He knelt and felt for the rope that held the two boys. Teddy craned his neck around, disbelief in his eyes, unable to credit their good fortune. “Professor! Boy, we’re sure glad to see you! How in thunder--” “That shall be later. It is imperative now that you regain your freedom as soon as possible.” He smiled. “Using the trade by which I make my livelihood--which, by the way, is guess-work--I should say that those who bound you and left this man as a guard are now on an errand which you would like to intercept as soon as possible.” “I’ll tell a maverick we would! They’re rustlers after our cattle! Here, get this knot untied. That’s the stuff. Ah!” Roy stretched, feeling the blood flowing through his cramped veins. Then he leaped to his feet, as did Teddy. “We can’t thank you now, professor, because we’re in an awful hurry. You know where our ranch is. Come over there, and we’ll do more than thank you! Come on, Teddy, let’s get the broncs! Thank goodness, they brought ’em along.” The two boys dashed into the brush, to appear in a moment astride their horses. “We got to go!” Teddy shouted. “Can you get back all right? Have you got your wagon?” “Not the wagon. That is broken. But Stamboul waits patiently for me. I shall ride him.” “Will you look after him?” Roy asked, pointing to the unconscious man. “He’s all right--I wouldn’t like to see him badly hurt. And we may want to question him later.” “I will. Good luck to you!” “Thanks! Let’s go, Teddy! Straight out!” The horses leaped forward. Through the woods they dashed, careless of low hanging branches, intent only on reaching their cattle in time. The boys gave their broncos their heads, trusting to their surefootedness to bring them through safely. Their trust was not misplaced. Flash and Star, as though they realized that their masters depended on them, ran swiftly, dodging in and out of the brush, until they reached the open prairie. Roy gave a shout of exultation. “Now we’re all set, Teddy! Baby, if we’re only on time! We’ve got a run of about five miles. Lucky there’s a moon--we can see where we’re going. Step on it, boy!” For answer Teddy raised his reins, the signal for every Western pony to “spread himself.” Flash jumped ahead. Roy, not a moment behind, urged Star to his best speed. This was no time for considering either man or beast. Both boys knew the stuff of which their horses were made. They would last--they would have to last! They headed for the southwest corner of the range. Their one chance was to get there before the rustlers, and then, when they came, to bluff them off. Since Peterson and his gang could not expect to see them, thinking them still captives, this was not a vain hope. Unarmed as they were, if they could force the rustlers to believe that they had been released by their friends, who were with them, they might yet save their cattle.