CHAPTER XXIX
"JUDGE B-DAY"
The long call of the whistle through the hills was smothered in another and nearer burst of firearms. The rattle of bullets against the half-armored side of the Pullman told their own story and told it unmistakably. The bandits were coming in force; the troops under General Palo's subordinates were not standing up to the enemy at all!
The three in the Pullman heard the doughty little general charging out of the other car to take personal leadership of the defending forces, and Janice believed her father, wounded though he was, had gone with him.
Marty had shot through the corridor of the car and the open compartments to the rear. There he clawed open the door and stepped out upon the observation platform.
Again he had heard that cheerful, raucous whistle.
"Hi tunket!" he said to Janice who followed. "If that don't sound like a steamboat——"
"Or a steam train?"
"But those rails were torn up outside San Cristoval."
"They could be spiked to the sleepers again," the girl said quickly.
"Cricky! who's coming, then?" the excited boy demanded. "Friends or foes?"