“That’s exactly it. I heard the sound before we came to the wall. It’s the camp, of course, and what’s more, Martin Mudd or one of his men has returned.”
“For mercy’s sake, don’t expose yourself, Dick,” said Clara. “Tell me what your plan is. I hate to even think of what might happen if you fell into the hands of Mudd.”
“Then don’t think of it, for he is already in the hands of Mudd!” spoke a sneering voice right ahead of them.
Clara screamed and Dick and Charley hastily drew their revolvers, for at the same instant two men armed with rifles sprang out from behind a turn in the rocks, and the foremost man was Mudd.
CHAPTER XVI.
MARTIN MUDD MAKES A SERIOUS CHARGE.
“Throw up nothing!” shouted Dick Darrell when Martin Mudd called out, “Throw up your hands!” and he rushed forward, firing two shots as he went.
This rather took Mudd & Co. by surprise, as they had not expected anything of the sort.
One of the shots went through Mudd’s rusty “tile,” knocking it off his head.
“Oh, I’m shot! I’m shot!” he yelled. “Spare my life, boys!”
Down he fell all in a heap.