“That’s right,” agreed Pete, “but I guess we won’t be bothered. Nobody but Ramon had wind of our mission, and I don’t imagine that after the lesson the Rangers gave him that he’ll come back in a hurry.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” said Jack, “from what I know of him he’s not the sort of man to let go of a good thing if he can help it, and he’d certainly have a good thing in us, providing he could get the treasure away from us.”
“Always provided,” said Ralph, “but I’ll bet we’d give him a sharp tussle for it.”
“Let us hope nothing of the kind occurs,” said the professor, “we have had difficulties enough on our mission, and now that it is over let us hope we can bring it to a peaceful conclusion.”
“Amen to that,” agreed Pete, “but in time of peace prepare for war, you know. Have you any plans for the return home?”
“Yes,” said the man of science, “the city of Hermosillo on the Mexican West Coast Railroad is not many miles from where we now are. My idea is to make for that and take the train back home.”
“Hooray for the good old U. S. A.!” shouted the Border Boys in chorus.
Conversing cheerily in this manner they reached the mouth of the passage and were about to step out into the starlight, when Pete, who was in advance, held up his hand in a signal that they all had no difficulty in interpreting.
“Stop!”
The keen eyes of the cow-puncher had detected several dark forms skulking in the shadows of the grove about the portal of the cave. From their manner of pacing about, Pete immediately guessed that they were sentries posted there by somebody, whom he concluded could be no other than Ramon.