"
So the boys waited until the firing had ceased. Then they heard
what sounded like the noise of a horse moving through the brush.
"Hello, there!" called Dick.
"Hello, yourself!" came the answer, and a mounted man rode into
view. He did not look especially ugly or dangerous; his garb
was plainly intended for the saddle. As he came into sight the
man slipped a heavy automatic revolver into a saddle holster.
"What was up?" inquired Dick, rising and going forward to meet
the newcomer.
"Stampede," replied the other briefly.
"We know something about that," Dick rejoined.
"Do you know anything about the burning of the clearing?" asked
the horseman, reining up and eyeing the lads keenly.
"Yes, sir; we fired the grass," Prescott acknowledged.
"To break the stampede?"
"No, sir; to save our camp, which would have been destroyed."
"Shake," invited the stranger, riding forward and bending over
to hold out his hand. "Your fire cost us a few cattle, but I
reckon it saved the destruction of a lot more, for there would
have been many of 'em killed if they had charged on into the deeper
forest."
"Then the stampede has been stopped?" asked Prescott.
"Yes; two of my men followed the parted trails, and came back
to report the two herds halted and grazing.
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