“I’ll tell you,” spoke Noddy. “We’re going to follow them until they locate their mine, and then we’re going to stake a claim right near theirs. They’re not going to get all the gold or silver in this country the way they did in Arizona.”
“Are you sure it’s a mine they’re after?” asked Bilette, puffing at his cigarette.
“Of course,” replied Noddy. “What else could it be? Didn’t you hear that’s what they came for?”
“I don’t know,” went on the slick Mexican. “I only asked for information. If it’s a mine they’re after we’ll need a bigger force than we have to run things.”
“Where can we get help?” asked Noddy.
“I’ll show you,” replied Vasco. He put his fingers to his lips and whistled shrilly.
An instant later half a dozen Mexicans stepped from the shadow of the trees and stood in a line, in the glare of the fire.
“Well, you didn’t lose any time over it,” observed Noddy. “Where did they come from, and who are they?” and the bully looked a little uneasy.
“They came from the greenwood,” replied Vasco Bilette, “for the forest is their home. And they are friends of mine, so now both your questions are answered.”