“Give it to ’em, boys!”
The next moment the crash of fire-arms broke the air of the gorge. A volley of rifle balls came whistling up the defile.
But they rattled harmlessly against the steel shutters of the wagon.
Frank and Barney and Pomp all sprang to the loopholes and opened fire upon the villains.
Volley after volley was fired at the Steam Horse by the counterfeiters.
But it did no damage whatever.
On the other hand, Barney and Pomp picked off a number of the counterfeiters with deadly aim.
Indeed, given time, the little party of three could have cleaned out the whole gang.
It seemed that the counterfeiters had become aware of the fact that their shots had not told, for the order came for a charge.
Up the defile they came on a charge in headlong fashion.