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+Project Gutenberg's Frontier Boys on the Coast, by Capt. Wyn Roosevelt
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Frontier Boys on the Coast
+       or in the Pirate's Power
+
+Author: Capt. Wyn Roosevelt
+
+Release Date: May 15, 2008 [EBook #25473]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Emmy and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "THEY WERE NOW GOING UP THE FACE OF THE CLIFF."--P. 204.
+
+_Frontier Boys on the Coast._]
+
+
+
+
+FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST
+
+OR
+
+_IN THE PIRATE'S POWER_
+
+BY CAPT. WYN ROOSEVELT
+
+          NEW YORK
+          HURST & COMPANY
+          PUBLISHERS
+
+
+
+
+THE FRONTIER BOYS
+
+By CAPT. WYN ROOSEVELT
+
+
+This series tells the adventures of Jim, Joe, and Tom Darlington, first
+in their camp wagon as they follow the trail to the great West in the
+early days. They are real American boys, resourceful, humorous, and--but
+you must meet them. You will find them interesting company. They meet
+with thrilling adventures and encounters, and stirring incidents are the
+rule, not exception.
+
+Historically, these books present a true picture of a period in our
+history as important as it was picturesque, when the nation set its face
+toward this vast unknown West, and conquered it.
+
+           1. Frontier Boys on Overland Trail
+           2. Frontier Boys in Colorado
+           3. Frontier Boys in the Rockies
+           4. Frontier Boys in the Grand Canyon
+           5. Frontier Boys in Mexico
+           6. Frontier Boys on the Coast
+           7. Frontier Boys in Hawaii
+           8. Frontier Boys in the Sierras
+           9. Frontier Boys in the Saddle
+          10. Frontier Boys in Frisco.
+          11. Frontier Boys in the South Seas
+
+          _Illustrated, 12mo, Cloth_
+          _Price per Volume, 50 Cents_
+
+
+          COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY
+          THE PLATT & PECK CO.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+  CHAPTER                            PAGE
+       I. CAPTAIN BILL BROOM            9
+      II. THE COVE AND THE CAVE        16
+     III. THE BARBED WIRE              23
+      IV. PETE'S YARN                  30
+       V. THE FOUR BOYS                37
+      VI. THE HUNCHBACK                45
+     VII. FARMER BROOM                 53
+    VIII. THE CAMP IN THE POCKET       60
+      IX. THE ATTACK                   68
+       X. "HAUL IN"                    76
+      XI. MISSOURI'S MANOEUVRE         82
+     XII. THE RANCHERO                 90
+    XIII. A NEW FRIEND                100
+     XIV. THE PURSUIT                 109
+      XV. JIM AND THE SEA EAGLE       118
+     XVI. THE BOYS PUT ON STYLE       127
+    XVII. ON BOARD THE SEA EAGLE      135
+   XVIII. A DAY AT SEA                144
+     XIX. THE PASSENGER               152
+      XX. TO THE RESCUE               161
+     XXI. THE BANDITS                 169
+    XXII. RACE WITH THE TIDE          177
+   XXIII. THE ENCHANTED ISLE          184
+    XXIV. IN THE WHITE BOAT           191
+     XXV. IN PERIL                    198
+    XXVI. TWO LASSOES                 206
+   XXVII. ANOTHER FRIEND              214
+  XXVIII. A TALE OF YORE              220
+    XXIX. A WONDERFUL LEAP            232
+     XXX. IN THE STRAIT               239
+    XXXI. CONCLUSION                  246
+
+
+
+
+FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+CAPTAIN BILL BROOM
+
+
+"What devilment has old Bill got on for tonight, Pete?"
+
+The speaker was seated on an old scarred sea chest in a dimly lighted
+forecastle.
+
+"I dunno," replied Pete, "maybe he's lookin' fer a wreck."
+
+"I heard the mate say somethin' about a passel of four boys," put in a
+third man who was laying back in his bunk, "that the skipper was
+a-lookin' for."
+
+"Kidnapping, eh?" said Cales, the first speaker. "Hold 'em for ransom, I
+suppose. Well, the old man has been in worse games than that. I reckon
+the kids' parents are rich and are willin' to pay a high price for their
+darlings."
+
+"You're on the wrong tack, matey," said the man in the bunk. "Cap'n
+Brinks, who landed in San Diego from a Mexican port put the old man
+wise. He told him that those fellars had considerable money and a raft
+of jewels with 'em that they picked up in Mexico."
+
+"Ho, Ho, that's the game, is it," cried Cales, thumping his knee with a
+gnarled fist, "that ought to be easy then."
+
+"Looks so, but it ain't," replied the other, "those four boys have got
+somethin' of a reputation in the southwest. Hard fighters and good shots
+and their leader is a husky lad and about as crafty as a red Injun."
+
+"He ain't met the Old Man yet," said Cales significantly.
+
+"I don't see where you get all your news from, Jake," growled Pete from
+his seat on the chest, "you ought to be a reporter."
+
+"I keep my eyes open and my mouth shet," replied Jake, "any man can get
+larned if he will do that."
+
+"I'd like to have a picter of you with your mouth shet," remarked Pete.
+"It's open even when you are asleep." He dodged just in time to avoid a
+heavy shoe flung from Jake's ready hand that crashed against the wall.
+
+"Don't do that agin," he warned, a red light showing in his eyes. "I'll
+larn you boys that I ain't as old as I looks to be."
+
+Jake laughed harshly.
+
+"You mustn't keep your own mouth open so wide, Pop, cause you'll have to
+swallow your own words if you do."
+
+"I guess I'll never git choked," replied Pete, truculently. "Kin you
+tell me what the skipper means snooping down this coast with no lights
+showing when it's plumb dark? We are liable to sink ourselves or
+Californey all of a suddint."
+
+"Why don't you ask the Cap'n what he is up to?" inquired Cales, "that
+is, if you want some real useful information, Pop."
+
+Pop raised himself up and glared at the speaker.
+
+"I ain't done living," he replied.
+
+"We are navigating pretty careful," remarked Jake. "You can hardly feel
+the Sea Eagle moving."
+
+"Running for the cove, I reckon," suggested Cales, "I'm mighty pleased
+not to be the man at the wheel. Well, I'm goin' to turn in for a
+snooze."
+
+In a brief time the two men were snoring loudly, while old Pete sat
+smoking his pipe, as stolid as a wooden Indian and the forecastle was
+fogged with the smoke, through which the swinging lantern shone dimly.
+The air is stifling so let us go up on deck where we can breathe the
+salt ozone and incidentally get acquainted with Captain Bill Broom, who
+is to occupy such a prominent place in this narrative.
+
+He is well worth meeting, not only as the opponent of our old friend,
+Jim Darlington, but because of his own unworthy but interesting
+character. In those days Skipper Bill Broom was known all up and down
+the coast and beyond. His fame, such as it was, comes down even to this
+recent day.
+
+On deck it is muffling dark, with the stars obscured in some dim way by
+mist or fog. There is a breeze blowing steadily from the broad wastes of
+the ocean. The bulk of the California coast looms dimly on the port bow.
+Not more than a half mile distant can be seen the white rushing forward
+of the breakers towards the rocky coast.
+
+Dangerous work this, navigating the Sea Eagle through the thick gloom of
+the night but the old man knew his business. He was on the bridge pacing
+back and forth like some strange animal and giving hoarse directions to
+the man at the wheel. He knew every inch of that coast, the sunken reefs
+and dangerous rocks.
+
+"Starboard your helm," he growled.
+
+The sailor spun the wheel obediently. And the captain resumed his pacing
+back and forth upon the bridge. Not much could be seen of him, except
+that he was a powerful man, with a peculiar crouching stoop, as if he
+and the sea were engaged in a mysterious game. One striving to get a
+dangerous death-hold upon the other, both wary and using unceasing
+watchfulness.
+
+There was a strange softness in Captain Broom's tread like that of a
+padding panther, but his arms had the loose forward powerful swing of a
+gorilla's. Once he stepped into the chart house to look at something and
+the light of the lamp will give us a square look at him.
+
+"That man a pirate!" you exclaim at the first glance; one who carried
+the blackest name along the coast as a smuggler and wrecker, who had
+brought cargoes of wretched slaves from Africa in the days before the
+Civil War and who had had more marvelous escapes than any man in the
+history of piracy with the exception of Black Jack Morgan! Impossible!
+
+"Why that man is nothing but an old farmer," you exclaim in
+disappointment, when you see him. "He ought to be peddling vegetables on
+market day." But just wait.
+
+True, Skipper Broom had come from a long line of New England farmers,
+hard, close-fisted, close-mouthed men. Young Broom had broken away from
+the farm and followed his bent for sea-faring, but to the end of his
+days, he kept his farmerlike appearance and he affected many of the
+traits of the yeoman which he found to be on more than one occasion a
+most useful disguise.
+
+Let's look at him. That heavy winter cap pulled down on his grizzled
+head gives him a most "Reuben" like appearance. Jeans pants are thrust
+into heavy cowhide boots. The deadly gray eyes soft as granite have
+become red rimmed from fits of fury and hard through many scenes of
+coldly calculated cruelty. A most dangerous customer and I for one, and
+I ought to know, consider that he will have the better of Jim Darlington
+in their approaching encounter--and yet Jim is never beaten until the
+last shot is fired and so it is impossible for me to foretell how this
+contest of wit and daring will come out.
+
+After examining his chart closely, Captain Broom crouched out through
+the door and on to the deck. He took one keen look towards the shore,
+then he approached the helmsman. "Git below, Bill. I'll fetch her in."
