“I was too much interested in the story you were telling,” was the panting reply. “I think I must be a chump!”
The river was not far away, and the boys struck out for it with all the running ability they possessed, halting only when they stood on its southern bank.
The outlaws had not yet made their appearance, and the boys fancied they, too, were running only in an opposite direction.
“Now what?” asked Jule. “We can’t swim across, can we?”
“I should say not!” was the reply, as Alex threw himself down on the turf. “To tell the truth, I’m about all in! Do you see anything of Captain Joe?” he added. “I presume the fool dog followed the outlaws away.”
Jule grinned, thinking of the figure cut by Alex as he stood with the huge revolver, threatening the three men.
“I wonder if the gun is loaded?” he said, taking it into his hand. “I have known men to carry empty weapons. For the love of Mike, it sure is empty!”
The boy rolled over and over on the grass, making faces at his chum and laughing softly.
“Nice time you would have had if they had turned on you!” he said tauntingly, but just at that moment the chum was too busy watching the dog to pay the slightest attention to him.
The dog had again made his appearance on the bank of the river showing all his teeth, and back of him came the outlaws!