"By jove! it is they," cried Larry excitedly. "See those horses' ears bobbing?" And he pointed to the south.
Following his finger, his companions beheld two sharp points steadily advancing from the farther side of the crest.
"Be ready to give it to 'em," breathed Horace, at the same time unslinging his rifle.
But before he could get it to his shoulder the head of the horse came into view and the next instant the head and shoulders of a man.
In a flash the chums seized their rifles.
The horseman was only about one hundred yards away, and as he caught sight of the rifles pointed toward him he pulled his pony to its haunches.
"Throw up your hands!" yelled Horace. "If you make a move, we'll drop you. You are a prisoner of the Half-Moon Ranch!"
As the horseman heard the name he shouted:
"Steady, there! I'm Jim Jeffreys. What are you up to, anyhow?"
"Who's Jim Jeffreys?" demanded Larry of Horace.