The way was a treacherous one, and the rascal ahead was compelled shortly to slow up. Soon the sheriff was again within hailing distance.
“Stop, or I’ll fire!” he commanded.
The Spaniard turned. He held a pistol in his hand and pointed it at Sheriff Shattock’s head.
Before he could pull the trigger, the officer fired his own weapon. The shot struck Colonel Mendix’s horse, and the animal leaped into the air and fell down, throwing the Spaniard over his head.
When they drew near, they saw that in falling the Spaniard had struck his head upon a sharp rock, and that the blood was flowing profusely from a wound in his temple. He was unconscious, and it took fully ten minutes to bring him to his senses.
“I give up,” he said in a faint voice. “The fates are against me, and I am in the hands of the law at last.”
Shortly after, the whole party rode to the office of the Cortez mine. Here the safe was opened, and an examination of its contents proved all the statements made against Colonel Mendix to be true.
Sheriff Shattock at once took charge of the criminal. By the suggestion of Mr. Whyland he appointed Cottle as temporary superintendent of the mine until the law should have taken its course.
The situation of affairs was fully explained to all the men at work,—some thirty in number. They were surprised; but as none of them had ever liked Mendix, they took the change in good part, especially after Mr. Whyland told them that they should every one be well rewarded if they remained true to their duty.
Then Oliver and Mr. Whyland sat down to figure out the probable value of the mine. It was a tedious, but highly gratifying task.