"If we do get into trouble, and you find it out, you'll come to our rescue, won't you ?" "Sartin.

Now, don't be keerless, like you allers are." The boys kept their horses in a rapid gallop until they reached the bridle-path in the mountains, and then Archie went ahead with the pack-horse, and the others followed in single file.

They rode along singing and shouting, and little dreaming of the danger that was so near, until they arrived in sight of the spring, near which Frank had his last encounter with the robber.

He soon found that he was to have another adventure there; for, as he and his companions rode toward the spring, they were startled by a shrill whistle, which echoed among the mountains, and was answered on all sides of them; and, before they had recovered from their surprise, Pierre Costello appeared in the path, as suddenly as though he had dropped from the clouds, and came toward them, holding a pistol in each hand.
"Halt!" shouted the robber.
The boys looked about them, as if seeking some avenue of escape, and then they saw that Pierre was not alone.

Every thicket, toward which they turned their eyes, bristled with weapons, and a dozen revolvers were leveled straight at their heads.