackle." Before Pete could rise up with the recovered weapon in his grasp Pratt had him around the legs. The man staggered forward, trying to kick away the young fellow; but Pratt clung to him, and his antagonist finally fell upon his knees. Quick as a flash Pratt sprang astride his bowed back. He kicked Pete's braced arms out from under him and the man fell forward, screaming and threatening the most awful punishment for his young antagonist. Frances could not get into the melee with Molly. The two rolled over and over on the ground and suddenly Pete gave vent to a shriek of pain. He had rolled on his back into the fire!