+
+The helmsman relinquished the wheel gladly enough and under the
+Captain's masterful hand the Sea Eagle swung slowly around and pointed
+in towards the curving shore.
+
+The dark form of the mate could be seen on the deck below waiting for
+the order that he knew must come soon. The crew of the Sea Eagle though
+subordinate enough were necessarily partners in Captain Broom's wicked
+enterprises so that the discipline was somewhat different than in
+ordinary vessels.
+
+"Call 'em up, Mr. Haffen," roared the skipper to the mate. "It's chore
+time."
+
+"Aye, aye, sir," replied Mr. Haffen.
+
+The watch was called on deck and the dark forms of the men could be seen
+in the bow. The pulsing of the Sea Eagle had stopped and with scarcely a
+sound the anchor was dropped into the water.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE COVE AND CAVE
+
+
+The starboard boat was lowered into the water. First the mate, then
+Captain Broom and two men got in. The latter were Cales and Pete who
+pulled noiselessly at the oars. The boat glided quietly through the
+silent darkness towards the shore. The Captain was seated in the stern,
+his great bulk crouched forward, but there was nothing inert in his
+posture. His big hands clasped either side of the craft.
+
+In a few minutes the boat grounded softly on the sand of the beach and
+all hands got ashore. Scarcely a word was spoken, though the cove was so
+hidden that there seemed to be no possible chance that the landing of
+the free-booters would be observed. However, Captain Bill Broom took no
+risk of being discovered. He had many enemies upon the coast and inland
+as well. Besides, the State of California had set a price upon his head.
+
+Two thousand dollars was the reward for his capture, and so profitable
+an investment was apt to be realized on sooner or later by some
+enterprising citizen. So Captain Broom took due care whenever he went
+abroad not to attract undue attention.
+
+This cove was a favorite lurking place of his when close pressed, where
+he would take refuge after some daring adventure upon the high seas,
+until such a time as the hubbub along the coast had died down. Sometimes
+he lay in hiding there, with the Sea Eagle screened behind the
+encircling cliffs, waiting like a black spider to rush out and capture
+some unsuspecting craft.
+
+"Pick her up, boys," said the Captain, "you know where she belongs,"
+pointing to the boat.
+
+"Aye, aye, sir," they replied, and putting it on their shoulders they
+carried the boat along a narrow path that divided the thick undergrowth;
+until, after going several hundred yards, they reached a thick screen of
+brush through which they shoved, and came to a cave.
+
+Although so well hidden, the entrance to the cavern was quite high, so
+that the men gained admission without stooping, and going a short
+distance into the dark interior, they placed the boat gently down
+against the wall. There was a constant and heavy drip of water, so that
+there was no chance for the boat to warp, as it would have surely done
+if placed outside in the dry California air.
+
+"I don't like this yere cave," remarked Pete, when left alone with
+Cales.
+
+"What's the matter with it? It's dark and damp, but that is the nature
+of caves."
+
+"It makes me feel creepy, that's all," replied Pete, "and it takes
+considerable to do that."
+
+"Whatever happened?" inquired Cales, grinning, "something terrible, I
+reckon, to make your thick hide chilly."
+
+"It were before your time," replied Pete somewhat reluctantly, "we
+raided a ranch back thar agin the mountings. Senor Sebastian owned it
+and it was said that he could ride all day and never git off his place,
+and that he had more sheep and cattle than thar is folks in Frisco."
+
+"The Captain shanghied him, I reckon," cut in Cales.
+
+"You hold your windlass," commanded the old man in a querulous tone,
+"I'm telling this yarn."
+
+"All right, Pop," said Cales in a conciliating manner, "have it yer own
+way." He was really anxious to hear the story the old man had referred
+to.
+
+"Young fry is always flapping," the older speaker mumbled,--then he
+took up the course of his narrative. "Waal, as I was telling ye, this
+Senor had lots of money and the Cap'n being short of funds thought that
+he could use some of it. So one night we ran into the cove, it was
+blacker even than this. I don't see how the old man ever got the craft
+past the sharks' teeth at the entrance but he did."
+
+"He could have brought her in with his eyes shut," declared Cales. "I
+never have seen his equal for navigating."
+
+"Waal, we made camp here that night, and the next day, the Cap'n with
+some of the gang, left for the ranch and I stayed to look after things.
+Nothing happened that day, and I was dozing by the fire about midnight
+when I heard them coming back. They had the Senor, a fine-looking old
+man with a gray mustache and as cold and proud-looking as they make
+them.
+
+"The Cap'n was furious because he had not been able to lay his hand on
+the coin, and he swore that he would make the old Senor tell where his
+money was or there would be trouble. He took him into this cave and I
+don't know what happened there, and I don't want to know. All I'm sure
+of is that I never saw him come out.
+
+"The Cap'n sent me to the ship to get some chains on the second day and
+he took 'em into the cave. We sailed a couple of days later, but not a
+sign did I see of the Senor. That's why this cave makes me creepy,
+Cales."
+
+They were standing near the entrance, when there came a distinct low
+moan from the interior. It was not a ghostly sound, either. There was no
+mistaking it.
+
+"Did you hear that, Cales?" asked old Pete in a quavering voice.
+
+"Yes," replied Cales, "I heard it all right. It can't be the Senor?"
+
+"No," replied Pete. "He has been dead these years."
+
+"Let's find out," said his comrade.
+
+"There's nothing in this world could make me go in thar," declared Pete
+solemnly, "besides, it's agin the Captain's orders."
+
+"Well, I'm going," said Cales either more brave or less experienced than
+the other. "It sounds to me like a woman's voice."
+
+"And I'm goin' to git," declared old Pete, tottering towards the path.
+
+"You're a brave old pirate," said Cales contemptuously, and with that he
+went slowly back into the cave. He had to go cautiously, for beyond a
+certain point he was not acquainted with the interior. He could feel the
+moist ground under foot and he kept his hand stretched out, not knowing
+what he might run against in the dense damp darkness.
+
+Then, suddenly, his hand struck a stone wall. Groping his way, he turned
+a sharp corner and followed along a low narrow passageway that obliged
+him to stoop. Then came the sound of the moaning just ahead. Jack Cales
+was a brave man but it was all that he could do, to keep from turning
+and running in panic for the mouth of the cave. But though his
+determination had received a severe shock, it did not turn to flight.
+
+He saw a faint light ahead, spreading a glow at the end of the passage
+as he came nearer. Then he saw something that held him stone still with
+a clutch of weird fear. He had reached the end of the narrow passage,
+and dimly made out a domed room in the rock, white with translucent
+encrustation.
+
+He struck a match. About him, before, to the right and to the left he
+could see forms all of ghostly white, some crouching, others standing.
+Hardly had the light flared up than it sizzled out. Some drops of water
+falling from the roof had extinguished the blaze. Then was repeated that
+awful sound of distress.
+
+Cales groped around almost in a frenzy of terror. Where was the exit
+from that awful room? Round and round he went, and all the time there
+were strange whisperings in his ears, and unseen hands seemed to clutch
+his clothes. Once he slipped and was trembling so that he was hardly
+able to get to his feet. Just as he did so, something swept past him
+like a breath of wind. Rendered desperate he made another dash, and this
+time if he had not found a passageway, he felt that he could have
+knocked a hole through the wall. Then he stood at the mouth of the
+cave.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE BARBED WIRE
+
+
+Just at that moment was heard the hoarse voice of Captain Broom booming
+through the darkness outside.
+
+As Cales turned about, some furry animal sprang past him dashing between
+his legs and nearly upsetting him.
+
+"On deck, you scoundrel, come out of there," called the Captain.
+
+"Aye, aye, sir," came the reply of Cales in a strangely weak tone,
+though he was now more concerned by the possible penalty to be meted out
+by the Captain for disobedience of orders, than by thought of the
+undetermined occupants of the cave. If it were a cat it was certainly a
+good joke on old Pete. This was, had they but known it, the swift
+solution of the mystery.
+
+Oddly enough the Captain said not another word, a fact suggestive to
+Cales that there was something amiss in the cave and the little company
+at once took up their line of march. Captain Broom was in the lead,
+followed by the mate, then Cales, with old Pete bringing up the rear.
+Just as they started Captain Broom extinguished the lantern and they
+took up the trail in total darkness. Every precaution would now be
+necessary for they would soon be in a region where the very name of
+Broom was execrated with bitter hatred, and every bush would grow a
+poniard if his whereabouts were known.
+
+It was evident that the skipper was as good a guide on land as he was a
+pilot at sea, for he led his little party at a steady gait by a winding
+cow-path through the thick undergrowth. He doubtless knew this region
+thoroughly, for he had made more than one raid in this locality.
+
+It was soon to be determined, however, that they were not the only ones
+abroad that night.
+
+They had walked in silence for some time, well on to two hours, when
+they came to an open space, with the irregular form of a live oak on the
+southeast corner. Then Captain Broom stopped suddenly, his keen eyesight
+which no darkness could baffle had discerned some object moving out from
+the shelter of the oak tree.
+
+It came slowly with uplifted black arms and white hair falling around
+its face. There was a terrible intensity in its advance across the open
+space, withal that it moved so slowly. The figure stopped directly in
+front of Captain Broom.
+
+"Get out of my way, you hag," he roared, but for the first time in his
+life a certain tremor crept into his voice. Perhaps he was growing old.
+He drew back his arm as though to strike the woman in his path.
+
+As he did so Jack Cales stooped and picked up a round rock at his feet,
+intending to hurl it, not at the woman but at the skipper, for he alone
+of the party divined the possible cause of this poor woman's dementia.
