“My soul! we are lost!” cried Montaine.
But Frank Reade, Jr., was seized with a mighty desperation.
Weapons they had none, save the shovel and the iron bar which they had brought with them from the old shaft.
But Frank raised the bar and hurled it with all his might at the foe.
It struck one of the greasers fair across the breast.
He went down like a shot.
The other greasers retreated, giving yells of alarm.
Frank recovered the iron bar and Montaine secured a couple of pistols from the fallen greaser.
The heroic little trio meant to die game if the foe should venture up the stairway again.
But they did not.