"Yes; chase yourselves or you'll get your faces slapped," added Sam. "Vamoose! Allez vous—scat!"
"We're coming, ladies! Charge them, Sam! They're thugs! Look out for yourself!"
"I've got one of them!" yelled Sam Hickey triumphantly.
In passing the horses he had sheered close to the fellow who was holding them, hitting the man a blow on the jaw that tumbled him over in a heap. The man did not rise, but Sam was too excited to notice the fact.
"Whoop!" he howled, making a rush and coming up by his companion. "We're the wild men from the land of the cowboy!"
The boys swept down on the robbers, the formers' fists working like the piston rods of a locomotive.
The ruffians turned on them instantly.
"Quick! Into your carriage!" called Dan. He had neither the time nor opportunity to assist the ladies in doing so. Both boys were now altogether too busy to give further heed to the frightened women.
Smashing right and left, they fell upon the robbers.
Bang!