As he did this Fred and Andy rushed closer, one on either side of the horse. Each grabbed Ditini by a foot, and as a consequence as the steed made a plunge, in spite of Jack’s effort to hold him, the bandit slid backwards and then came down to the ground with a thump.
“Let go of me, you little pigs!” roared the Mexican, as he lay on the ground. Then, as he scrambled to his feet, he tried to draw his pistol.
But the four Rovers knew that they had a desperate character with whom to deal, and they took no chances. Fred pounced on the rascal from behind, grabbing him by the throat, while Randy caught hold of the pistol before the man could get it from its holster. Andy threw himself on the bandit’s legs, and Jack, letting the horse go, came forward and caught Ditini by the left hand.
“You might as well give in, Ditini,” said the oldest of the Rover boys. “If you don’t we’ll knock you senseless.”
For several seconds the bandit continued to struggle. But then, as Fred continued to choke him and Randy took away his pistol, he suddenly subsided.
“It’s all a mistake. I don’t know why you’ve attacked me,” said he.
He had scarcely spoken when out of the house limped the Yucatan official who had received a slight flesh wound in his left thigh. He had his pistol in his hand and after him came Señora Ditini, begging loudly for mercy for her husband. The official had handcuffs with him, and soon Ditini was made a close prisoner.
The fellow was astonished when he learned who the Rover boys were and how it had been discovered that he and Ronombo had been the principal actors in the hold-up in New York City.
“But Ronombo is the man who got most of the securities,” declared Ditini. “He did not divide with me as he promised. I was to have half, but he gave me less than ten thousand dollars!”
“Where is Ronombo now?” questioned Jack.