"Think he'll shoot?" asked Will. Before Jed had a chance to answer there came the sharp crack of the weapon, and a bullet sang through the air over the boys' heads. Morton had purposely fired high, as he only wanted to scare the lads, but the shot had an unexpected effect. It so startled the horses of Jed and Will that they galloped forward as no urging by voice or whip could have made them. "Shoot again!" cried Jed softly. "That's what we need. We'll leave 'em behind again!" They were coming out on a shoulder of the mountain now, and could look down into the valley below them. There seemed to be something familiar about it. Both lads noted that at once. "Isn't that where we were encamped?" asked Jed. "It certainly looks like it," added Will. "And there's a horse there, and a man who looks like Gabe!" "It is Gabe!" cried Jed. "Hurrah! We're back at our old camp! Now let Morton and his gang come after us if they dare!" The trail led downward, and the horses of the lads, finding going easier, or, perhaps, recognizing the place where they had strayed from, and desiring to get back to it, did not drop back into the slow pace that had characterized their gait before the shot was fired. "Hello, Gabe!" yelled Jed, waving his hat at the old man. Mr. Harrison looked up. He recognized Jed and Will. He swung his hat in answer and shouted a welcome. At that moment the pursuers came in sight around the bend in the trail. They, too, saw the camp, and noted Gabe. But they also saw that he walked with a limp. Instead of turning back, as the boys expected the gamblers would, they kept on. "Are you going up against Gabe?" asked Haverhill of Morton. "He's a good fighter." "I'm not afraid. He's been hurt. See him limp. I've come too far to back out now. I'm going to get that gold!" "I'm with you," said the third gambler, whose name was Sim Sanders. "We three are more than a match for them." On they galloped toward the camp, where Gabe in wonder awaited the arrival of the boys. He saw the men in pursuit, and knew who they were. Hobbling to where he had left his rifle, he secured the weapon. Into the camp rushed Jed and Will, their tired horses barely able to carry them. After them came the three gamblers. "What do you want here?" demanded Gabe. "We want the gold those tenderfeet found, and we're going to have it even if we have to fight!" answered Morton savagely. "Then you'll have to fight," replied Gabe grimly. "I don't know anything about any gold they have, for we haven't struck any luck yet, but if they have any they're going to keep it, and you know what kind of a man I am, when it comes to a fight." "Ride 'em down!" exclaimed Haverhill. Gabe was about to raise his rifle, when an unexpected diversion occurred.