Huddled together, the boys sat where they could watch the trail.

Of a sudden Tom grabbed his brother by the arm and pointed to where several specks were moving.

In silence they watched as more and more came into view, and then Larry cried out: 

“Here they come!”

Eager with excitement, the others crowded forward to catch a glimpse of the men who had caused them so much trouble.

“Keep down!” snapped Lawrence.  “Vasquez has an eye like a hawk.”

No second warning did the cowboys need, and dropping flat on their stomachs, they watched the raiders draw nearer and nearer.

Because of the cattle, their approach was slow, and it was fully an hour after the chums had sighted them before they reached the valley.

“That’s Vasquez and Gus in the lead,” announced the man who had forsaken his life of wrong-doing.  And as the other raiders rode into sheltered grazing ground he mentioned them by name.

“There are only nineteen of them.  I thought Nails said there were twenty,” exclaimed Bill.

“So there were till Lawrence joined us,” rejoined his father.  “Thank goodness, my short-horn Durhams are all right.  Now be quiet.  It would be too bad to spoil everything when things are going so well for us.”

Instantly the men obeyed, sitting with eyes and ears alert for any sight or sound that should proclaim the approach of a guard.

But twilight fell and none came, as Lawrence had predicted.

Sounds of revelry, broken now and then by the lowing of the cattle, were constant.  In due time the moon rose and with its coming the cowboys grew impatient.

The ranchmen, however, refused to move till no sound from the raiders could be heard.

“It’s midnight,” announced Mr. Wilder, looking at his watch.  “They must be asleep, by this time.  We’ll chance it, anyhow.  Careful, every one.  Come, Lawrence.”

Overjoyed that the time for action had arrived, the boys followed their guide, halting at the edge of the valley.

Ordering the others to wait, the owner of the Half-Moon and the former raider glided noiselessly toward the mine.

All about were signs of the celebration in which the thieves had indulged, and their loud snores told how sound asleep they were.

Confident the time was ripe for action, the two scouts returned to their impatient fellows.

“Pete, Sandy, Nails, Skinny, Lawrence, you take the ropes and do the hog-tying.  The rest of you have your rifles ready for use.  But don’t shoot till I give the word,” commanded Mr. Wilder.  Opening the ropes so they could use them rapidly, the men selected for the binding of the raiders moved forward, closely followed by the others, guns ready for action.

Signing to Sandy and Skinny to tie the men lying outside, Lawrence led the others into the mine.

More like a cavern did it seem to them than anything else as they cast a hurried glance about the rock-walled room which two flickering torches lighted.