Teddy drew back his fist and caught Bill Lefton full on the jaw. The boy turned to follow Roy, tripped over a vine, fought for his balance, and fell prone. The next moment he felt the wind go out of him, and his head hit the ground with a thud. “I’ve got this one! Chase the other! Come into the light, you!” There was no need to go after Roy. When he saw his brother had fallen, he turned and lashed out furiously with his fists. But the darkness favored the rustlers, rather than Roy, for the boy could not see the faces before him. A blow on the body was of no avail, due to the heavy clothing worn by the cattle thieves. “Sock him! Don’t shoot, you’ll hit one of us!” Mob Jamisson and Jerry Lefton jumped Roy at the same instant. His senses reeled as the butt of a gun struck him a blow on the forehead, knocking off his hat. He felt his arms pinned roughly to his sides. The brief and uneven fight was over. “Drag ’em in, an’ we’ll have a look at ’em,” someone said grimly. “Spies, hey? Know what we do with spies? We--well, for the love of sweet William! It’s the Manley boys!” “What? Let’s see. By jinks, you’re right!” Bill Lefton tilted Roy’s head back by pressing up on his chin. “Roy Manley! And his brother Teddy! Well, well, well! Think of that! Lost your knife again, my lad?” Roy answered nothing. He stared intently into the eyes of the man before him. “Ain’t this luck!” Mob exulted. “Now maybe I can finish what I started a few days ago. I won’t miss this time, either.” He raised a gun menacingly. “None of that, you fool! They may not be alone! Put that down!” Peterson seized the man’s arm angrily. “Want the whole country to know we’re here?” Jamisson growled something, but lowered the weapon. “Hand me a rope, Bill,” Peterson commanded. “We’ll truss ’em up for a while. We can decide later what to do with ’em.” “I know what I’d do,” Jamisson said shortly. “An’ I will yet, if I can.” The boys were bound and then thrown roughly to the ground. They lay there, dazed, with Peterson standing over them. “Roy and Teddy Manley,” he said softly. “And they walked right into our hands! Well, boys, we’ll see what sort of entertainment we can furnish.” CHAPTER XXII CAPTIVES “You know ’em?” Mike asked, pointing with his thumb to the two boys. “Know ’em? Listen, brother!” Peterson paused impressively. “These are the sons of old man Manley who owns the X Bar X. Does it penetrate now?” “It sure does! Well I’m locoed! It’s their cattle we’re--” Peterson seized the man by the shoulder and spun him around. “Quiet, you idiot!” he whispered angrily. “If they don’t know about it, what’s the use of telling them?” “They know, all right,” Mob Jamisson growled. He knelt down, and, seizing Teddy’s arm, pulled him to a sitting posture. “Listen, you! How long you been hidin’ out there?” Teddy stared straight at the man. “It’s none of your business,” he said deliberately.