“Yes,” replied Frank, truthfully. “Yet I always confer with my two servitors. I will give you an answer.”
Frank arose, but Casnova did the same and seemed loath to let his guest depart.
“Ah, too much haste,” he declared, in his oily way. “Senor Reade, you know not the ways of these parts.”
“I shall learn, perhaps,” said Frank, dryly, taking a stride toward the door.
But before he could cross it the ranchero had seized a small whistle from his girdle and blew it.
Several sharp notes upon it he blew.
In the flash of a second Frank realized his peril. He made action in that same brief bit of time.
Quick as lightning he cleared the threshold and started across the yard for the Steam Man.
“Stop him!” yelled Casnova, in the Mexican tongue.
In the same moment six of the greasers sprang toward Frank.