+But his interference was not necessary for it seemed as though the
+Captain's arm was paralyzed. He declared afterwards that some invisible
+hand had seized his arm.
+
+Then, in a loud, wailing voice the woman put a curse upon the slayer of
+her husband, for this spectre was none other than the Senora Sebastian.
+It was terrible to hear her and it must have sent a shiver into the soul
+of the hardy skipper.
+
+When she had finished, the woman moved past them and vanished in the
+direction of the ranch. For a full minute the line of men stood without
+moving a step and in absolute silence, Captain Broom with his arm
+upraised as he had lifted it to strike.
+
+Then, without saying a word, he took the first forward step and the
+others followed him through the darkness.
+
+"Say, Cales," growled Pete in a low voice, "what was it you found in
+that cave? My old timbers are shaking yet."
+
+"Keep your old jaws shut," yelled the Captain, who had wonderfully keen
+hearing, when anything was spoken that concerned him.
+
+"How do you suppose the old man heard me?" mumbled Pete to himself. He
+dropped back a pace or two, then whispered, "The old man must be crazy.
+He is making direct for the Sebastian ranch."
+
+"Do you reckon that these four boys he is looking after, are located
+there?" asked Jack.
+
+"I dunno," replied Pete, "you can calkerlate on one thing though and
+that is that the skipper knows pretty nigh where those lads are. One of
+his messengers, a one-eyed, twisted greaser, came aboard the other day,
+and was gabbling in the Captain's cabin. Then the next thing I knew we
+was under sail, and came kiting down to the cove."
+
+Just then the party halted at the confines of a four strand barbed wire
+fence. This was the first indication that they were entering the great
+ranch property that formerly belonged to the Senor Sebastian, the
+elderly man the Captain had made captive, and which was now the property
+of his only son.
+
+"Now, lads," said the leader of the expedition, "Here's a chance to make
+yourself small. This yere barb is like a devil fish if it once gits a
+holt of your panties--it won't let go."
+
+"That's so, Captain," said the mate, a generally silent and saturnine
+man.
+
+"I reckon you know, mate," said the Captain. "The last time we was
+through these parts, and that some considerable years ago, this same
+fence got a holt of yer pants and wouldn't let go. I never heard you
+talk so much and so earnestly in my life before. You want to be more
+keerful this time."
+
+The mate simply grunted by way of reply and, lying close to the ground,
+he very gingerly and carefully worked his way under the wire and thus
+escaped his mentioned former unpleasant detention. He then held the
+lower wire up as high as he could until his chief had wiggled under.
+
+Pete was the only one of the party who was seriously detained, for Jack
+Cales had slid under as slick as an eel. But Pete's joints were old and
+rusty and the venomous wire got a clutch on his coat and his pants.
+
+"What's keeping you back?" inquired the Captain, gruffly, as Cales and
+his comrade did not put in an immediate appearance.
+
+"Pete has got caught, sir," said Jack.
+
+"What are you doing there, you old barnacle?" inquired the Captain as he
+came back to the fence.
+
+There was a certain odd comradeship between the skipper and the old salt
+who had been with him since his African days. Both were New Englanders
+and had come from neighboring homesteads.
+
+"Just resting, sir," replied the captive.
+
+It certainly did have something of that appearance, for Pete had kept a
+decisive grip on his old black pipe with his stubby teeth and was
+puffing at it in apparent peace and resignation.
+
+"Want me to git you a piller?" inquired the skipper, sarcastically.
+
+"Thank ye, sir," replied Pete imperturbably.
+
+Meanwhile the mate had been at work with deft fingers and he finally
+succeeded in extricating the old man and putting him upon his pins.
+
+"Now if ye are sufficiently rested," proposed the skipper, "we will hike
+along."
+
+This they did. Their way now lay between two stretches of fence that
+enclosed a road not much traveled for there were only faint traces of
+wheels in the turf. It was probably not a public highway but belonged to
+the great ranch.
+
+Everything seemed smooth sailing now, as there was no more barbed wire
+to be immediately met but Pete soon made himself prominent again. He
+was rolling along with that gait peculiar to a sailor when aboard land,
+when he gave a sudden spring and clutched Cales convulsively in the
+back, giving that individual a big scare.
+
+"Dad burn it, boys. I've stepped on a rattler." An investigation was
+made very carefully and Captain Broom quickly picked up a short piece of
+rope.
+
+"I'll rattle you," he cried, touching up the old man with the rope's
+end.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+PETE'S YARN
+
+
+They went along steadily through the darkness in an almost directly
+easterly direction. Being now clear of the brush they could make good
+time on the springy turf.
+
+"How far are we now from the ranch, Pete?" inquired Jack.
+
+"Too durn close to suit me," replied Pete. "I can't tell exactly for
+these ranches are as big as all outside creation, but I guess we must be
+as close as a mile to the buildings."
+
+"I reckon the Captain is going to walk up to the front door and ask for
+accommodations."
+
+"Wouldn't s'prise me a bit, if he done that," replied Pete querulously.
+"The old man ain't lacking in nerve. Back thar was the first time I ever
+seen him hang back in my long experience with him."
+
+"When the old lady was speaking her piece? Suppose I ask him how much he
+made when he captured the Senor," suggested Cales, who had recovered his
+flippant humor.
+
+"I wouldn't git gay, lad," said old Pete, warningly. "She is just as
+liable to haunt you in your black spells."
+
+"Don't have 'em, uncle," replied Cales.
+
+"You collect the material for 'em when you are young," said the old man
+wisely, "and they come out of your bones like rheumatiz when you git
+old."
+
+"Somebody is coming back of us," suddenly whispered Cales.
+
+"Take to cover, lads," ordered the skipper, who was as quick to hear as
+the younger man. The only cover was a high and thick growth of wild
+mustard growing alongside the fences.
+
+Quickly they stepped from the open road into the shelter of the tall
+mustard. They had not long to wait. There was the jingle of spurs and
+the thud of horses' feet walking slowly along. Next came the voices of
+men talking.
+
+"It is useless, Senor, to try and find her, I fear," replied one man to
+the other.
+
+"It seems so," replied the other sadly. "My mother always seems to be
+worse when the time of the year approaches that my father disappeared.
+In spite of all our care she will escape."
+
+They had now arrived at a point opposite where the free-booters were
+hidden. The man who had last spoken struck a light and lit a cigarette;
+the instantaneous glare showed the dark handsome face of the Spanish
+type. There was the high-peaked sombrero, the striking clothes, the
+intent face and then the light died suddenly out.
+
+"Ah, Manuel," said the young man to his companion, "if I could only once
+lay hands on that cursed Gringo," and he ground his teeth in fury,
+unable to express himself.
+
+"Humph, Gringo," grunted the Captain, disdainfully.
+
+"Did you hear anything, Senor?" asked Manuel.
+
+"Nothing."
+
+"I was sure I heard something," asserted his companion. They had reined
+in their horses and sat listening quietly for a few seconds.
+
+"It was probably nothing but a calf by the roadside," said the Senor.
+
+The other shook his head doubtfully, then they turned and rode on
+towards the rancho.
+
+When they were safely out of range, the party of pirates took up their
+line of march once more.
+
+"So the greaser took me for a calf," remarked Captain Broom. "If it had
+been you, Jack Cales, there might be some excuse fer such a mistake."
+
+"Aye, sir," replied Cales, glumly.
+
+"Getting kind of close to the ranch, ain't you, Cap'n?" ventured old
+Pete.
+
+"I thought of leaving you there, Pete, while the rest of us corralled
+those kids. You are getting too old for these long tramps."
+
+No more remarks were heard coming from the direction of Pete, for he was
+not at all sure but that the Captain might, in a moment of irresponsible
+humor, do just as he threatened without regard to the consequences.
+
+After they had gone on for a mile from the point where the two men had
+overtaken them, Captain Broom led his party away from the road in a
+southerly direction, once more undergoing the harrowing experience of
+getting through the barbed wire fence. But this time Jack Cales was
+especially detailed by the Captain to get old Pete through so there
+would not be any unnecessary delay.
+
+It was evident that they were getting into a different section, a short
+time after they left the road, for they began going up and winding among
+little rocky hills. At last they came to a stopping place. They climbed
+up an elevation and sat on some rocks among a group of dark trees.
+
+"Now, lads, take it easy," said the Captain, "ye have had quite a
+footin' and when morning comes, there will be some more ahead and at a
+faster gait."
+
+"Gosh, Cap'n," declared old Pete, "It's the most walking we've done
+together since the time we corralled the last bunch of niggers on the
+west coast of Africa."
+
+"We certainly made money that trip when we sold that cargo of coons to
+the traders on that Palmetto Island below Charleston. But we will clean
+up about as much money when we round up those four boys and twice as
+easy. Tell the two lads about that trip, Pete."
+
+The old sailor sat on a rock, and taking out his bag of tobacco filled
+his short black pipe with one thorny thumb, then he commenced his
+narrative, with the glow of his pipe lighting up his weatherbeaten face.
+
+"Well, orders is orders, and the Cap'n wants me to tell this yarn. I
+might just as well begin it, lads. I never knew any good to come to
+sailormen cruising around on dry land any more than on this trip." He
+cast a wary eye at Captain Broom, but that worthy merely grunted and
+Pete resumed his story.
+
+"Our clipper lay at anchor in a wide bay with only a couple of men on
+board and the Captain, myself and six men trailing inland for to find a
+village of naygurs that our guides had told us of.
