this, I reckon."

"Well, as long as it's got to be done, we might as well get it over
with," said Dick; "come on, fellows, one, two----"

"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Bert. "I think it would be a good plan for
those of us who have rifles to be on the lookout and pick off any of the
redskins who show themselves. Even if we don't get any, it will prevent
them from taking good aim."

"We ain't got but one rifle, though," objected Buck. "Sam, here,"
motioning toward the guard, "is the only one in the bunch with a rifle."

"No, I've got one in my blanket roll," replied Bert, and before the
driver could answer was busily engaged in undoing the tightly rolled
blanket.

"I reckon you two had better get anythin' you want off your horses," said
Buck, addressing Tom and Dick, "an' then set the critters loose. They
ain't a mite o' good here, an' they only take up valuable space."

The boys were loath to act on this advice, but they saw the wisdom of it,
and so did as the driver suggested. They knew that the horses, as soon as
released, would make for the ranch, and they had little fear of the
Indians being able to catch them. Accordingly, a few minutes later the
three trusty animals were turned loose, each receiving a smart slap to
start it on its way. They galloped off across the plain, and were soon
lost to sight in the distance.

Meantime the Indians had been keeping up a straggling fire in the