Rush staggered to the edge of the car.
"Jump!" commanded Bob.
Steve did so, not knowing where he would land, but with perfect confidence in his companion's presence of mind. No sooner had the lad cleared the car than a load of ore was dumped on the spot where he had been standing but a few seconds before.
Bob grunted as the heavy body of Steve Rush landed full in his arms, causing the former to sit down heavily on the trestle with the dirt from the dumping shell, showering over them.
"Good for you, Bob! You saved my life. Let's get out of this place."
"I am perfectly agreeable to that. How do we get down?"
"There are two ways. One is to jump off and the other is to go down the ladder. The latter is the way I'm going. Perhaps you prefer the other, judging from your past performances as the horsemen would say. You have made some pretty good records as it is."
Bob made for the ladder, followed by Steve. When the two boys climbed over the rail to the deck of the ship, the first mate gazed at them in astonishment.
"I thought you were down in the hold, Rush."
"So I was," laughed the boy.