At the union of the trails, the Scouts and the two engineers elected to make their stand against the bandits.
In a frenzy of excitement, Rhodes led the others to a rock cavity where he had cached a supply of dynamite. He had hidden it there weeks before, intending to use it in an emergency if his plot to gain possession of the Last Chance mine failed.
“I’ll dynamite the path ahead of Carlos!” Rhodes shouted. “He’ll be trapped behind the rock slide!”
“They’re coming fast,” the other engineer warned. “Get busy!”
The dynamite was planted with its fuse ready to light. But Rhodes deliberately delayed setting it off. Corning spoke sharply to him, saying he would be no party to a massacre.
“That demon has the emeralds,” Rhodes muttered. “He’s a traitor. I want to finish him!”
“Set off the charge,” Corning ordered. “Now!”
Carlos and his men still were a considerable distance away.
Rhodes hesitated, but realized that his will was not to prevail. With a shrug he lighted the fuse and everyone rushed for cover.
The minutes of waiting seemed endless. As the explosion failed to materialize, Rhodes began to fret and worry.