Thinking that the man was shooting at his friend, being unconscious of the ruse Hal was employing, Chester immediately turned his own weapon loose upon the man, whom he could now plainly see.  But, after firing, the enemy had shifted his position slightly at the very moment that Chester fired.  Therefore, he escaped what otherwise would assuredly have been a death wound—­for Chester was a crack shot—­and received the ball in his pistol hand.

His weapon dropped to the ground, and he sent up a loud howl of pain.

Before he could seize the weapon in his other hand, Chester was upon him, and Hal was hastening to the aid of his friend, for, wounded though he was, the man put up a hard fight.

Chester forced him to the ground, but the man heaved him away with a mighty kick.  Chester fell sprawling on the ground, and his opponent turned to grope for his revolver.

But, before he could pick it up, Hal was upon the scene.  He took in the situation at a glance, and sprang upon Chester’s assailant.

Hal’s first leap bore his opponent to the ground, where the boy twisted one hand around the man’s throat.  But, if he thought to overcome his opponent thus easily, he had reckoned without his host.  Lying almost at full length on the ground as he was, he drove his fist straight upward into Hal’s face.  The lad released his hold upon his enemy’s throat and fell back.

It was now beginning to grow light, and, as the man sprang after him, Hal recognized him.  It was young Dersi!

“Dersi!” gasped Hal, as he once more put himself in an attitude of defense.

“Yes,” gritted his opponent, “and I am going to kill you both, right here and now.”

With this he sprang upon Hal and bore him to the ground.  But the lad was not to be thus easily conquered, and, with a mighty effort, wriggled from beneath his assailant and sprang back to gain a breath.

This movement almost cost him his life, for, in springing back, he allowed his opponent time to reach down and pick up his revolver.  This he now pointed full at Hal.

But aid came from an unexpected source.  Chester, who had been lying unconscious up to this time, now recovered sufficiently to take in the situation about him.  In his hand he still grasped the automatic.

This he brought to bear, and an instant before Dersi’s finger pressed the trigger, Chester fired.  Dersi fell to the ground with a groan.  His revolver exploded as he fell, and the bullet whistled close to Hal’s right ear.

Quickly Hal jumped to Chester’s side and raised his chum in his arms.

“Chester!  Chester!” he said anxiously.  “Tell me, are you much hurt?”

“Not much, I think,” was his friend’s reply.  “But he gave me an awful wallop.  I shall be all right presently.”

Hal did not leave his friend for a moment until Chester announced that his head had cleared up sufficiently for him to stand.  With Hal’s assistance he struggled to his feet, one hand holding the side of his head.