“We’re coming, pard!” whooped a shrill, feminine voice.
The scout looked down the gulch and saw Dauntless Dell and Little Cayuse plying quirt and spur, and hurrying to take part in the combat.
“Hyar comes our other two pards!” jubilated Nomad. “Now, ye varmints, will ye hunt yer holes?”
CHAPTER IX.
DELL AND CAYUSE ALSO DELAYED.
From the moment Dauntless Dell’s shrill cry echoed through the cañon, panic struck at the hearts of Captain Lawless and his men. The villainous crew saw five determined foes bearing down on them.
“Scatter!” yelled Captain Lawless, and immediately suited his actions to the word.
Keeping themselves under cover of the rocks, the stampeded scoundrels finally gained the shelter of the scrub, and could be heard thrashing about in a mad endeavor to get to their horses and away.
At this point, Nomad’s ardor got the better of him, and caused him to lose his prisoner, Coomby.
Pushing fiercely toward the bushes, and shoving Coomby ahead of him, Nomad was making a wild effort to keep up the fight.
Coomby, unable to stand up under the pressure exerted on him from behind, stumbled over a stone. Nomad, who could not stop his headlong rush, went sprawling over Coomby, and both lay for an instant in a tangle on the ground.