"I don't know how, but I will, you can bet," said Ralph decisively.
"Well, I'm going to sleep," said Walt; and, accordingly, he curled himself up in his blanket and was soon wrapped in slumber. The professor followed his example, but Ralph could not sleep. What, with worry over their own situation and wondering how his friends, whom he believed were still captives in the mission, were faring, his eyes were wide open till past midnight.
At that hour the quiet of the village was disturbed by a sudden sound—the trample of horses' hoofs and the clanking of metal.
"Black Ramon has found out we are here and is coming for us," was Ralph's first thought.
But the trampling went on, and suddenly a bugle call sounded.
"Soldiers!" exclaimed Ralph.
Hastily he awoke the others, and, after a prolonged period of listening, there was little doubt from the military character of the sounds outside that the newcomers were indeed troops.
"Maybe they are out after the brigands," gasped Ralph, in a hopeful tone.
"If only we could see their commander and explain our predicament to him," wished the professor.