“Up, boys, and at them! Drive ’em into the river!”
“Peter Pratt!” shouted Alex, dancing up and down in the excitement of the moment.
“Good old Jule! I knew they couldn’t kill him!” exclaimed Clay, leaping out of the boat.
It was plain to be seen that the outlaws were returning to the boat which lay within reach, and in another moment would be off down the river. There were three of them now, the man who had been tied up in the cabin being the third.
“Now, what’s the matter with them?” asked the lieutenant, with a look of wonder in his eyes. “They surely are not running away from one man! Ah, I see now!”
What he saw was the Esmeralda, making record time.
“That boat stands about as much show of running away from the Esmeralda as the baby bear does of flying!” exclaimed Case.
The boys on shore watched the race for some moments, and then saw the pirate boat surrender. She was taken back upstream, where she was anchored beside the Rambler.
The prisoners were taken out and added to the collection on the shore. They were then turned over to the lieutenant, who at once started toward El Paso with them.
“Hope you’ll have a fine trip,” said the lieutenant, at parting. “You boys certainly deserve something good!”