mouth was even with the water, and it was with the greatest
difficulty that he prevented himself swallowing it.

Tim came back and flung some cedars to Jack.

With these he built his bridge out further.

Giving the sheriff a pull that raised him a foot, Jack left him and made
his way to Fritz.

He reached the Dutchman just in time to save him.

It almost pulled the fat fellow's joints apart when the inventor hauled
him up, but once he was free of his bonds and upon the cedars he aided
Jack to pull the sheriff up and set him free.

They all got their feet stuck in the sand as they fought and struggled
to reach firm land, for the trees were now sunk but they finally managed
to get ashore.

Here they found Tim bombarding the woods.

All the bandits had seen what was happening, and now opened fire upon
them again.

The old sailor procured two bombs.

He let thus drive in the direction the shots came from, and they ripped
the woods and blew up rocks and trees, and created the most terrific
devastation.

That silenced the outlaws.

None of them were killed, but many were wounded, and they now lost no
time at making their escape.

Jack and his companions hastened back aboard the Terror, and sent her
flying back to the road.

There they waited for the appearance of some of the gang; but they
waited in vain.

All had escaped in the other direction.

When assured of this, the four adventurers went inside to change their
clothing, and rest themselves.

Jack's companions told him how they happened to be found sinking in the
bed of quicksand.

"They meant to kill you!" he exclaimed.

"Ay, ay, lad! But you balked 'em!" chuckled Tim.

"And I've get most of the stolen money back," laughed Jack, as he held
up the wad of bank notes he took from Jesse James.

_"Donner und blitzen!_ Vot a surbrised barty dot vos fer der pandits,"
roared Fritz. "Inshtid of Yesse Yames hookin' money from odder beoples,
it must haf peen shtrange fer him ter haf money hooked from him
alretty."

"Yes--a very novel experience for the thief," said the sheriff, dryly.
"I congratulate you, Mr. Wright, for doing something to that villain
that nobody else ever did. It is a most remarkable thing for Jesse James
to be robbed."

"I reckerlect when I wuz in ther navy," said Tim, "I once had a
experience like that. We went out ter hunt fer a fillibuster's ship when
wot wuz our surprise ter have ther lubber tackle us. Gee whiz! wuzn't I
mad