"We've got to get 'em before they reach Sue and the others or we may hit them instead," hissed the great outlaw. "Rise in your stirrups! Ready; Fire!" As the crash of the volley broke on the air, the six horsemen whirled in their saddles. But before they could see whence the unexpected sound came, two of them toppled from their saddles while the horse of another fell in the roadway. "Again!" yelled Jesse. Yet in response to the second discharge of their rifles only one man fell. "Steady, boys! Aim higher!" cautioned their chief. "One more volley and then we'll rush 'em!" Recovering from the surprise of the attack, the remaining members of the middle group blazed away with their Winchesters. "Out to the edge of the road!" commanded the bandit-chieftain, his voice sounding terrible in its fury. Instantly his companions obeyed while the bullets whistled about them. Though the move forced them to advance at a slower gait, it was a wise one, for their figures no longer loomed from the white roadbed, leaving their foes at a loss where to aim their rifles. Incessantly the bandits pumped their rifles till only one of the six remained. "Surrender, or we'll kill _you_!" shouted the world-famous desperado. Unnerved by the slaughter of his comrades, the survivor gasped: "All right. I do." "Then drop your gun and throw up your hands," thundered the great outlaw and as the man obeyed, he burst into a laugh hideous in its uncanny hollowness. Like a whirlwind, the bandits bore down upon the cowering creature. "Keep him covered!" snapped the terrible desperado to his pals, then raising his voice yelled: "Don't be afraid Sue. It's only I." As she heard her name, the girl scarcely believed her ears, then, urging her horse forward, she rode to meet her brother, crying: "Oh, Jess! Is it _really_ you!" "Surest thing you know," returned the world-famous bandit. "Are you hurt, girlie? I heard your scream. That's how I recognized you." "Not a scratch. It was the shock, I guess. It was so unexpected." And unable to control her overwrought nerves she burst into tears. "There, there, sis, don't cry. It's all right, so long as you're not hurt," soothed her brother, taking the trembling girl in his arms. "But it's a lucky thing. I happened to be in this vicinity." Taking out his flask, Jesse ordered his sister to drink some of the brandy. "It won't do any of the rest of you any harm to swallow some," he declared, turning to his sister's companions. "Who are you, anyhow?" Forgetting her desire to faint in her eagerness to answer the question herself, Susie exclaimed: "They're Marjorie and Helen--" "And Jeff," hazarded the bandit-chieftain. "No--o." "Who, then?" demanded the great desperado, his voice harsh and stern. "It's T--Tim." "Tim Mason? What on earth's _he_ doing here?" "He--he came down to meet me," faltered his sister. "Did your mother know he was coming down?" But ere Susie could reply, Tim took the bull by the horns, exclaiming: