“All right. Me go! Bring help!” the girl whispered, and, leaping on her pony’s back, she rode off to one side, getting away from the glare of the searchlight and so escaping observation.
Two minutes later the auto came up to where Bob was stretched out on the ground. Vasco leaped out before the machine had fairly stopped and made a grab for Bob.
“The boy is dead!” he exclaimed.
“Dead!” faltered Noddy. He was beginning to be alarmed over the part he had played.
“Bring a light here!” commanded the Mexican.
Noddy turned the search-lamp on Bob’s prostrate form. At that the boy opened his eyes. He had fainted from pain caused by his fall.
“Shamming, eh?” sneered Vasco, striking Bob a blow with a rope he carried. “Get up, now! No nonsense; you’ve made trouble enough!”
Poor Bob was too discouraged and felt too bad to reply. The other Mexicans rode up. In a few minutes the captive was securely bound, lifted into the auto, and, as dawn broke, the start back to camp was made.
“Don’t you want Maximina?” asked Dalsett.
“Let her go,” replied Vasco. “She was only a bother around, and never liked to work. She can’t do any harm.”