Then he flung up the revolver.
Merriwell was quite as swift in his movements.
“No, you don’t!”
With that cry on his lips, Frank knocked the weapon aside just as it was discharged, and the bullet sped skyward through the tree tops.
Then Bill Higgins whirled and tried to shoot the boy who had saved Bart Hodge, but the heavy fist of Bruce Browning fell on his temple, and he dropped like a log to the ground.
Frank picked up the sheriff’s revolver, which had fallen from his hand, and, when Higgins sat up, he found himself looking into the muzzle of his own weapon.
“Get out!”
Merriwell uttered the words, and Higgins took the hint.
“All right,” he snarled; “but this doesn’t end it! I’ll make all of yer suffer fer this!”
He arose, mounted his waiting horse, and galloped away after Hodge.