But Ted was upon them. They did not see him, as their backs were toward him, and in a minute both had gone sprawling over the barrel, falling in a heap on the ground.
In a flash Ted had sent the barrel rolling down the yard, and with a piece of canvas, which he had picked up from the ground, was beating out the flames which were creeping up the side of the house.
But the men were on their feet now, and, seeing the cause of their discomfiture, they ran toward Ted with howls of rage, and reached his side as Stella, who had started toward Ted when she saw that the men were about to attack him, was still some distance off.
Ted was not aware of the presence of the men until they were directly behind him. Then he turned, only to be met with a blow on the head with the butt of a pistol, and he sank to the ground with a groan.
Meanwhile, Kit, whose duty it was to cover Ted's attack on the house burners from the doorway, was not able to get a shot because Stella's body was between him and the corner of the house.
As Ted went down with a groan Stella drew her revolver and blazed away.
At her first shot one of the men ran off, limping and yelping like a kicked cur.
The other, conscious that the bullets from her revolver were singing unpleasantly near to his head, made a dash for the shrubbery.
Bending over Ted, Stella tried to see how badly he was hurt.
"You reckless boy," she was saying. "See how you run into danger. Now you have two wounds for me to nurse, if you are not killed."