Case threw a hand behind his back, but before he could draw the other had him covered. Case stood up and dropped his automatics to the sand. Then he turned a scornful eye on Alex, who sat chuckling as if he considered it all a great joke.
“You’re a fine chum!” he said. “Turned pirate, have you?”
“Of course!” Alex returned. “I’ve got a choice collection of pirates here. Ever see any alleged human beings who would fit an electric chair any better than these three? They make a nice flock of jailbirds, don’t they?”
“Is that what you called me over here for?” asked Case. “To say that?”
“I called you over here,” was the reply, “to keep a procession of bullets out of your back. I’d rather have you here alive than out on the sands dead! This other chap is Don Durand,” he continued, making the introduction with a chuckle at the absurdity of the situation.
“I’ve heard of him,” Case answered. “King told me about the money he stole. King will soon be down after him!”
“So!” exclaimed the Mexican. “You think he’ll come after the boy? That is good news, but he needn’t to take the pains! As soon as we pluck the kid we’ll send him up to King. What, fellows?” he added, turning to his sullen companions with a provoking sneer on his hard face.
The two men nodded, but made no verbal reply to the question.
“Your friends seem to be afflicted with the mollygrubs!” Alex said, turning to the spokesman of the party. “Perhaps they’ve been eating something that doesn’t agree with them! Yes? No? What?”
“You seem to be a bright boy!” scowled the other.