“We got news of Snippets!” roared the storekeeper. “An’ I want yuh to order Tom Powers to gather every blessed man in town and search them lava hills, ’cause that’s where they got her.”
“What do you mean? How do you know? Is she hurt?” The judge fired rapid questions.
“Jim Allen tole me. He says they got her over there and that he knows part of the trail and is goin’ to pick out the rest to-morrow, but by that time the gal will be over the border,” Jim attempted to explain.
“Wait a minute, Mr. Hogg,” Kennedy spoke quietly. “Let’s get this straight. You say that Allen insists that Snippets is being held captive in the lava beds? And he’s going by himself to trail her?”
“That’s exactly what I said. The dam little runt——”
“It’s sense to me,” Ace Cutts interrupted. “Three men in those lava beds can hold off a hundred. Allen has a better chance by himself,” he insisted.
The judge, Mrs. Ransom, and even Mary joined in the discussion as to the best way to rescue Snippets.
“I think Allen is right,” Kennedy said. “But then I’m an Eastern dude and don’t know anything about it. Good night, folks. I’m riding out to my ranch to-night, so I won’t see you to-morrow.”
“I’m going with yuh,” Ace Cutts stated.
The two went out and hurried toward the Red Queen.