Then they advanced until close by where the two dead ponies lay. One thought was in the minds of both Frank and his cousin—the little girl, how had she fared while all the bullets were flying through the air, sent by half-drunken Indians who cared little where they landed.
Jose had suffered. His left arm hung almost helplessly at his side, and they could see that the blood was dripping from his fingers; but he clutched his repeating gun in the right hand and seemed still full of the lust of battle.
“How about the child; is she safe?” called Frank almost afraid to ask the question, for his heart seemed in his throat with the dreadful suspense.
“Surely, senors,” came the immediate reassuring reply. “I saw to it that she lay flat on the ground where nothing could injure her. Look and see for yourselves,” and with that he spoke something to little Becky, so that she immediately sprang to her feet and stretched her tiny hands longingly toward the boys.
At that both of them experienced a deep sense of relief. It began to look, if only Jose proved reasonable, that the end of their long and arduous air chase was now in sight, and that presently they could proceed back to the ranch, bearing with them the little sprite whose abduction had created all this excitement.
“We would make terms with you, Jose,” said Frank in a business like way.
“I am ready to hear what you have to say, young senor,” came the reply.
“You admit that our coming has probably saved your life?” Frank went on, thinking it the part of wisdom to have that point well understood in the beginning.
“Si, senor, it is true, and for that Jose is grateful; if it had not been so he would not consent to give up the child, even if you tried to recover her by force. But you have done me a good turn, and perhaps we can make terms. If, then, I hand her over, will you agree that I go my way unmolested?”
“We willingly agree to that, Jose. You may be a bad man, but we saw you stand off those Indians like a brave one, and for that we respect you. Yes, we will promise not to raise a hand to molest you. Listen Jose, if you place the little girl in our hands we will promise to do even more than that, if so be you are courageous enough to trust yourself with us in our aeroplane. We could rise with you, and fly far away across the desert to where you will be near the border. There we can land, and give you a chance to save yourself from these Indians, who may hang around here, seeking revenge for the wounds you have given them.”