"You want Nort an' me to watch the road in the other direction?" asked the Kid.

"Yes--and we'll be here when they unload the c.h.i.n.ks. All right now?"

"All set! Let's go, Nort!"

Yellin' Kid and Nort ran swiftly to the other side of the ranch house, in which position they would be hidden from sight of the road until they chose to show themselves. Billee Dobb went around to the corral.

The oncoming car was plunging along the road, and would reach the Shooting Star ranch in another minute. It couldn't be seen, due to the blackness of the night--the clouds seemed to have thickened in the last few minutes--but the noise was sufficient indication of its approach.

The six men awaited its arrival with breathless excitement. If the plan only worked! Delton would surely show up sooner or later, he couldn't risk too long a delay--and the capture would be complete. The boys felt their hearts beating fast as the moment approached. Guns were out now, and ready for action.

Suddenly another sound came to the ears of the waiting ones--the sound of rapid hoof-beats. Those on the farther side of the house from.

where the car was coming peered down the road in the direction of town.

They held their breaths.

"Hear it?" the Kid asked excitedly of Nort.

"Horses! and coming this way! It must be Delton--he timed it perfectly--he'll arrive just as the car does! Kid, we've got more than our hands full this time!"

"Shall we tell the others?"

"No time--we've got to try and head them off, until Hawkins stops the car, gets the c.h.i.n.ks and covers the smugglers! Come on, Kid!"

The two, with guns drawn, ran down the road in the direction of the approaching hors.e.m.e.n. It was a foolhardy thing to do, for they had no means of telling how many of Delton's gang were coming. Louder and louder sounded the gallop of the ponies, and nearer came the smugglers'

car. The night was still pitch-black. The moon was as if it had never shone. In the distance thunder muttered, but the boys were too excited to notice it. Overhead the clouds were growing heavier.

"Here they come, Kid! Stop them!"

Nort threw himself in front of one of the ponies just as the group of hors.e.m.e.n were about to dash through. Yellin' Kid jumped to Nort's side, gun drawn.

"Hold up there!" he yelled. "Stick 'em up! High!"

There was a vivid flash of lightning. In the glare the two challengers saw that Delton was directly in front of them, and behind him were four others. Delton reached for his gun. Then the heavens opened with a crash of thunder and the rain poured down in a deluge.

CHAPTER XIX

THE CHASE

Through the darkness came many and varied sounds. The thunder rolled long and continuously. The angry voices of men rose loud and hoa.r.s.e.

Along the drenched road came the smugglers' car, its exhaust roaring.

And over all the rain came down in torrents.

"Out of the way there, you!" came a voice. "We ain't got no time for foolin'!"

"Stick to it, Nort!" the Kid yelled. "Don't let them through!"

The two boys were standing in the middle of the road, guns out, determined to prevent Delton and his men from closing in on Hawkins, who was grimly awaiting the smuggling car. If they could be held off until the auto pulled in and stopped, the party at the other side of the ranch house might succeed in capturing the c.h.i.n.k runners.

There was a sudden shot.

"Hurt, Nort?" the Kid called anxiously.

"Nope! Missed! Put those guns up, you! We've got you covered! Climb down off those horses quick, or we'll fill you full of holes!"

There was a desperate ring in the boy rancher's voice, and Delton must have recognized this, for he yelled something to the men back of him and they all halted. The thunder was less frequent now, although the rain had not let up. The boys standing in the road were soaked to the skin. Still they remained firmly in their place, listening to the roar of the approaching car, and hoping they could hold Delton until it reached the ranch. By the sound it was almost to the Shooting Star ranch now. In another moment----

"Hey, you guys, what's the idea?" through the night came a questioning voice. "Don't you know it's rainin' here? How about lettin' us in the ranch to get dry?"

"You stay where you are!" the Kid yelled. "You'll have plenty o' time to get dry all right!"

"Kid--here's the car! Watch out now!" Nort was at the Kid's side, but facing the other way. "Can you see anything--any of Delton's bunch?"

"Nope--only hear that guy that was talking! Can you?"

"No but--what's that?"

From the other side of the house came three shots in rapid succession.

Then someone yelled. The next moment d.i.c.k came splashing around to where the Kid and Nort were waiting.

"They--they fooled us!" d.i.c.k panted. "Delton and three others got to the car before we did and warned the smugglers! They all got away!"

"Delton!" the Kid exclaimed. "Why, we had him here----"

"Yes you did!" came a mocking voice. "You big cheese--all you had was a good talk! So long!" There was the splashing noise of a horse rapidly departing for parts unknown.

"Can--you--beat--that!" Nort e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed. "Fooled! Taken in like suckers! While we stood here talking----"

"Yes, and while we're standing here talking now, the smugglers are getting farther and farther away! Come on! We've got to chase them!"

d.i.c.k turned and made for the corral.

"Chase an auto on a horse?" the Kid yelled. "What's the sense of that?"

"They can't go fast in this wet--and we can spot them by the noise.

Hurry up!"

"But I ain't got no pony!" wailed the Kid. "Wish I had my bronc! What am I supposed to do; stay here?"

"No--one of Delton's bunch lost his seat and we've got his animal--use that. He got away in the auto. But for the love of Pete, hurry up!"

The rain had abated a little when the boys reached the corral. Billee Dobb was waiting with the ponies untied and ready. It was but the work of a moment to mount and lead the other horses over to where Hawkins and Bud were standing.

"Where's my new bronc?" the Kid asked as he came up.

"Here--this do you?" Bud was holding a little black pony.

"Sure--as long as it's got legs!" The Kid swung himself upon the horse's back. "Right! Let's go!"