+
+"It certainly was hot and steamy going through the jungles and every
+once in a while a big snake as large as my leg would crawl across our
+path and rustle away into the undergrowth. Once I felt one of 'em
+a-twisting and rolling under my foot like a big log that had came to
+life. I guess I must have jumped twice as high as my own head and I lit
+on the back of one of the naygurs that was guiding us.
+
+"He didn't know what struck him; probably thought it was a tiger for I
+sunk my hooks into his hide. He let out a yell and went ripping and
+snorting through that jungle and me not having sense enough to let go,
+until a grape vine about as thick as a manilla rope chucked me under the
+chin and I fell flat on my back and I guess that naygur is still
+running."
+
+Here the captain who was evidently enjoying the narrative hugely, burst
+into a volcanic roar of laughter.
+
+"I can see yer yet, Pete, on that bounding buck of a nigger, and him
+a-hiking through the jungle and a-yelling like a wild Injun."
+
+"I remember you got out of the way mighty quick," said Pete, "when you
+heard us a-coming behind you."
+
+"It certainly was a curious spectacle," said the Captain, "but go on
+with your yarn, Pete."
+
+"The further we went into the jungle the worse it got. The mosquitoes
+fairly ate us alive and they wern't the only cannibals in those woods by
+any means. There was a tribe of man-eaters beyond the Big River and we
+didn't try to capture any of them. They wern't our stripe of bacon.
+
+"We went on for six days, with the monkeys chattering over our heads all
+day and the mosquitoes serenading us at night. Talk about birds, there
+was a whole menagerie of them and their colors beat the handkerchiefs
+that these greasers wear around their throats and you can't get ahead of
+that for color.
+
+"One night we got in range of the village we were after and there was a
+great pow-wow going on. There was a big fire in the circle of the grass
+huts and some big black bucks were doing a dance around it. Just then I
+saw--"
+
+"Hold on, Pete," said the Captain in a low, gruff voice, "somebody is
+coming our way."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE FOUR BOYS
+
+
+"Hey, Jim, where are we going to make camp?" It was his brother Jo's
+genial voice.
+
+"Not until we can strike water," replied Jim. "No more dry camps for
+me."
+
+"I don't think much of the coast range, or the Sierras, either." It was
+Juarez Hoskins' well-remembered voice, with its rather low, deep tones.
+
+"Give me the Rockies every time."
+
+Juarez was nothing if not loyal to his mountains.
+
+"I don't think any of the mountains are much to brag of."
+
+It is hardly necessary to say that it is Tom Darlington who is now
+speaking, for the discerning reader is pretty well acquainted with his
+style by this time.
+
+"There's always something to look out for," continued Tom, "if it isn't
+Indians it's rattlesnakes, and you have got to choose between a
+cloudburst or no water at all. Give me the East every time."
+
+"You make me exhausted talking about the East," said Jim. "Why didn't
+you stay there when you were there? I had just as soon take a chance
+with a rattlesnake as with an ice cream soda."
+
+"Tom would like to _play_ Indian," cut in Jo, "with turkey feathers
+sticking up from a red flannel band around his head. And creeping upon a
+flock of sheep pretending that they are antelope and that cows are real
+live bears."
+
+"Yes," said Jim, "you have lined it out all right, Jo. Then when they
+were tired of playing Injun, Tom and his little playmates could pretend
+that they were Daniel Boone's men with wildskin panties on."
+
+"Shut up, boys," said Juarez, coming to Tom's rescue. "What's the use in
+rubbing it in? The East is all right for some folks and if the boys back
+there can't have real adventures they have to do the best they can.
+After all, Jim, you are an Eastern boy. You can't get away from that."
+Jim writhed under the implication but replied good humoredly.
+
+"You're right, Juarez, old chap, but I can't help stirring up Tom once
+in a while. It is good for him too. It keeps his liver active, so he
+won't get bilious."
+
+"Juarez has got more sense than you two put together," said Tom.
+
+"Forget all about it now, Tommy," urged Juarez good-naturedly, getting
+the aforesaid Tommy by the nape of the neck with one vigorous brown hand
+and giving him a shake.
+
+Thus under Juarez's straightforward management the family quarrel was
+abated.
+
+"We might just as well ride now, boys," said Jim. "The horses are good
+and rested and we will soon be going down grade instead of up."
+
+The horses had been following in single file back of the four boys. They
+were to be trusted not to cut up any shindigs or to wander from the
+narrow mountain trail. The boys had had them a long time and together
+they had gone through the numerous hardships and adventures. They were
+as perfectly trained as Uncle Sam's cavalry horses.
+
+The horses halted as the boys dropped back to their sides, and they
+swung into the saddle simultaneously. Jim rode in the lead on a splendid
+gray, with a powerful arching neck, strong shoulders and hindquarters
+made for speed. Him, he called Caliente. Next rode Tom on a pretty bay.
+Then Jo on a black of medium size but finely built for speed and
+endurance. Juarez brought up the rear on his roan, a sinewy animal with
+a broncho strain in him which was liable to crop out at unexpected
+moments.
+
+It is to be noticed that there was a certain formation in the way the
+column rode. Jim, the strong and resourceful in front, and Tom, the less
+experienced and capable, following, forming the first division. The
+second division was composed of Jo and Juarez.
+
+Juarez having an equally important position with the leader, for he was
+rear guard, a more trying position sometimes than being in front for in
+their travels through dangerous regions, it was the man in the rear who
+was more apt to be cut off by the wily Indians. But the cool and crafty
+Juarez was not likely to be caught napping.
+
+Even now you notice as they ride along through the comparatively safe
+region of the coast range that Jim and Juarez are ever on the alert,
+glancing this way and that, halting to examine some peculiar mark on the
+trail, and not a motion of tree or bush upon either mountain slope
+escapes their attention. They had lived too long in the midst of
+treacherous enemies, Indians and outlaws, to be taken off their guard.
+They had been in Mexico on a venture the outcome of which was all their
+fondest dreams could wish for. Their expedition over, Tom was for going
+home, to at least deposit the treasure they had gained, but the others
+had outvoted him, and now the long pleasure trip to Hawaii was their
+object.
+
+Now, if they but had known it, they were riding to meet the most deadly
+danger that they had yet encountered. For as you know, Captain Broom and
+his party were advancing to meet them. In an open or running fight, we
+know perfectly well that the boys could take care of themselves, but in
+the skipper of the Sea Eagle, they were to meet a far more dangerous
+opponent than in Eagle Feather, described in "The Frontier Boys in
+Colorado" or Cal Jenkins in Kansas and in Mexico as detailed in
+"Overland Trail" and in "Mexico." In compliance with a determined plan,
+they were now on their way to Hawaii.
+
+Not only had Captain Broom the craftiness and cruelty of the Indian, but
+the cool, hard judgment of the New England Yankee, coupled with a
+knowledge of their possessions, supposedly limited to themselves alone.
+The Mexican spy, who had reported the route the boys were going to take,
+had given the game into his master's hands.
+
+"I wonder what has become of our one-eyed greaser friend," said Jim, "we
+haven't seen any sign of him since he gave us the shake a week ago at
+the hunting camp. I kind of thought we might run across him again."
+
+"It's good riddance to bad rubbish," said Juarez in a surly tone. "If I
+had my way I'd hang him to the first oak tree on general principles and
+on account of his personal appearance. I bet he is a treacherous little
+rat."
+
+"He isn't very pretty, that's a fact," admitted Jim, "but he is a useful
+little beast about the camp and can do a lot of chores."
+
+"I kind of like to hear him play his guitar," put in Jo, "and sing those
+Mexican tunes. They certainly sound pretty."
+
+"He's a picturesque beggar too," remarked Tom. "Just the kind that in
+the old days would have been made a king's jester. They dressed 'em up
+in a blazing bright style then. That hump would have made his fortune."
+
+Tom, as you remember, was an authority on Romance, and as pertaining to
+which he always carried two favorite volumes, much worn by hard travel
+and frequent usage, but which no amount of ridicule by his brothers
+could make him give up.
+
+"Have it your own way," acceded Juarez, "but he is not the sort of
+animal that I would recommend for a household pet."
+
+"Well, he is gone," said Jim, "so we don't need to worry about him."
+
+"I don't know but that I would a little rather have him in sight," said
+Juarez. "Then you know where he is."
+
+Jim laughed good-naturedly at the prejudice that Juarez showed against
+the little greaser and put it down to his darkly suspicious nature
+acquired by his life among the Indians. It would have been better if Jim
+had taken more stock in his comrade's suspicions. Now, Jim was not to be
+caught napping when once an enemy had declared himself, but it was his
+nature to be open-minded and unsuspicious.
+
+The four Frontier Boys were riding up a winding trail through a narrow
+mountain valley, having reached a point almost level with the summits,
+which rose several thousand feet above the eastern plain. It had been a
+hard, all day climb, and the horses were tired and the gray dust was
+caked upon their sweaty riders.
+
+Let us take a look at our old acquaintances, Jim, Tom, Jo and Juarez, to
+see if they have changed any since we saw them last. They are dressed
+about as we have always known them. In gray flannel shirts and pants of
+the same color, moccasins on their feet and on their heads battered
+sombreros with the flaps turned back.
+
+Their coats are tied back of the saddles, and their shirts open at the
+throat for the air is hot and dry in that California mountain valley.
+Their rifles are swung across their shoulders held by straps, revolvers
+in the holsters at their hips.
