"Oh, Will! Are you killed?" cried Jed, jumping from the saddle and kneeling beside his brother. At that moment the boy on the ground opened his eyes. "Did I--did I stay on?" he asked, as he put his hand to his head. "Not very long," replied Mr. Hurd. "How do you feel?" "Somewhat dizzy. I guess I'm not hurt much." "How did it happen?" asked Jed. "Where's your horse? How did you come to get on this one?" "They said I couldn't ride him," explained Will, nodding in the direction of the cattlemen, who were slowly approaching. "I thought so," murmured John Curtin. "It was a trick of that big cowboy. He knew this was a bucking bronco, yet he let this lad mount it, knowing the beast would throw him off." "So, that's the kind of men they are, eh?" spoke Gabe Harrison. "Then I guess the less we have to do with them the better. Jed, you look after Will a bit. Get him some water. There's a spring just ahead." "Where are you going?" asked Mr. Hurd of the old miner, as he saw him turn back on the trail, and walk toward the cattlemen. "I'm going to have a talk with that big cowboy," replied Gabe. Bill Case and his chum, Tim Walsh, were laughing heartily as Gabe approached. "It's a good joke, isn't it?" asked Gabe sternly. "I suppose you think you did a smart thing, Bill Case, when you got that tenderfoot to ride that bucking bronco." "He sure is a tenderfoot," replied the cowboy, who did not exactly catch Gabe's sarcasm. "He wanted to ride," put in Tim Walsh. "Well, if a baby wanted to play with a loaded gun, would you let him?" asked Gabe scornfully. "How was I to know he didn't know the difference between a bucking bronco and a cow pony?" asked Bill Case. "You knew well enough," declared Gabe. "I think it was a mean, cowardly act, and the sooner we part company, the better I'll like it. There's the trail. We'll wait until you get far enough ahead on it so we can't see your dust. I have no use for such fellows as you." "Hold on there!" exclaimed Bill Case, an ugly look coming over his face. "Maybe you don't know who you're talking to." "I know I'm talking to a coward who'll take advantage of a tenderfoot's ignorance to let him ride a dangerous horse," replied Gabe. "Say, old man," began the cowboy, preparing to dismount from his horse, "me and you is going to have trouble, right now, unless you take back them words. Bill Case is a hard case when it comes to that, and I ain't used to such talk from nobody." "Well, you'll listen to it from me," retorted the fearless miner. "I say you're a coward, and I'm not afraid of you." In an instant the cowboy was off his steed and was striding toward the old man, who, nothing daunted, awaited his approach. Tim Walsh moved up closer, as if he, too, would take a hand in the affair. Gabe looked back to where the two miners and Jed were taking care of Will. Mr. Hurd and Mr. Curtin were aware that something unusual was taking place, and they made ready to go to the aid of Gabe.