"Go it! Go it!" howled the cowboys.
The shouts roused the prisoners in the cave, and their yells of
rage added to the pandemonium.
"Come on in to see Megget," exclaimed Lawrence. "I say, Mr.
Wilder, can't Larry and Tom go in first alone? You promised, you
know."
Willing that his men should have their fun, the owner of the
Half-Moon laughingly consented.
And with the others following close, the brothers went into the
cave.
Entering thoroughly into the spirit of the occasion, Larry
approached the struggling chief.
"Why, how do you do again, Mr. Megget?" he exclaimed, bowing in
mock deference. "What's the trouble? You seem to be down and out.
Quite a difference from when you were teasing me at that station in
Oklahoma, eh?"
As Megget recognized the brothers his face grew terrible to see,
and, summoning all his strength, he leaped to his feet.
But Lawrence had tied his ankles so tight he could not keep his
balance, and the raider pitched forward while Mr. Wilder and the
others rushed in to make sure he did not harm the boys.
At the sight of the men he thought burned, the leader of the
raiders lay trembling like a leaf.
"You see you can't raid the Half-Moon herd with impunity,"
exclaimed Mr. Wilder sternly. "Come on, boys, let's go outside.
These men are not pleasant companions." And turning on his heel,
he led the way from the mine.
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