+
+Jim sits in the saddle tall and sinewy, grown somewhat thinner by
+constant exercise and by the drying effect of the desert air. His skin
+is baked to an absolute brown. Juarez, too, is black as an Indian and he
+rather looks like one with his hair quite long and of a coarse black
+fibre. The boys look a little fine-drawn but sinewy and strong and fit
+for any adventure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE HUNCHBACK
+
+
+The shadows were already falling on that side of the range as the boys
+rode slowly into a narrow pass. The shade was a decided relief from the
+glare of the California sun that they had encountered all day.
+
+"Gosh, but I should like to have a cool breath from the Rockies,"
+declared Juarez with emphasis, "This sort of a climate makes me tired.
+Nothing but the sun staring at you all the time. It goes down clear and
+comes up with the same kind of a grin on its face."
+
+"It will be cooler when we get on the other side," said Jim,
+encouragingly, "and it won't be long now."
+
+"I hope we will strike water on the other side," remarked Jo. "I'm tired
+of looking at that bald-headed stream down there," indicating the dry
+blistered bed of a former water-course.
+
+Nothing more was said until of a sudden they rode to the top of the
+Pass, and saw a new landscape spread out before them.
+
+It was a broad and beautiful view, with the sun striking the wide
+Pacific, with a blazing glare of silver and below the wooded slope of
+the mountains, stretched an apparently level plain, where roamed
+countless cattle, and innumerable sheep. It had all the breadth
+characteristic of the Californian landscape.
+
+"That's a pretty good looking view," remarked Jim admiringly. He would
+have been still more interested if he could have seen a trim-looking
+black vessel in a small cove directly west but a good many miles
+distant.
+
+"I wonder if it isn't going to rain," said Tom. "See those clouds
+rolling in over the ocean."
+
+"Rain!" ejaculated Jim with superior wisdom, a wisdom that appertains
+particularly to older brothers, "I guess not. Those are fog clouds.
+That's a sure sign in this country that it won't rain."
+
+"Well, I'm glad to see them, anyway," said Juarez. "It looks sort of
+stormy even if it isn't."
+
+It was restful, there was no question about that, the change from the
+constant glare of a white sun in a blue sky, to the soft damp grayness
+of the fog. It was already rolling over the level plain towards the
+mountains and, in a short time, a high fog was spread over the whole
+sky.
+
+The boys had ridden down the western side of the range for a distance of
+a half mile, when Jim suddenly waved his hand backward in a sign of
+caution for the column to halt. He leaned forward, looking intently in a
+northwesterly direction to a point on the opposite side of the mountain
+valley. Juarez followed the direction of the leader's look with a keen
+gaze.
+
+"I was sure that I saw some one slipping through the undergrowth on the
+opposite side over there," Jim finally said, "but I could not make sure
+whether it was a man or some sort of animal."
+
+"I noticed the bushes shaking," said Juarez, "but I did not see
+anything."
+
+"Might have been a brown bear," hazarded Jo.
+
+"They do have them in this range," put in Tom.
+
+"Perhaps it is the bear that we hunted for two days on the other slope,"
+said Juarez, "and he has come to give himself up."
+
+"We had better keep our eyes open," advised Jim, though he did not take
+the trouble to unsling his rifle. "Jo, you and Tom watch the upper side,
+Juarez will take care of the trail in front."
+
+"All right, boss," said Juarez, cheerfully.
+
+"How much reward, captain, for the first glimpse of the lost child?"
+inquired Jo.
+
+Jim paid no attention to this sally, but kept his eye on the trail
+ahead. The trees were quite thick on either side of the trail and as
+dusk was coming on, it was difficult to make out any object clearly.
+
+Just as Jim rode around a turn in the trail, Caliente reared and leaped
+to one side and a less skillful rider would have been thrown.
+
+"Easy, old boy," said the rider, patting his horse's neck. Caliente
+stood trembling and snorting and watching a curious object that was
+struggling up the bank towards the trail.
+
+It was hard to tell what it was, whether man or beast and the dusk only
+served to make it more obscure. Then the object scrambled up on to the
+trail and Jim at once recognized the dwarf Mexican with his high-crowned
+sombrero and his velvet suit richly slashed. With his crooked back and
+one eye, he was anything but a prepossessing-looking creature. Caliente,
+when he, too, recognized who it was, put back his ears and rushed with
+bared teeth for the Mexican.
+
+Spitting out a curse, the greaser jumped to one side with a marked
+agility, and Jim succeeded after a struggle in bringing his furious
+steed to terms, but he had his hands full and there were not very many
+men who could manage Caliente when he got into one of his rages.
+
+"Hi! Manuel," (every Mexican was Manuel to the boys), cried Jim, "look
+out for my Tiger, he wants to eat that velvet suit of yours."
+
+"Si, Senor," called Manuel from a safe station on a granite rock. "He is
+a tiger as your Honor says."
+
+One would have expected to hear the crooked little greaser speak in a
+harsh croaking voice, but instead it had a rich sonorous quality.
+
+"Do you know where there is any water in this country?" asked Jo. "We
+are as dry as a desert."
+
+"Certainly, Senor, I will show you," replied Manuel. (It was true that
+Manuel spoke in Spanish of which language the boys had a working
+knowledge, due to their sojourn in the southwest. But I shall put his
+words in English.) "Where is Senor Juarez?" inquired the dwarf. "I do
+not see him."
+
+"The Senor is still with us," replied Jim, gravely, "but you cannot see
+him on account of the dusk, but you might hear him," he added in a lower
+tone.
+
+It was true that Juarez was growling to himself about the greaser for
+whom you know he had a cordial antipathy, a feeling which was
+reciprocated by the Mexican.
+
+"Lead on, Manuel," urged Jim, "we want to make camp before morning."
+
+"But, Senor, the tiger will eat me up," objected the Mexican.
+
+"I will take care of Caliente. He won't bite you. Go ahead."
+
+"Si, Senor," assented Manuel.
+
+Then he jumped down from the rock and took the trail at a discreet
+distance ahead of Jim's horse, who was held in check by his rider though
+his temper seemed in no wise abated. There was something sinister in the
+figure of the Mexican as he led the way down the trail.
+
+All in black, except the gray of his hat with its golden cord and the
+tinsel of his clothes. There was something malignant in his make-up and
+even the unimaginative Jim was affected by the presence of the Mexican,
+while Juarez was very uneasy, and asked Jo and Tom to allow him to move
+up next to the Captain. This they did, though it left Jo as rear guard
+on that rocky trail.
+
+He seemed quite isolated but he had become sufficiently enured to danger
+and though he kept a wary eye, he was not nervous. The boys had
+unholstered their pistols and Juarez kept a straight eye on the moving
+shadow in the darkness ahead. At the first sign of attack or treachery,
+he was going to get that particular Manuel.
+
+"I've got my eye on the little varmint," said Juarez in a low voice to
+Jim. "He may be leading us into an ambush."
+
+"Oh, I guess not," said Jim, with a note of hesitation in his voice. "We
+have got to find water anyway. The horses are suffering for it, and this
+beggar can show us where we can locate it."
+
+Just then Manuel threw up his hand with a shrill whistle that had every
+malignant intention in it. Juarez raised his pistol just ready to fire,
+when the Mexican laughed shrilly.
+
+"Senor Juarez very nervous. I just stretch and whistle a little and he
+want to shoot."
+
+A peculiar smile came over Juarez's face, but he said nothing. All the
+stolid Indian in his nature came to the surface. He merely grunted
+contemptuously at the Mexican's remark and this made the volatile Manuel
+uneasy in his turn, for he wanted to realize that his malice had struck
+home, but Juarez did not give him that satisfaction. There was a sort of
+hidden duel between these two, the subtle Mexican and the crafty Indian
+nature of Juarez. It remained to be seen who would win.
+
+The four Frontier Boys went silently along down the dark canyon, each
+one occupied with his own thoughts and the ill-omened Mexican guide in
+the lead. Juarez kept a sharp lookout on either side of the trail
+expecting an ambush. His horse seemed to feel something of the strain
+his rider was under, as a horse will. Once he shied at something he saw
+in a clump of bushes, and nearly went off the trail. It was only with
+the aid of Juarez's horsemanship that he clawed his way back to safety.
+The Mexican was much amused at this incident, and Jim gave him a sharp
+call down.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+FARMER BROOM
+
+
+We must now return to Captain Broom and his escort, whom we left sitting
+on a hill covered with trees near the Sebastian rancho. Old Pete's story
+had been interrupted by the skipper's warning,--"Somebody is coming our
+way."
+
+There was no question about that, they could hear the someone coming
+towards the hill whistling cheerfully. Then the form of a man could be
+seen, coming up the slope of the elevation.
+
+"I wonder where those altogether blessed cows are," he was heard saying
+in Spanish, but of course, this is a free and not a literal translation.
+
+"They are generally hiding under these trees," he continued. The sailors
+kept absolutely still and old Pete covered the bowl of his pipe with his
+hand so that its light might not discover them.
+
+"Carambe!" cried the Mexican as he stopped about three feet from the
+recumbent Captain, "I fear my good master's cows have been smoking, not
+like nice Mexican cows, a cigarette, but a pipe like a vile gringo.
+Come, get up, you black brute," noticing the big bulk of the Captain for
+the first time, and he hauled off and gave the skipper a hearty kick on
+the haunch.
+
+Never was there a more surprised greaser in the whole ungainly length of
+California for this apparently gentle cow that he kicked, (not for the
+first time either) suddenly turned and grabbed him with a powerful hand
+before he could yell, though he was so frightened that he probably could
+not utter a squeak. Another hand got him by the throat.
+
+"Take me for a cow, did you, you bespangled Manuello?" roared the
+Captain, and he waved the aforesaid Manuello about in his great grip as
+though he had been a rag.
