With a common cry of joy the boys sprang forward, and quickly explained the situation. The Indian grunted. “Not K. & Z. man,” he said. “Bad cowboy, miner, gambler, from Yellow Creek. Makeum big bet K. & Z. win, come burn bridge, makeum win. Little Hawk hearum talk, come follow, hearum fight, come quick.
“Thinkum big fight. Only three boy fight, eh?” he added in surprise.
Alex had been considering. “Look here, Little Hawk,” he suggested, “you ride back to the construction-train and give the alarm, will you? I think we have these fellows scared now, and can hold them till help comes. And none of us could ride that pony of yours.”
“I findum nother hoss—cowboy hoss,” said the Indian, pointing the way he had come. “You go, takeum, Little Hawk stay fight.”
Alex thought a minute. “No; I’d rather stick, and see the thing through, now,” he declared.
“Same here,” Wilson agreed.
“It’s up to you, then, Little Hawk.
“Say, hold on!” Alex interrupted as the Indian turned away. “Boys, how about Little Hawk taking our prisoner back with him on the other horse? The folks at the train might get some information out of him.
“Could you take him, Little Hawk?” he asked.