"Good thing it wasn't my head," said Hal ruefully. "But if I can keep that fellow's attention centered on me, Chester may be able to nab him." Once more he raised his cap on a stick and moved it about. Again there was a sound of a shot. But, even as the bullet sped by, there was a second report, and Hal heard his friend's voice raised in almost a shout: "I got him." Quickly Hal sprang to his feet and dashed in the direction of his friend's voice. When Chester had left Hal he crawled slowly, and, making a wide detour, came upon his unseen enemy from behind. The second time the man had fired at Hal's hat, Chester was almost upon him. Thinking that the man was shooting at his friend, being unconscious of the ruse Hal was employing, Chester immediately turned his own weapon loose upon the man, whom he could now plainly see. But, after firing, the enemy had shifted his position slightly at the very moment that Chester fired. Therefore, he escaped what otherwise would assuredly have been a death wound--for Chester was a crack shot--and received the ball in his pistol hand. His weapon dropped to the ground, and he sent up a loud howl of pain. Before he could seize the weapon in his other hand, Chester was upon him, and Hal was hastening to the aid of his friend, for, wounded though he was, the man put up a hard fight. Chester forced him to the ground, but the man heaved him away with a mighty kick. Chester fell sprawling on the ground, and his opponent turned to grope for his revolver. But, before he could pick it up, Hal was upon the scene. He took in the situation at a glance, and sprang upon Chester's assailant. Hal's first leap bore his opponent to the ground, where the boy twisted one hand around the man's throat. But, if he thought to overcome his opponent thus easily, he had reckoned without his host. Lying almost at full length on the ground as he was, he drove his fist straight upward into Hal's face. The lad released his hold upon his enemy's throat and fell back. It was now beginning to grow light, and, as the man sprang after him, Hal recognized him. It was young Dersi! "Dersi!" gasped Hal, as he once more put himself in an attitude of defense. "Yes," gritted his opponent, "and I am going to kill you both, right here and now." With this he sprang upon Hal and bore him to the ground. But the lad was not to be thus easily conquered, and, with a mighty effort, wriggled from beneath his assailant and sprang back to gain a breath. This movement almost cost him his life, for, in springing back, he allowed his opponent time to reach down and pick up his revolver. This he now pointed full at Hal. But aid came from an unexpected source. Chester, who had been lying unconscious up to this time, now recovered sufficiently to take in the situation about him. In his hand he still grasped the automatic.