“No,” laughed the boy, “why?”
“Arter what I went through, I hearn tell of such things. Me for a nice snug place in a stampede, or the front rank in a shooting scrape arter this. I’ve no more use for exciting sports.”
“Senors,” interrupted the leader of the Rangers presently, “we had better be proceeding. Ramon may have broken camp and gone on by this time, and again he may have——”
“May have what?” asked Jack, for the capitano paused and seemed unwilling to proceed.
“I do not wish to alarm you unduly, senor,” said the young officer, “but I know the character of that notorious outlaw well. It is possible that if we do not hurry we may arrive too late to save your friends from a terrible fate.”
The thought was maddening to Jack.
“Oh, that we have been fooling away time here!” he exclaimed impatiently; “Pete, you can mount behind me. There. Are you all right? Yes? Then forward!”
“Forward!” shouted the officer, and the bugle rang shrilly out.
Amidst a cloud of dust the Mexican Rangers swept on down the canyon, intent on their errand of vengeance.