His race very white, but every line of his body breathing defiance, Larry faced his tormentor.

With a calmness that fairly took the breath away from the bully the elder of the brothers exclaimed in a voice loud enough to be heard by the other cowboys and the men about the train: 

“I didn’t pick this quarrel with you, but if you will get off your horse so that you have no advantage over me; I’ll give you all the fight you want!”

An instant Megget glowered with rage at the mere stripling of a boy who had announced his willingness to fight him, then with a savage growl started to swing from his saddle.

“I’ll fix you, you whelp!” he roared.

He aimed a savage blow at Larry, who ducked.

“Hi! leave my brother alone!” cried Tom, coming to the spot.

As Tom spoke Larry stooped and picked up a handful of dust.  This he hurled straight into the cowboy’s face.

“Good!” shouted Tom and did likewise.

The dust caused the cowboy to sneeze, and some bystanders commenced to laugh.

“He’s got the best of you, Megget,” observed another cowboy.

“I’ll eat him!” yelled Megget and rushed at Larry with blood in his eyes.

But before he reached the boy a voice rang out: 

“Keep on your horse, Gus Megget!”

Though Larry did not dare take his eyes from the bully, Tom and the cowboys looked to see who was taking a hand in the affair.  They beheld a quiet-looking little man pointing a finger at the leader of the ruffians.

“I can’t arrest you for driving off Jim Larson’s cattle because we’re in Oklahoma,” continued the determined stranger.  “But if I ever get my hand on you in Texas it’ll go hard with you!  Now vamoose before you try my patience too far!  Come on back, boys.  Gus Megget won’t bother you any more.”

“Prickly cactus! but it’s ‘Shorty,’ the sheriff from Pawnee County!” gasped one of the band or cow-punchers.  “Come on, Gus; we must dig out of here!  Shorty may pass the word he’s seen us.”

Fear of the law caused the bully and his companions to wheel their ponies.

At this move the three boys turned and ran back toward the train, while the excited passengers hooted and yelled at the discomfited cowboys.

The shouts of derision were more than Megget could stand.  He shook his fist at the crowd in general and then at Tom and Larry in particular, Then he whirled around and disappeared from view in a cloud of dust.

Quickly the passengers all trooped to the cars and five minutes later the train was again in motion.

All the passengers wanted to shake hands with Tom and Larry, and for several minutes the boys were at the mercy of their well-meaning admirers.  Again the sheriff came to their rescue.

“Go back to your own cars,” he commanded.  “The boys want to be left alone.”

But the people gave no sign of heeding his words.