Down into the defile there came a perfect swarm of armed men.
Rough looking wretches they were, all greasers and armed to the teeth.
It needed but a glance for any in the party to realize who and what they were.
“All aboard!” yelled Bill Guernsey, the stage driver. “Run fer yer lives, lads. There’s no show fer us agin that pack of imps.” There was no doubt of this.
Costello’s gang, for such they were, fairly swarmed in the defile.
There seemed a legion of them, and the numbers were too great for the party of miners.
Frank saw this at a glance and he turned the Steam Man about.
Barney and Pomp were instantly at the loopholes and giving the wretches a shower of bullets.
The party on the coach were firing, and a small sized battle was in progress.
But all clambered aboard the coach, and just in time Bill Guernsey cracked his long whip and sent his eight horses flying down the pass.