“Nope! Shoulder—left!” Pop shouted back. “All right. Go get ’em!”
Greatly relieved at Pop’s answer, Roy sped onward. He thought that the rustlers would seek to escape, but this did not now appear to be their plan. They had worked hard to drive the cattle thus far, and were not going to give them up without a struggle.
However, they changed their minds when Mr. Manley, Jake Trummer, and the others came into sight from beyond a rise.
The boss of the X Bar X had ridden in from the south side, trying to see if the cattle were indeed his, but the two men and their companions had whirled about as soon as they heard the firing. Now, with guns out, they rode for the rustlers.
Leading the attackers who were in the reserves, was Jules Kolto. The pinto he was on had outdistanced the others, and, before he knew it, he was face to face with the four cattle thieves.
“Denver!” Teddy heard Kolto yell, “I want you!”
There was a reply from the group of thieves, but it was unintelligible to Teddy. Then a single shot snapped and Kolto swayed in the saddle. Releasing his hold, he fell heavily to the ground, while his pony, mad with fright, raced on without him.
Teddy and Roy reached his side at the same instant and leaped from their horses. The rustlers were in full flight now, so there was no danger that they would attack the boys on foot.
As Roy leaned over the former bandit, Kolto grinned faintly.
“Got me—at last,” he gasped. “Denver—shot me. That’s poetical justice—or somethin’—ain’t it? One bandit shoots another!”