"Some one is coming!" the boy explained. The next instant a group of horsemen swept forward around a turn in the trail, straight for the cabin! "Here come the bad men!" yelled Jack. "Come on father!" CHAPTER XXXV THE ROUND-UP--CONCLUSION Mr. Ranger ran back to join his son. At the same time Nat and Jack sprang forward, and together the three raced down the valley. With loud shouts the horsemen pursued them. "Here they are!" some of the riders exclaimed. "We'll get the boys and the old man, too! Come on!" For a little while the three fugitives, from the start they had, and from the rough nature of the ground, which precluded speed on the part of the horses, kept in the lead. They had just made a turn in the trail, which, for a moment hid the horsemen from sight, when Mr. Ranger exclaimed: "I can go no farther, Jack. My heart! Oh, my heart!" He sank down, staggering under the weight of his rifle. "Quick!" cried Nat. "Get behind this big rock! Maybe we can hold 'em off!" The two boys half carried Mr. Ranger around to the rear of an immense boulder that bordered the trail. Then Jack ran hack and caught up the rifle. He had just time enough to spring hack of the rock when the riders swept fully into view. Jack leveled the rifle over the top of the big stone and cried: "Don't come any nearer or I'll shoot!" The riders pulled up in confusion. "Go ahead!" cried those in the rear, "He's got the drop on us!" exclaimed those in front. Jack held the rifle steady. For several seconds there was an intense strain. Mr. Ranger was resting his head on Nat's knee, panting for breath. "You'll--find--some medicine--in--my pocket," he gasped, and Nat, searching where the sick man indicated, found a small bottle of white pills. He gave Mr. Ranger one, and, in a few seconds the color came back to the sufferer's pale face. Now there was a movement among the horsemen. Some of them rode back on the trail, while others dismounted and went to the left and right. "They're going to surround us," Jack thought. "I guess it's all up with us!" He kept close watch of the men he could see. Those directly in front of him remained on their horses. Suddenly there sounded a confused shouting from back on the trail. Dimly Jack tried to recall where he had heard those voices before. He glanced along the rifle barrel which was trembling like a leaf in the wind. Then there came a fulisade of shots, mingling with the shouts. The approaching horsemen seemed thrown into confusion. One or two of the steeds went down in heaps, throwing their riders. The shooting and yelling continued. All at once there galloped into view a band of cowboys. At their head rode John Smith and Nat's uncle. Both were firing their revolvers as fast as they could. "Hurrah!" cried Nat. "We're saved!" "Just in time!" muttered Jack, as, weak and shaking, he dropped the rifle and sprang to his father's side.