The next instant a group of horsemen swept forward around a turn in the trail, straight for the cabin!
"Here come the bad men!" yelled Jack. "Come on father!"
CHAPTER XXXV
THE ROUND-UP—CONCLUSION
Mr. Ranger ran back to join his son. At the same time Nat and Jack sprang forward, and together the three raced down the valley. With loud shouts the horsemen pursued them.
"Here they are!" some of the riders exclaimed. "We'll get the boys and the old man, too! Come on!"
For a little while the three fugitives, from the start they had, and from the rough nature of the ground, which precluded speed on the part of the horses, kept in the lead. They had just made a turn in the trail, which, for a moment hid the horsemen from sight, when Mr. Ranger exclaimed:
"I can go no farther, Jack. My heart! Oh, my heart!"
He sank down, staggering under the weight of his rifle.
"Quick!" cried Nat. "Get behind this big rock! Maybe we can hold 'em off!"