Then he caught sight of the gleam of arms, the bright hues of crimson and blue sashes and wraps, and soon made out a large mounted party coming through a small valley that lay a mile away.
“Dey’s comin’,” he shouted, and came down from his perch. “Dey’s trotting through the valley ’bout one mile away ober dar.”
“How many of them do you think in the party?” asked Frank, as he examined all parts of his machinery.
“Guess dar’s fully half hundred men on dem horses,” said Pomp. “Dey looks flashy too, I tell yer.”
“Where are the prisoners?”
“In de front ranks,” said Pomp.
“All right,” said Frank. “I’ve fixed the mode of attack. All I want you to do is to see that those old people are not murdered by the robbers when we make our charge. I give you the job because you are the best and quickest shot, and can use your eyes to effect.”
“Consider dem under dis chile’s special pertection,” said Pomp.
They now piled into the wagons, and stood ready for a start.