Sprawled upon the floor lay the raiders, and to them Pete and Nails turned their attention, while Lawrence glided among them, peering into their faces.

Watching for the slightest move, stood a dozen of the cowboys, with Mr. Wilder and the four lads.

Of a sudden Lawrence stooped down, worked his hand rapidly, then rose, a smile on his face, and continued his search till he found another form, when he repeated the operation.

Gliding to the owner of the Half-Moon, he whispered: 

“I’ve bound Megget and Vasquez.  If they wake up now it doesn’t matter.”

CHAPTER XXV

HOMEWARD

Having made fast the leaders, for he knew that with them rendered powerless no effective opposition would be made by the others should they be aroused, Lawrence returned to the task of “hog-tying,” and in a few minutes every cattle thief in the cave had been securely bound.

“Well, it has been easier to round up Megget and his gang than I ever imagined it could be, thanks to you, Lawrence,” exclaimed Mr. Wilder as they left the mine to join the others.

“It was no fun at all,” protested Horace, and his opinion voiced the sentiments of the cowboys.  “Can’t we wake them up or do something to let them know they’ve been captured?”

“You’d have some trouble in rousing them, son,” replied his father.  “They’ve been drinking too heavily.”

“That’s what,” agreed the former raider.  “You could ride over them and they would not budge.”

“It’s the only time I ever knew the drinking of too much liquor to do good,” chuckled Mr. Wilder.  “That is, good to us.  I don’t suppose our prisoners will share our opinion, though, when they awake.”

When the raiders had been bound the owner of the Three Stars had sent his men to bring down all the ponies, that the animals might be relieved of their saddles and enjoy the tender grass in the valley.  And no sooner had Blackhawk reached the open than he gave an ear-splitting whinny which was answered by several of the raiders’ horses.

At the racket two or three of the thieves awoke and tried to get up.

For a moment the men blinked at the sight of the cowboys.  Then, their senses returning, they discovered they were tied hand and foot, and in a trice they were yelling like a band of Indians.

“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.