“I think they’re getting ready for a rush,” he exclaimed.
The words had scarcely left his lips before they were followed by the roar of a volley, and Ramirez and his men came plunging from the woods, uttering wild yells and making straight for the entrance of the cave. This time they did not scatter, but depended on the power of their mass attack to overwhelm the little party of defenders by sheer weight of numbers.
It was a fatal mistake, for their course was taking them right over the place where the mine had been planted. Phil already had his finger on the key.
“Now!” shouted Benton, and Phil sent the spark along the wire.
There was a terrific explosion, as tons of earth were sent hurtling upward, carrying with them the whirling, sprawling bodies of some of the attacking party. Others were sent staggering to the ground on either side of the great yawning hole that had been dug by the dynamite.
Even in the cave itself the force of the explosion was felt, and the boys were thrown from the positions in which they had ensconced themselves, while their weapons were sent clattering from their hands.
“Get ready to rush them, boys,” Benton’s voice rose high over the din. “It’s our turn now.”
The boys sprang to their feet, and followed their leader through the narrow passage between the rocks that formed the barricade.
They awaited the command to fire, but as Benton saw the devastation that had been caused by the mine, he forbore to give the order.
For the victory had already been won. The mine had done all and more than had been expected of it. It had taken all the fight out of the attacking party. Several had been killed, and the others in wild panic had sought refuge in flight. The boys could hear them plunging in a mad stampede through the underbrush, their sole anxiety to get as far away from the fatal spot as possible. In their confused minds they had probably interpreted the mine as another manifestation of the earthquake.