stood Spanish well enough to catch the drift of the words,
and he knew his cousin had not saved him through compassion, but for
quite another purpose.

Carlos coveted the riches into which Frank had fallen, and he meant to
have a portion of the money. If Frank were killed, there was little
chance that he would ever handle a dollar of the fortune, so he had
cried out that his cousin was to be spared, captured, and held for
ransom.

That was enough to warn Frank of the terrible peril that overshadowed
him at the moment.

Out came his revolvers, and his back went against the wall. Upward were
flung his hands, and the weapons began to crack.

Two horses fell, sent down by the first two bullets from the pistols of
the boy at bay.

But Frank found he could not shoot horses and save himself, for dark
forms were pressing upon him, and he must fall into the clutches of the
bandits in another moment unless he resorted to the most desperate
measures.

"If you will have it, then you shall!" he muttered, through his set
teeth, turning his aim on the human forms.

Spouts of red fire shot from the muzzles of the revolvers, and the
cracking of the weapons was followed by cries and groans.

Through a smoky haze Frank saw some of the dark figures fling up their
arms and topple to the ground within a few feet of him.

He wondered what had become of Hans and the professor, for he could see
nothing of either, and they had been close at hand a moment before.

In the midst of all this, Frank wondered at his own calmness. His one
thought was that not a bullet should be wasted, and then he feared he
would find his weapons empty and useless before the desperadoes were
rebuffed.

But this reception was something the bandits had not expected from a
boy. They had no heart to stand up before a lad who could shoot with the
skill of a Gringo cowboy, and did not seem at all excited when attacked
by twenty men.

Mexican half-bloods are cowards at heart, and, by the time they saw two
or three of their number fall before the fire from Frank's revolvers
they turned and took to their heels like a flock of frightened sheep.

"Say, holdt on avile und led me ged a few pullets indo you, mein
friendts."

It was Hans' voice, and, looking down, Frank saw the Dutch lad on the
ground at his feet, whither he had crept on hands and knees.

"What are you down there for, Hans?"

"Vot you dink, Vrankie? You don'd subbose I sdood up all der dime und