e bent over it, from a clump of bushes
near by, there leaped a score or more of men.

"Buck! Buck!" yelled Coyote Pete.

The big fellow looked up just in time. The foremost of his attackers
was upon him as he threw the switch over. Buck picked him up, and
fairly pitched the little Mexican over his head. The man fell in a
heap at one side of the track.

"Come ahead!" bawled Buck, while the others hesitated and held back.

Ralph started the engine up, and it rolled toward the switch points.
This seemed to wake the hesitating Mexicans to life. With a yell, they
made a concerted rush for Buck, but, as they did so, Ralph pulled the
whistlecord, and the locomotive emitted an ear-splitting screech. The
Mexicans hastily jumped aside, to avoid being run down, while Buck made
a leap to exactly the opposite side of the track. As the engine puffed
by, he swung on. As he did so, however, one of the yellow men made a
spring for the switch. It was his evident intention to throw it, while
the engine was passing over it, and ditch them.

But, before he could carry out his intention, Jack, who had seen what
was about to happen, had snatched up a hunk of coal. With all his
force, he aimed it at the fellow, and struck him fair and square on the
head. The would-be train-wrecker toppled backward with a groan, just
escaping the wheels of the engine. Before he gathered himself up and
realized what had hit him, the engine was roaring and puffing its way
up the grade to the Esmeralda.

"That shows us what we may expect at the mine," commented Jack. "I
hope they are still all right."

"Don't worry about that, boy," comforted Buck, noting his troubled
face. "The fact that Madero had his men along the line shows that he
anticipated our game--like the shrewd ruffian he is. It stands to
reason he couldn't have his precious squadron, or column, or whatever
he calls it, in two places at once, so I guess we'll be in time yet."

"I hope so, I'm sure," breathed Jack. "If we failed now, it would be
the bitterest moment of my life."

But, as they came in sight of the tall stockade and the smokeless
chimneys of the Esmeralda, they saw that their apprehensions were
groundless. No sign of life appeared about the mine buildings. But
presently, in answer to a long blast on the whistle, a strange figure
came toddling out of the gate. It was that of Geisler. As he saw the
engine, with its load of friendly faces, he broke into a cheer,