But Duval had heard sounds in the hall, and his quick wit had detected the ruse.  Therefore, when the lads flung open the doors, there was no one to be seen in either room.  They turned and stared at each other blankly, and as they did so a bullet whistled between them.

Duval, stepping from behind the door where he had been concealed, had opened fire on them.

“Down!” cried Chester, and dropped to the floor.

Hal followed suit.

Both raised their weapons, but Duval was not in sight, so they did not fire.  Slowly they got to their feet again, and dashed into the room where they now knew the Apache chief to be.

Hal went first.  As he cleared the doorway, he was met by Duval himself, who, with the butt of his revolver, dealt the lad a heavy blow on the head.  Hal fell like a log.

But Chester had been right at Hal’s heels and before Duval could raise his weapon to fire, or bring it down on the lad’s head, Chester had clinched with him.

With his two arms beneath those of the Apache chief, Chester brought them up, and, reaching over his shoulder, clasped hands under Duval’s chin.

But Duval was a powerful man, and broke this hold with ease, even as the lad exerted his utmost strength in an attempt to strangle his opponent.

Chester staggered back, but rushed into another clinch as Duval raised his revolver.  Ducking, Chester drove his fist to his opponent’s chin, even as the latter pressed the trigger.  The bullet whistled harmlessly over his head.

With a quick, upward stroke of his left arm, Chester sent his enemy’s revolver spinning through the air.  Deprived of this weapon, Duval sought to bring his greater strength to bear and overpower the lad.

Chester realized that in strength he was no match for Duval, and knew that what he lacked in this respect he must make up in agility and cunning.

Therefore, he slipped from his opponent’s grasp, and, sidestepping, struck Duval a stinging blow just above the right ear.  Duval staggered back, then came forward with a cry of rage.

The Apache chief realized the need of haste, for he could already distinguish the sound of heavy footsteps in the hall below.  He hoped, by freeing himself from Chester, who had now grappled with him again, that he could gain a moment’s advantage, jump into the next room, dash through the hall and descend by the rear before the crowd came upon him.

Accordingly, he exerted himself to his utmost, and Chester gave ground.  Then the lad stepped suddenly backward, and Duval staggered headlong.  Before he could recover his balance, Chester, getting a good start, hurled himself forward as he had been wont to do on the football field—­but not in a tackle—­and Duval, unable to entirely recover himself, found himself being pushed rapidly across the room.

In vain did he strike out at the lad with his one free arm.  His blows fell short.  Chester, with lowered head, continued to push, and Duval was unable to check this impetus.