The sound of the shots aroused both sides, and the battle was on. Juarez now backed cautiously down into a depression and ran with all his might to give the news to Jim. He got to the hill just in time to warn Jim and Jo not to go up the gully.
“This is the way they will make their attack,” said Juarez. “We can station ourselves behind these trees, and, when they come out of the gully, we will let ’em have it.”
“That’s the scheme,” agreed Jim. “Which one did you have the duel with, Juarez?”
“The blond beauty himself,” replied Juarez. “He didn’t miss me far either, but I made him take to cover pretty quick.”
“They will be here in about fifteen minutes,” said Jim. “We might as well get to our places.”
Tom was left in the stockade, and Jim and the other three boys took their stations behind convenient trees upon the slope of the hill commanding the entrance into the gully. Jim and Juarez were nearest to the foot of the hill, backed by Jo and Jeems. They did not have long to wait, though the twenty minutes seemed like several hours to Jo and Jeems, before there were signs of the approach of Gus Gols and his gang.
Very carefully they came up the gully, with the tall giant in the lead and Eph close at his heels; behind them came three of the Mexicans, but where was Edgar, and the other four? Perhaps the boss was afraid lest the flashing diamond that Ed always wore in his shirt bosom might give their presence away. But without joking, it was strange that these five were not with the main party. It was hardly likely that Big Gus would leave that number with the horses. Where were they? We shall find out in a few minutes.
“Don’t you reckon those fellows have had time to make their move?” whispered Gus to his henchman Eph. They had halted in the darkness of the gully, about two hundred and fifty yards from the foot of the hill.
“Ed’s pretty quick,” replied Eph. “He said that he wouldn’t take more than a quarter of an hour.”
“I’ll give him five minutes’ leeway,” said Gus. “Then we will jump these fellows.” In a short time he looked at his watch by the quick flare of a match that showed his red, evil face with the squinting blue eyes.