"I won't let go," Belle insisted. Then she resorted, excusably under the circumstances, to the somewhat feminine trick, of pinching Tag Mosher's arm sharply.
That started the real fight. Dick tripped the bigger fellow, and the pair went down together as Belle leaped back.
Click! click! sounded both descending hammers of the sawed-off shotgun. For an instant—-Prescott's heart was in his mouth, for he knew something of the wicked scattering power of such a weapon, when discharged, and he feared for the girls.
The next instant, however, his common sense told him that the hammers had descended harmlessly. By desperate force he wrenched the piece out of Tag's hands, hurling it away.
Laura's locket, and chain falling to the ground, Belle darted in and rescued them.
"He has my rings in his right-hand coat pocket," Belle announced.
"He'll give them up, then!" predicted Dick grimly, making a dive for that pocket. He was on top, in the mix-up, and secured the rings, tossing them toward Belle. Then Tag, by a violent effort, hurled Prescott from him and rose, ready for battle.
But Dick landed close beside the sawed-off shotgun, which he snatched from the ground as he rose to his feet.
"You cur!" said Dick. "Robbing girls!"
"I hated to do it," growled Tag, looking somewhat shamefaced. "But I've got to have money to get away from this corner of the world. The deputies are out after me, and they'll get me yet, if I stay here."