Adrian, seeing a good chance to disable him, fired so as to hit the rustler in the leg. He went down in a heap, and the last glance they cast his way they could see him hugging his injured limb as though all the fight might have been taken out of him after that disaster.
“Don’t stop there!” urged Donald. “We must teach the fools a lesson. Wait till that fellow mounted on the big bay comes along again; because somehow I’ve got a notion it may be Hatch Walker himself on that horse. I’ve heard he rides a magnificent bay; and that animal sure is a dandy!”
“Look there, you’re some too late!” shouted Adrian, himself full of animation.
“Yes, somebody else got ahead of me, and bowled the horse over as neat as you please. But did you notice that shot, Adrian; didn’t it have a sort of familiar ring to you? If I didn’t believe our chum Billie was asleep in the bunk house right now I’d be willing to say that was his rifle!”
“And you’d hit the bull’s-eye plum center!” laughed the other; “because there he is right now, standing up, and swinging his hat to let us know he’s in the swim. And Donald, look at that fellow lying there where he fell. It must be Hatch Walker, and he’s had his neck broken by the tumble, or else is knocked senseless. Now, our game would be to play safe; don’t let any of them swoop down and carry him off.”
“I see what you mean,” echoed the other; “if so be we could get Hatch in our power this business would stop right short. Without his guiding hand the rustlers’d throw up the job, and never have the heart to stampede another herd. There’s one fellow
heading that way, and he’s just got to be told to stop, or he’ll find himself hurt the same way as those others!”
Donald took a quick aim and fired. This time he could see well enough to try and strike the leg that projected over the back of the galloping horse. The conditions were all against him; but he must have touched the rider enough to give him cause to change his mind about trying to carry off the stunned leader; for the fellow suddenly whirled aside and went furiously past.
“There’s Billie running out to bag his game!” cried Donald, suddenly; “he may be a fool, but we’ve just got to back him up, Ad; so let’s rush it. When they see us coming perhaps the rest’ll get cold feet and skip out!”
It was a bold act, but by such tactics has many a battle been decided. Seeing the three boys starting out toward the riders who were circling around, others of the defenders of the corrals started after them.