"Ef Ferez calls fer his hawses, I don't want him ter git away with this yar balloon an' gas generator," said the Westerner, as he saw the articles mentioned were placed under lock and key. "Ef we should lose them, it'd be all up with us so fur as gittin' ter ther Silver Palace is concerned."
Frank expected to hear something from Pacheco as soon as Huejugilla el Alto was reached, but he found no message awaiting him.
"Poor professor!" he said. "I expect he has suffered untold torments since he was kidnaped."
"Yah," nodded Hans. "Uf Brofessor Scotch don'd peen britty sick uf dis vild life mit Mexico, you vos a liar."
That night they were sitting outside the hotel when they heard a great commotion at the southern end of the town.
"Vot vos dot?" gasped the Dutch boy, in alarm. "Sounds like dere vos drouple aroundt dot logality."
"That's right," agreed Frank, feeling for his revolvers; "and it is coming this way as fast as it can."
"Mebbe another revolution has broke out," observed Bushnell, lazily. "Best git under kiver, an' let ther circus go by."
They could hear the clatter of horses' hoofs, the cracking of pistols, and a mingling of wild cries.
All at once Frank Merriwell became somewhat excited.