+
+"No use killing the beggar, Captain," said the mate. "Maybe he can tell
+us something." The Captain let the Mexican drop and he lay on the ground
+perfectly inert.
+
+"He won't be able to say much right away," said the Skipper.
+
+It was now getting light, the first signs of dawn showing above the
+mountains. As the darkness was drawn away, they could see their position
+more clearly and there came the sounds of the morning from the direction
+of the ranch houses. The barking of dogs, the crowing of roosters, and
+the call of human voices.
+
+"I guess, lads, it's about time for us to have something to eat," said
+the Captain, "because we have got to do some tall climbing today and I
+want to get an early start."
+
+An expression of disgust showed itself on old Pete's face at the idea of
+more walking, which the Captain was quick to note.
+
+"How would you like to stay here, Old Bones, and look after Manuello?"
+said the skipper. But Pete shook his head.
+
+"I'll stay by the ship, Cap'n," said the old fellow stoutly.
+
+"Durn my buttons," said the Captain, whose oaths were as mild as his
+actions were vicious, "if you ain't a good old barnacle, Pete. I
+wouldn't think of leaving you in such company as this," and he gave the
+prostrate Mexican a shove with his foot. Manuello looked up at the
+Captain with an evil eye and a muttered curse.
+
+This roused the fury of Captain Broom and he held him off from the
+ground as if he had been a rat, his jaws working ominously and a look in
+his eyes that made the Mexican shrivel.
+
+Nothing was said, not even by the Skipper, and the others watched him
+fascinated as he glared at his victim, and even the iron composure of
+the saturnine mate seemed to be moved partially aside. The Mexican began
+to whimper and moan as his eyes shifted to avoid the terrible ones of
+the Captain. He was not suffering any special violence, but a strange
+tremor filled the soul of the Mexican, in the grip of the grizzled
+giant.
+
+As the greaser began to cry, the Captain gave a roar of laughter and
+threw him aside upon the ground, about all the humanity he had shriveled
+out of him. He lay there absolutely without any power of motion in his
+body.
+
+Just then the crew of the Sea Eagle became aware of the fact that a
+horned animal with big brown eyes was looking at them. All the farmer in
+the nature of Captain Broom came to the surface.
+
+"By Gum," he exclaimed, "if here ain't a bovine cow looking at us. I
+ain't milked one for forty years, but I'm not afeard to try. 'Member,
+Pete, when we used to milk the cows back in old Connecticut on the farm.
+After working in the hay all day, I'd go down in the side hill pasture,
+that was so steep that you had to hold on with your toes and your teeth
+to keep from sliding down to the brook."
+
+"You bring it back to me just like it was a living picture," said Pete,
+his hard face softening under the gentle showers of memory.
+
+"Then I'd drive the black and white one that was breechy, and the red
+mooley, the yaller and white that gave the richest milk. I'd drive them
+into the stanchions in the old barn, with the ground floor stoned up on
+the side, where it was sunk into the hill."
+
+"But it was winter, Cap'n," said Pete, "that it was interesting doing
+the chores," and he blew reminiscently on his fingers, "snow two feet on
+the level and the sun a piece of blue ice in the sky. A condemned sight
+better place than Californey, where you don't feel no more alive than a
+enbalmed corpse."
+
+The Captain began now a series of manoeuvres to get within range of
+one of the cows so that they might have fresh milk for breakfast. He
+managed it finally, and he certainly looked like a peaceful old farmer
+as with his gray head against a fat red cow's flank, he milked into a
+large tin cup. Pete selected a black mooley and soothed by the man's
+persuasive manner, she consented finally to give down a thin blue
+stream. But the saturnine mate was less successful as he knew much more
+about navigating a ship than he did about cows.
+
+Finally after much awkward manoeuvring, he got a cow cornered and
+began operations upon the left side with the result that the cow landed
+upon him with her hoof and sent him sprawling on his back to the great
+delight of the Captain.
+
+"Hurt bad, Bill?" inquired the Skipper with mock sympathy, "I'm afeard
+that you will never make a farmer."
+
+"I never calkerlated to," replied the mate. "It ain't my line of
+business."
+
+"Don't tell me that," said the Captain, "I can see that for myself. Come
+up here and I'll give you a drink."
+
+They had scarcely finished their simple breakfast when Jack Cales gave a
+sudden alarm.
+
+"Cap'n," he cried, "I see two men legging it our way. They are making
+straight for the hill."
+
+"I guess they are coming to see why Manuello doesn't show up with the
+cows," remarked the Captain, "we don't want to stir up this hen roost as
+we've got other chicken to fry. So we'll git."
+
+"Take the greaser?" inquired Jack.
+
+"You and the mate fetch him," said the Captain.
+
+Just as the two men were mounting the hill, the Captain and his crew
+made a swift sneak down the opposite slope, and were soon making their
+way through the bush towards the foot-hills. In a minute they heard the
+cries of the two men as they drove the herd of cows towards the home
+ranch for the morning milking. The sun had now risen above the eastern
+range just in front of them and was blazing down upon the plain and the
+sea beyond. There was something exhilarating in the air in spite of the
+heat.
+
+"We don't need the company of that greaser any further," said Captain
+Broom, after they had made some headway up a canyon back of the ranch
+buildings. So they took some rope grass, tough as manilla, and tied him
+firmly, and, after having gagged him, they left him to be found later by
+some of his countrymen.
+
+Then they toiled steadily up the trail of the canyon, until about noon
+they reached a pocket in the canyon where there was a pool of clear
+water fed by an invisible spring. Coming to meet them were four boys
+riding up the trail on the other side of the range.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE CAMP IN THE POCKET
+
+
+Under the guidance of the Mexican dwarf, the four boys came at last to a
+halt. It seemed as if the canyon down which they had been riding had
+come to an end for there was a wall of rock directly in front of them.
+
+"Down there, Senor, is a pool of clear water," announced the Mexican.
+
+"Glad to hear it, Manuel," said Jim heartily.
+
+"Did you ever see a picture, Jim," put in Juarez significantly, "of a
+pool where the thirsty animals have to come to drink and before they get
+their noses in the water the hunter shoots them?"
+
+But nothing of this dire nature happened and in a few minutes the
+famished animals were pumping the delicious water down their long, baked
+throats.
+
+"My Gracious, but that tastes good!" cried Tom, drawing in a long,
+gasping breath, after he had been drinking steadily for about a minute.
+"It makes my head swim."
+
+"I should think it would," said Jo, sarcastically, "considering the
+amount you have drunk."
+
+"You weren't far behind," grumbled Tom. "I thought that you were not
+going to leave enough for the horses."
+
+"I don't especially like this place to camp in," said Jim. "We are not
+accustomed to get in a pocket like this. But it is too late to pull out
+tonight and the horses need a rest, so we will keep guard."
+
+"Better drown the brown rat first," remarked Juarez to Jim. But the
+latter only shook his head and laughed.
+
+The camp was made about twenty feet east of the spring in a small grove
+of slender trees backed by a high wall of steep granite, down which
+poured a waterfall in the rainy season.
+
+The fire was built upon a flat rock in the centre of the grove where
+there was no danger of it catching in the grass and bushes which were
+dry as tinder. If once a mountain fire was started at the end of the dry
+season there would be no stopping it until it had devastated the whole
+country.
+
+The light of the fire showed the usual cheery and active scene that goes
+with making camp. How many times the Frontier Boys had gone through
+these preparations it is impossible to say. They had camped on the
+plains of Kansas, in the mountains of Colorado, on the Mesas of New
+Mexico, the banks of the Colorado river, and the Pampas of Mexico. Now
+we find them in the coast range of California.
+
+It was not an especially dangerous country in which they were camped,
+nothing to compare with parts of Colorado and Mexico, but never were
+they in greater danger than at the present moment and this camp promised
+to be their last together, except they had unusual luck.
+
+There was a traitor in the company, and even now four pairs of hostile
+eyes were watching them as they moved in the light of the fire. The
+Captain of the Sea Eagle and his three trusty men were hidden in some
+bushes at the top of the pocket on the western side.
+
+Juarez and Jim busied themselves first in looking after their horses.
+Removing the saddles they rubbed down each animal thoroughly, clear to
+the fetlocks and then gave them a good feed of grain. Jo and Tom were on
+the supper committee and busying themselves making preparations for a
+square meal. Manuello, who had been with the boys on the other side of
+the range and was accustomed to help in odd chores about camp, now
+offered to aid in getting the supper.
+
+"I will make the coffee with your permission, Senor Jo," he proposed.
+
+"Do you savvy it all right, Manuello?" inquired Jo.
+
+"Ah, yes, Senor. I can make such coffee as the Holy Father would be
+pleased to drink," he replied with fervor.
+
+"Not too strong because it keeps me awake," protested Tom.
+
+"No, no, Senor Thomas," replied Manuello with a sweeping bow, "the
+coffee I make is very soothing. It will give you a long, soft sleep."
+There was an undertone of subtle irony that was entirely lost upon the
+two straightforward boys.
+
+"That's a good fellow, Manuello," said Jo, cordially, and he handed the
+coffee pot filled with water to the Mexican, who went about the
+preparation of it with a deftness that showed that he knew what he was
+about. Not one of the boys saw him slip a white powder into the coffee
+pot. It quickly dissolved and the coffee began to bubble innocently
+enough under the eyes of the hunchback Manuello.
+
+Juarez and Jim just then came back from looking after the horses which
+were fastened near the wall of rock. As soon as Juarez saw the Mexican
+watching over the coffee pot, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
+
+"Who made the coffee?" he asked Jo, bluntly.
+
+"Manuello," replied Jo.
