Now, if you'll be kind enough to level your glass to the eastward, possibly you will observe something interesting." Both young men quickly turned their heads in the direction indicated, and there, sure enough, was descried a body of horsemen, probably a mile distant, approaching on a gallop.
Hawkridge levelled his glass.

While thus engaged, Capt.

Asbury signalled to his men to mount and be ready to move on a moment's call.
It was well to be ready for any emergency.
Dick Hawkridge studied the horsemen closely for some minutes without speaking.

Then, with his eye still at the glass, he repeated slowly, as if to himself: "There are thirteen of them, and the spotted horse at the head I am sure belongs to Ira Inman; the whole party are rustlers." He lowered the binocular and looked at the captain, adding: "I suspected it; their party is but a little stronger than yours, for Mont and I will stand with you, but it seems to me it would be foolish to risk a fight in the open." "I am willing to retreat, but I don't intend to be run out of Wyoming by all the rustlers between Sheridan and Cheyenne.

I am willing, however," he added, with a smile, "to make a strategical movement to the rear until we strike some place where there's a show for defence; do you know of any such place ?" "My house is well fitted for that, and is not far off." "All right; lead on." By this time the rest of the party had ridden to the top of the hill, where the situation was quickly made clear to them.