But they were not to escape without a further encounter.
Five minutes after entering the second ravine they heard a clatter of hoofs behind them. There was no time to get out of the ravine, and it happened that they were unable to find a place of concealment in time to escape observation.
Six men came riding madly toward them, sending up a wild shout when they were observed.
"Behind these rocks here!" cried Frank. "We must stand them off. It's our only show. Put the girl behind that large one, so that she will be safe from bullets."
Bart was desperate. His teeth showed, his face was very pale, and he grated:
"They shall not touch her again—I vow they shall not touch her!"
Behind the bowlders plunged the trio, just as a bullet whistled over Frank's head.
Dropping on one knee behind a stone on which he could rest his elbow, our hero brought the butt of his Winchester to his shoulder, and began to work the weapon.
Even then Frank was not quite ready to shoot straight at the breasts of human beings, and so his first five shots brought down three of the horses, throwing the band into confusion.
Bart was more desperate, as his words indicated, for he half snarled: