“Well, you see, I didn’t have my gun out, and, as he says that, the jockey pulls and fires one shot, which landed in my arm.  Then, before I can reach around and get my gun out with my left hand, he gets away.  But the action was too quick for the old man, and he sat still until I had him covered, when I had sent a couple of balls after the jock to make him hit up the pace a bit.”

“The old man was easy, eh?”

“Easiest kind.  But he might have got away from me if he had the nerve.”

“Well, Kit, you did a great stunt.  I’m mighty glad you landed the old coot.  But I don’t know what to do with him now that we have him.”

“Well, we better take him to town, anyway.  He’d get lost if we turned him loose out here.  Let his friends take care of him, when he gets there.”

“All right; let’s move on.”

Not much was said as they made their way back to town.  Old man Norris did not open his mouth, but looked dejected and sad, as if he was brooding over what would happen to him when he arrived at his destination.  He was plainly uneasy, and probably wished they would turn him loose.

When they were within a mile of the town they saw a cloud of dust approaching them rapidly, and watched it curiously.  It was a horseman, fogging along at a rapid pace.

Finally out of the dust emerged Bud Morgan, and as he came abreast of them he pulled his horse down on its haunches.

“Howdy?” he said.

“How?” answered the others.

“So yer got ther ole pelican, eh?” said Bud, with a grin.

“Kit did,” said Ted.

“Bully for you, Kit,” said Bud heartily.  “I was in town, an’ a feller from over to Running Water told me you and Stella had come out this way, an’ I follered.  What’s the matter with your arm, Kit?”

“Got a shot through it.”

“Sho!  Did that old pirate give it to you?”

“No, the jockey, and then he flew.”

“I’ve got a good mind to go after him, an’ bring him in.”

“Wouldn’t do any good.  At the rate he was going when I sent a message after him, he’s clear into the suburbs of Chicago by this time.”

They were soon on the outskirts of the town, and as they entered the main street they saw a crowd of men coming toward them.

“Here comes a reception committee,” said Ted.  “Wonder who they are, and what they want.”

“By Jove, there’s that big fellow Shan Rhue,” exclaimed Kit.  “I wonder what he’s after.”

“I thought he had enough o’ our kind o’ medicine not to want ter tackle us so soon again,” said Bud.

“I don’t like the looks of that gang,” said Ted.

“Neither do I,” said Stella.  “I’ve a hunch that they mean mischief.”

“In what way?” asked Ted.

“Well, I can’t exactly define the feeling I have, but somehow I think they don’t want us.”

“Eh?  Whom do they want?”