+
+"The Senor will find the coffee truly delicious," said the hunchback
+with a bow, "only the Mexican knows how to keep its aroma when boiling
+it."
+
+"Humph," grunted Juarez, and he went deliberately to the fire and lifted
+the coffee pot off and poured its contents on the ground.
+
+"The American does not care for the aroma of your Mexican coffee," he
+said coolly.
+
+The Mexican merely gave a peculiar hitch to his shoulder, spat on the
+ground and turned away apparently mortally offended as he, no doubt,
+was. That part of his scheme had been blocked by the craftiness of
+Juarez, but the Captain might make good where his spy had failed.
+
+The Mexican sat back in the shadow on a rock smoking a cigarette, while
+the boys ate their supper of beans, meat, bread and coffee. He was the
+skeleton at the feast as it were, not only his malignant humor made
+itself felt, but there was a sense of depression that they could not
+shake off, try as they would.
+
+This was so unusual that they could not account for it. As a rule, they
+were jolly and even when danger was impending, they felt a certain
+confidence and assurance, but not so tonight.
+
+"What makes us feel so on the bum tonight, do you suppose?" asked Tom.
+
+"Maybe this canyon is haunted," proposed Jo, who had an imaginative
+streak in him.
+
+"I tell you the way I figure it," said Jim. "We are not used to camping
+in a hollow like this, for before this we have always selected a place
+that we could defend, and though there is no particular danger from
+outlaws or Indians in these mountains, we can't shake off our old
+habits."
+
+"I believe there is something in that," acquiesced Jo.
+
+"It's that rat over there," said Juarez loudly.
+
+The Mexican laughed coolly and insolently, and lighted another
+cigarette. This would have maddened an excitable person, but Juarez was
+in a stoical mood and he contented himself with flinging a bone that he
+had been gnawing at, carelessly over his shoulder, almost striking the
+Mexican in the face.
+
+This set that peppery individual wild and he tore around considerably,
+tearing his hair, stamping his feet and sputtering with maledictions at
+the insult that had been offered him.
+
+"I am no dog that you can throw a bone to," and he sizzled off into a
+string of unpleasant remarks.
+
+"Here you, Manuello," roared Jim, rising to his feet and standing over
+the Mexican, "not another yelp out of you."
+
+Manuello had a respect for this big American lad much as he despised his
+simplicity and he sobered down. Besides he had not finished his work for
+the night. He had failed to get the sleeping drug to the boys in the
+coffee and now he must be ready to help his master, Captain Broom of the
+Sea Eagle, in some other way.
+
+There was a person whom he feared and admired absolutely and he had been
+a most useful spy and agent for the Skipper in certain nefarious plots.
+It was well for the little hunchback that no one knew of his share in
+the betraying of old Juan Sebastian some years before.
+
+"You will have the first watch, Jo," ordered Jim. "It is now nine
+o'clock. I will relieve you at eleven and stand guard until two. Juarez
+from two until five and Tom can have the short watch."
+
+According to this arrangement, Jim and Juarez would be on guard during
+the danger hours.
+
+How many times in the past had the boys stood guard over their camp. Was
+this to be the last guard? There were the old Kansas days, when they had
+to be on the watch against horse thieves. Then came the dangerous crisis
+in their Colorado experiences, when they had to guard against the wiles
+of the Indians. And most exciting of all, perhaps, the night in old
+Mexico when they camped on the trail of the outlaws. I wonder if Jo, the
+first on duty, thought of these old times that night. Probably not, his
+mind being fully occupied with the business in hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE ATTACK
+
+
+So the three boys rolled into their blankets with the saddles for
+pillows and dropped immediately to sleep as they were very tired from
+the long, hard ride. They lay at different points around the fire, which
+was allowed to die down as the fog seemed like a warm gray blanket over
+the whole landscape.
+
+Jo sat on a log by the slowly dying fire, with his rifle on his knees
+looking into the darkness and not far from him lay the Mexican a mere
+dark lump on the ground, apparently asleep, but keeping a wary eye on
+all around. Imperceptibly he crept nearer to where Jo was sitting, but
+he did not have the weapon he would have preferred in his hand, the
+stiletto, which was as natural to him as the fangs to a rattlesnake.
+
+But it did not suit the long-headed Captain Broom to have the boys
+killed. He wanted their life as well as their money, but in a different
+sense than the adage has it. From what he had heard of them, they were
+boys of unusual mettle and varied acquirements. If caught young, he
+could train them to good purpose. If they proved worthless, he would
+hold them for ransom.
+
+So Captain Broom had told Manuello briefly and to the point that there
+was to be no rib-sticking and the Mexican would have thought as soon of
+disobeying the commands of the Evil One as of going contrary to the
+instructions of the Captain. So as he crept towards Jo, he held not a
+poniard in his clenched hand, but a heavy weapon like a black-jack, made
+of leather with a weight at the end.
+
+Jo, however, spoiled his first attempt, for when the greaser had got
+within striking distance, Jo got up and went down to the pool to get a
+drink. If it had not been so dark, when they arrived, the boys would
+have seen tracks around the pool that would have aroused their
+suspicions. But everything seemed to work against them this time.
+
+Jo stooped down at the brink and scarcely put his thirsty lips to the
+water when some instinct of warning made him look quickly around and he
+saw a small dark object directly back of him.
+
+"Pardon, Senor, for startling you;" it was the voice of the dwarf, "but
+I, too, was very thirsty. It is in the air."
+
+"You needn't have been so quiet about it," said Jo, crossly. This little
+rat always had a way of baffling and irritating him, because he did not
+have Jim's force, which could beat down the dwarf when occasion demanded
+it, or the stoicism of Juarez, which blocked the hunchback.
+
+"I came softly, Senor," said the Mexican, imperturbably, "because I did
+not wish to disturb the slumbers of the Senors who are resting."
+
+"Get down and drink, then," said Jo, who, though he realized that the
+Mexican was up to some hidden deviltry, did not know how to meet him.
+Jim and Juarez would have knocked him out of the camp if they had
+discovered him trailing them, with a warning that he would be shot if he
+put in an appearance again.
+
+While the Mexican was pretending to drink, Jo satisfied his thirst at a
+point of the pool where he would be safe from a sudden attack by the
+hunchback. For Jo was not a fool by any means. Then he got to his feet
+and with the Mexican ahead of him, he saw to that, he made his way back
+to the camp.
+
+Scarcely had Jo seated himself upon the rock again than he heard a stick
+snap upon the mountain side above the horses, so he got to his feet to
+investigate.
+
+"You can stay where you are, Manuello," said Jo. "I don't need your
+company this time." The Mexican laughed softly to himself.
+
+"I hope the Senor Americano will not get lonesome," he said.
+
+Jo made a careful search in the direction of the sound but found no sign
+of a human being lurking among the trees. Though he felt exceedingly
+nervous, he was unable to account therefor or give a reason.
+
+Very quietly he went the rounds, so as not to awake the boys, who,
+however, were sleeping heavily. He found the horses all right standing
+with drooping heads as though dozing, Jo's black with his neck over
+Tom's bay, as these horses were great chums. But Caliente and Juarez's
+roan were not sociable and kept strictly to themselves.
+
+Then Jo returned to the rock where he had been sitting. He stirred the
+dying fire so that it sent up a feeble spurt of flame by the aid of
+which he looked at his watch. It lacked a few minutes of ten. The
+Mexican had taken up his old place on the ground watching for his
+chance. He was anxious that the attack should take place during Jo's
+watch for he had his doubts in regard to Juarez or the redoubtable Jim
+proving easy victims.
+
+All this time, Captain Bill Broom and his crew had been keeping watch
+upon their intended victims from the top of the cliff above the pool.
+They could see every move from the time the Frontier Boys had arrived
+until they lay down near the smouldering fire.
+
+"They are a husky lot," was the Captain's first comment. "That tall
+fellar, I guess, is a horse tamer and Injun fighter."
+
+Some time later when the altercation occurred about the coffee and
+Juarez expressed his opinion about the Mexican, the Captain could
+scarcely keep from haw-hawing right out.
+
+"Them fellars have got some dis'pline," commented the saturnine mate.
+
+"You're right they hev," said the Captain.
+
+"That lad don't know how to handle my pet rattlesnake," was the
+Captain's comment when the Mexican trailed Jo to the drinking pool.
+After Jo had returned from making his rounds and had resumed his guard
+again, the Captain decided that the time had come for action.
+
+"Now, lads," he ordered, "pull off your shoes and the first man that
+makes a sound will get his neck cracked. Knock 'em out, if necessary,
+but no killing this time."
+
+Then they started, the Captain in the lead, and old Pete bringing up the
+rear. They had had a good many hours in that vicinity and had made a
+path from their hiding place to the soft dust trail. So they moved in
+their sock feet without a sound. There was an oppressive stillness in
+that dark canyon under the heavy blanket of fog.
+
+Already it had began to lower and as the sailors advanced with
+snail-like slowness the heavy white fog settled down, filling the canyon
+with its white opaqueness. You could not see five feet in front, and the
+moisture beaded itself upon the eyebrows and mustaches of the men.
+
+This dense fog was a great help to the attacking party. They had now
+crawled half way down the main trail, when Pete came near putting all
+the fat in the fire, for his eyesight was not overly keen, and the fog
+made it more difficult for him. He did not see a round stone poised on
+the edge of the trail until it rolled down towards the pool.
+
+Although every sound was deadened by the fog, still the watchful Jo
+heard it distinctly. He got quickly to his feet and, with soft
+moccasined tread he went in the direction of the sound, his pistol in
+his hand.
