"Go after 'em on my mare. Would you be afraid to stay here alone if I went?"
"No; go ahead!" cried both boys.
"We'll keep watch while you are away," continued Joe.
"If you can get the horses back it will be a great favor," said Darry. "The three are worth over five hundred dollars."
Without further words, Hank Leeson dashed into the stable, untied his mare and mounted her. Rifle over shoulder and pistol in hand, he dashed away on the back trail, whence the desperadoes had disappeared. Soon he was swallowed up in the darkness, although they heard the hoofbeats of Nancy for several minutes after.
"This is the worst yet," was Joe's comment, when they were alone. "Those fellows are as daring as they are rascally. I never dreamed they would come up in that fashion. I wonder what they would have done if Leeson hadn't woke up?"
"Perhaps we would all have been murdered," answered his cousin with a shudder. "What shall we do, now we are dressed?"
"That depends upon how long Leeson remains away. I move we remain on guard—one at the front of the cabin and the other at the rear. If we keep our eyes peeled they can't come very close, even though it is dark."
"All right, Joe. Keep your rifle handy."
"Don't fear about that, Darry."