Billie laughed softly.
"Say, stranger," he finally said. "I guess you never heard of the
Broncho Rider Boys. We've got the nerve to do anything that any
other human being dare do."
"Then we'll get rid of these bandits in short notice," declared
the mountebank emphatically. "You are just the chaps I have been
looking for."
He leaned over the mouth of the shaft and gave a shrill whistle.
In an instant all was silent below.
Half a minute later he repeated the whistle thrice.
There was a clatter below of arms and accoutrements.
"Over behind those big cactus with you, quick," was the next
command. "If you insist on fighting these men later, you can.
Now let's get rid of them."
For just a moment the boys hesitated, but there was something in
the man's manner that seemed to force obedience and they obeyed.
They were not a moment too soon, for they had no more than
secreted themselves than the back wall of the ruin flew open and
the men rode out. Of those who had been at the mouth of the shaft
only a few moments before, only the mountebank with his ape was
in sight.
"What is it?" asked one of the band, riding up to him.
"Guard the track at the summit. Let no train pass, even if you
have to tear up the track.
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