As they ran, Bart made a brief explanation. He had climbed to a point from whence he looked down into a grassy valley, and there he discovered some horses and men. The horses were feeding, and the men were reclining in the shade, with the exception of one or two. While Bart looked he recognized one of the men, and also saw a girl. At first he thought he must be deceived, but soon he was satisfied that the one he[Pg 120] recognized was the comrade he had traveled thousands of miles to join, bringing with him Ready and Gallup.
As he watched, he saw the encounter between Merry and Brazos Tom, and that was enough to satisfy Hodge that his friend was in serious trouble. Then he hastened back to get Jack and Ephraim.
When Bart again reached the point where he could look into that valley he was astonished to discover that another struggle was taking place down there.
Frank was engaged in a knife-duel with Red Sam, having been forced into it. And Red Sam meant to kill him.
The watching ruffians were gathered around, while Gonchita, a pistol in her hand, was watching to see that the youth had fair play.
Without doubt, the sandy ruffian had expected to find Merriwell easy, and finish him quickly in an engagement of this sort. But Frank Merriwell had been instructed in knife-play by a clever expert, and he soon amazed Red Sam and the other ruffians by meeting the fellow's assault, catching his blade, parrying thrust after thrust, leaping, dodging, turning, charging, retreating, and making such a wonderful contest of it that the spectators were electrified.
It was Frank's knife that drew first blood. He slit the ruffian's sleeve at the shoulder and cut the man slightly.
Gonchita's dark eyes gleamed. More than ever she[Pg 121] marveled at this wonderful youth, who seemed more than a match for any single ruffian of Bill's band.
"He is a wonder!" she told herself. "Oh, he is grand! They meant to kill him. If he beats Red Sam they shall not kill him."
Sam swore when he felt the knife clip his shoulder.