Not long were they obliged to wait to learn the answer to their leader's question, however.
Scarcely had the shower of sparks vanished than one of them sang out: "Here she comes, from the East, boys!"
But the words had no more than left his lips than another shouted:
"They're answering from the south, too!"
Rapidly Jesse and his men whirled, viewing first the rocket to the east and then to the south.
"Jumpin' snakes! They've got us surrounded!" gasped Texas Jack.
"You're wrong, pard," interposed Bob. "They haven't quite surrounded us yet. There's been no rocket from the West."
"And that's the side of the canyon where our horses are. Were sure in luck. I reckon it's a good thing we had this brush with the redskins. It's showed us where the sojers are," chimed in Homely Harry, not wishing to let the others get ahead of him.
"After them rockets, we kin ride dead West an' git away. If it hadn't been for the Injuns we might a rid right into some of the sojers."