Except for its size, it had the
appearance of the old-fashioned well houses, which were once so
common in New England.
"It's a tough-looking place, whatever it is," was Billie's
comment. "I wish the fellows were here."
And then for the first time in more than half an hour Billie
bethought him of his companions. His strange experience with the
ape had driven all other thoughts out of his mind.
"By George!" he exclaimed aloud, "I wonder how the fight with the
bandits came out?"
Almost as in answer to his words, there appeared upon the edge of
the excavation into which he had fallen, but upon the opposite
side from that on which he had taken his slide, ten horsemen,
three of whom carried across the pommel of their saddles the
bodies of three men. They halted and surveyed the basin
critically. Then, single file, they slowly descended into the
quarry.
Billie recognized them the minute he laid eyes upon them. They
were the remnant of the bandit band, and the bodies carried
across the pommels of the saddles were three of their wounded
companions.
"This is no place for me," commented Billie as he kept himself
well hidden behind a giant cactus. "It reminds me of Ali Baba and
the forty thieves. I hope I have better luck than Ali Baba.
Pages:
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43