Johnny turned. "Don't forget an' shoot at th' feller runnin' for th' east end of th' buildin'," he warned. "Mac sent th' word along a couple of hours ago," replied Waffles, settling down in the place vacated by Red to resume the watch on the hotel roof, which was fairly well revealed at times by the moon. He seemed to be turning something over in his mind, but finally shrugged his shoulders and gave his attention to the roof. "They've got somethin' better'n six-guns at close range," he muttered. "Well, a man owes his friends somethin', so I'm holdin' my tongue." Reaching the horses Johnny and his companion mounted and rode northward, leading the spare mount. "What's he up to?" demanded Red. "Goin' to set fire to th' shack," answered Johnny, and he forthwith explained the whole affair. "Huh!" grunted Red. "There ain't no doubt in my mind that it'll work if he can get there an' get th' fire started." He was silent for a moment and then pulled his hat more firmly down on his head. "If he don't get there, I'll give it a whirl. Anyhow, I'd have to leave cover to get to him if he went down so it ain't much worse goin' th' rest of th' way. An' I'm tellin' you this: That lone loophole is shore goin' to be bad medicine for anybody tryin' to use it after he starts. I'll put 'em through it so fast they'll be crowdin' each other." "An' while yo're reloadin' I'll keep 'em goin'," said Johnny, patting his borrowed Winchester. "They'll shore think somebody's squirtin' 'em out of a hose." Some time later he stopped his horse and peered around in the faint light. Red stopped, also. "This th' place?" "Looks like it--we ought to get some sign of Hoppy purty soon. Anyhow, we'll wait awhile. Glad that moon ain't very bright." "An' cussed glad for th' clouds," added Red. "Clouds like them ain't th' rule in this part of the country." He leaned over and looked down at the sand. "Tracks, Kid," he said. "Follow 'em?" "No," answered his companion slowly. "I'm bettin' they're Hoppy's. Stay with th' cayuses--I'm goin' to look around," and as he dismounted they heard a hail. Red swung to the ground as their friend appeared. "You made good time," said Hopalong, advancing. "I been off lookin' things over. We can leave th' cayuses in a little hollow about long rifle-shot from th' buildin'. From there you two can get real close by travelin' on yore bellies from bush to bush. Th' cover's no good in day light, but on a night like this, by waitin' for th' clouds, it'll be plenty good enough." "How close did you get?" asked Johnny. "Close enough to send every shot through that loophole, if I wanted to." "Did they see you? Did you draw a shot?"