uipment for carrying on life.

What filled their minds to the exclusion of all else was, at first, a
sense of gratitude and thankfulness for the lucky outcome of the
adventurous mission of the two boys, and, in the second place, a
desire to learn the details.

"Now don't interrupt, Frank," said Bob. "Just listen while I talk to
father, and you can hear all about it."

Under this admonition Frank ceased the flood of eager questions he had
loosed and confined himself to listening. As the story of the
remarkable series of adventures undergone by Jack and Bob at the
Calomares ranch poured through the air, however, Frank, at times,
could not curb his quick tongue, and many an exclamation he let slip.
His hand, placed across the mouth of the microphone, however, acted to
prevent these exclamations from interrupting the flow of Bob's
explanation.

When Bob had finished his account, Jack took a turn. And at the
recital of his adventures, Frank began to laugh. Removing his hand
from the microphone, he interrupted his chum with the question:

"Now, who's the lady-killer?"

Jack, who at the moment, was telling of the part played by Senorita
Rafaela, blushed violently and grew indignant. Bob, standing near,
looked at him speculatively. Was old Jack hard hit by that little
Spanish beauty? Ordinarily, Jack would have answered Frank's joking in
kind. But to grow indignant! Bob feared his chum was smitten.

For a long time the three-cornered conversation was carried on through
the air, Mr. Temple and Frank both being eager to hear every detail
and compelling Jack and Bob to repeat their stories several times.

Finally, drawn by the long absence of the boys, Mr. Hampton appeared
at the radio station accompanied by Don Fernandez himself, and he and
Mr. Temple held a brief conversation.

At length it was decided that the next day Mr. Hampton, with Bob and
Jack, would fly back to the Hampton ranch in New Mexico. Frank, Tom
and Roy Stone were to ride for the border at the same time, after
another night's sleep at the cave. Morales and Von Arnheim, to whom
Don Fernandez spoke personally, were apprised of the turn of affairs,
and were told to stay at the cave, which was plentifully provisioned,
until a relief party from headquarters could reach them with mounts.

Then "good nights" were said, and at their three different points our
respective characters retired for the night, well pleased with the
outcome of their adventures.