eyes, and planted himself beside Fraser. With one backward buffet of
his great arm he sent Johnson heels over head. He caught Yorky by the
shoulders, strong man though the latter was, and shook him till his
teeth rattled, after which he flung him reeling a dozen yards to the
ground. The Norwegian was reaching for Dick when Fraser stopped him.

"That's enough of a clean-up right now, Sig. Dick butted in like you
to help me," he explained.

"The durned coyotes!" roared the big Norseman furiously, leaping at
Leroy and tossing him over his head as an enraged bull does. He turned
upon the other three, shaking his tangled mane, but they were already
in flight.

"I'll show them. I'll show them," he kept saying as he came back to
the man he had rescued.

"You've showed them plenty, Sig. Cut out the rough house before you
maim some of these gents who didn't invite you to their party."

The ranger felt the earth sway beneath him as he spoke. His wound had
been torn loose in the fight, and was bleeding. Limply he leaned
against the tree for support.

It was at this moment he caught sight of Arlie and Briscoe as they ran
up. Involuntarily he straightened almost jauntily. The girl looked at
him with that deep, eager look of fear he had seen before, and met
that unconquerable smile of his.

The rope was still round his neck and the coat was stripped from his