"There's no danger of our being seen now, I reckon," he declared, rising to his feet. "But we won't run any risk by showing too much of ourselves.
"Come on! While the Injuns and troopers are searching the other side of the ravine, we'll get back to the cliffs on this."
Overjoyed at their escape from the foes, which seemed little short of miraculous, the bandits broke into a swift, steady jog trot that carried them rapidly over the ground.
Nearer and nearer they approached the rocks that towered majestically ahead of them.
But just as safety seemed within their grasp, Frank gasped:
"I'm all in! The—wo—wound—in—my—leg."
And he sank to the ground, in collapse.
Muttering an oath under his breath at this misfortune when all was going so well, Jesse hurried to the side of his brother and the others joined him.
"Take an arm, Texas," snapped the bandit-chieftain, as he put his own hand under Frank's left shoulder and lifted him to his feet.