+
+No sooner had the stone fallen than the Captain motioned the mate to
+halt. This signal was repeated to Jack Cales, who was so hidden by the
+fog that he could not see the Captain. He stopped suddenly so that old
+Pete tumbled over him, making some noise.
+
+The Captain almost had a fit of apoplexy because he did not dare express
+himself at this interesting juncture. Jo had heard the noise on the
+trail and his suspicions centered in that direction. Noiselessly he went
+up with slight footprints in the damp dust of the trail. The Captain
+waited his coming, crouched behind a bend in the trail.
+
+Then Jo saw a huge figure rising suddenly out of the fog in front of him
+and, before he could fire, a great hand gripped for his throat, but if
+he could not shoot in defense, at least he could give his comrades
+warning. He fired one shot, and then he was overpowered.
+
+Jim and Juarez heard it instantly. Then Manuello got in some of his
+work. Before Juarez could rise, he struck him a vicious blow upon the
+head that stunned him, rendering him unconscious. Cold with fury, Jim
+picked up the rat of a Mexican before he could land a blow upon him,
+whirled him over his head and dashed him upon the ground.
+
+Then he sprang through the fog in the direction of the shot. He heard Jo
+groan as the ruffians overpowered him and he leaped up the trail blind
+with a fighting rage. The Captain had just got up from the struggle
+with Jo, who lay as good as dead in the trail.
+
+Then Jim hurled himself upon him. Powerful though he was, the Captain
+could not withstand the sinewy lurch of that sudden attack and together
+boy and man crashed from the trail over rocks and through brush until
+with a fearful impact they struck the trunk of a pine tree.
+
+The mate sprang swiftly down to the rescue of his fallen master. He was
+a strong, sinewy man and knew how to act in an emergency.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+"HAUL IN"
+
+
+The jar of the fall had knocked out the Captain partially and Jim had
+risen to give him the coup de grace, when he heard the rush of the mate
+coming down through the fog. It was a strange sensation hearing your
+enemy but not able to see him.
+
+Then the mate plunged into view, a dark ball through the opaqueness. He
+could not have stopped if he had so desired and it was evident that he
+did not wish to. For, with lowered head, he came for Jim as he would for
+an ugly sailor.
+
+Jim stopped him with his shoulder and ripped in a right uppercut with
+his keen hard fist that would have stopped the heart action of an
+ordinary man, and it sent the seasoned mate back upon his haunches,
+partially dazed. Feeling the Captain squirming back to life, he planted
+a back blow with his heel in the latter's stomach that took the wind out
+of the Captain's sails for the time being. The mate, a really hardy
+individual, had made good use of the brief respite and, picking up a
+heavy stick, came for Jim with it.
+
+The latter dodged the blow aimed at his head and it glanced off his
+shoulder. Then he closed with the sailor, struggling to put him out.
+Three seconds more and Jim would have landed the proper blow, had not
+Jack Cales arrived upon the scene under cover of the melee. Before Jim
+could turn to meet this new assailant, a stone crashed against his
+head--and the frontier boys had lost.
+
+The Captain had now recovered sufficiently to get on his feet, and the
+fallen Jim was kicked until the Captain himself called a halt.
+
+"Wait till we get him on board ship, lads," he said, "and we will finish
+this job."
+
+"Better get the other two, Cap'n," advised the mate.
+
+So they dragged the prostrate Jim to the foot of the trail near where
+the drinking pool was and went to look for Juarez and Tom. They saw a
+small black object crawling towards them through the fog.
+
+"What's this a coming?" asked Jack Cales.
+
+"Why, it's my Mexican ferret," said the Captain. "What's the matter,
+Manuello?" he asked as he turned him over none too gently with his foot.
+
+"The big Senor throw me over his head and on the ground. I think I
+crack the world open," he explained. The Captain roared with laughter.
+
+"Where is the rest of this dangerous gang?" he asked.
+
+"I will show you," he said, struggling to his feet. The presence of his
+master gave him strength and confidence. "This way, Senor Captain."
+
+He brought them to where Juarez lay upon the ground, partially held up
+by Tom, who had been crying and endeavoring to bring his comrade back to
+consciousness from the ugly blow that the Mexican had given him. I am
+sure that none could blame Tom for tears upon this occasion for it was
+calculated to try the heart of the stoutest.
+
+"Why, this boy looks like an Indian," said the Captain regarding Juarez
+closely.
+
+"He lived with the Indians when a boy, Senor Captain," volunteered the
+dwarf, who by subtle means of his own had become possessed of the
+history of the four boys.
+
+"He don't seem to be much more than a boy, now," said the Captain. They
+had not paid much attention to Tom because he seemed a mere kid, but the
+hunchback was not to be caught napping, for he had worked around back of
+Tom, and as the latter aimed his revolver at the Captain, having worked
+it cautiously out of his holster, the dwarf grabbed him in the nick of
+time else the expedition would have lost its head.
+
+Instead of being infuriated as one might have expected, the Captain was
+decidedly amused at the temerity of the youngster, for that is all Tom
+appeared to him, and, therefore, he did not hand him a beating.
+
+"The nerve of the little rooster," guffawed the Captain. "I'll make a
+real pirate out of you."
+
+Tom struggled wildly, but it was no use, as Jack Cales and the mate
+disarmed him. Just then there came a loud yell from up the trail.
+
+"Haul in, Cap'n!" It was Old Pete's well known and melodious voice.
+
+"Jack, go and see what the old cuss wants," ordered the Captain. "I
+expect that the lad up there is trying to kidnap Pete."
+
+When Jack arrived on the scene, he found that the Skipper had guessed
+right. For Jo had been playing possum and was not nearly so badly hurt
+as he had appeared to be.
+
+He came near escaping from his keeper and it was only by a quick forward
+lunge that Pete had grabbed him and then occurred a short struggle in
+which Pete had called for help and just as Jo had wrestled himself
+loose, Cales appeared and grabbed him. It took both Pete and Cales
+quite a while to subdue him.
+
+Finally it was accomplished and they made him go down the trail, one on
+either side. At the foot of the incline he saw the bruised and battered
+form of Jim lying on the ground and a big lump came into his throat.
+
+"You fellows will pay for this," he said, rendered desperate by the
+sight of Jim. But his captors only laughed, not realizing that the
+Frontier Boys were apt to keep their word.
+
+Then they joined the main gang and Jo saw to his dismay that Tom and
+Juarez were in the coils as well as himself and that Juarez, too, had
+been laid out and appeared dazed and only partially conscious of what
+was going on. Thus there was little hope of escape with the two leaders,
+Jim and Juarez, done for.
+
+"Better search these beggars for their money, Captain," suggested the
+mate.
+
+"It hadn't slipped my mind," replied the Skipper.
+
+Now the money and the jewels that the boys had found in Mexico were in
+leather belts around their bodies. These were soon in the possession of
+the Captain, but the crew knew full well that they would receive their
+share and thus it was that the Skipper gave promise of living to a ripe
+old age instead of being murdered for his money.
+
+"It's about time to make a start, Cap'n," announced the mate, and the
+Captain consulted his watch by the light of a lantern. He found that it
+was half-past eleven.
+
+"We won't be so long going back," he said. "We will use their horses."
+
+This was easier said than done, for when any of the crew approached
+Caliente, that noble animal became transformed into a tiger and as he
+came for them with bared teeth or whirled and kicked out with his heels,
+they decided that discretion was the better part of valor and they left
+him alone. Sailors at best are not very clever horsemen.
+
+"Let me have a chance and I'll quiet him for you," volunteered Jim
+gruffly. "I don't want to see you poor fellows eaten alive."
+
+"My lad," said the Skipper solemnly, "I'm no spring chicken and you
+can't catch me with any such chaff."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+MISSOURI'S MANOEUVRE
+
+
+The other three horses proved more tractable than Caliente, and after
+some skirmishing they managed to get their new ships rigged up with the
+saddles and other tackle. Now as soon as they got their cargo aboard,
+they would be prepared to set sail and to cruise over the plains. (I
+must use this nautical language out of respect for Captain Broom and his
+crew.)
+
+As I have said before, sailors are poor horsemen and when it came to
+making fast the double cinches, they were quite at sea, where sailors
+should be, perhaps. Old Pete came near getting his head kicked off by
+pulling the back cinch too tight, but he and Captain Broom profited by
+their youthful experience on a New England farm, so the horses were
+finally all saddled and bridled and ready for a flight--except Caliente.
+He was to be left marooned in the lonely canyon.
+
+It was surprising to Jim and his comrades how quietly Juarez's roan took
+matters, but there is no relying on a broncho, because he always does
+the unexpected, and the Captain was so pleased with his behavior that
+he decided to ride the animal himself.
+
+"Now, that's what I call a well broken hoss," he said. "I ain't so sure
+of the black so I will let you cruise on him, Jack, being the most
+active. I don't know what I shall do for Pete, unless I can find him a
+rocking-horse."
+
+"What are you going to do with the boys?" inquired the mate. "Have 'em
+walk?"
+
+"They can ride their pack mule," said the Captain grimly.
+
+So Jo, Juarez and Jim were securely fastened on the patient mule, while
+Tom rode behind the mate upon his own horse, but no longer as master.
+Then the queer procession started up the trail through the dense fog.
+The Captain was in the lead, followed by the mate with Tom, then the
+mule with Pete and the Mexican dwarf guarding the animal and its cargo,
+while the active Jack Cales was the rear guard. It was exactly twelve
+o'clock when they weighed anchor and sailed from the harbor or cove in
+the mountain canyon.
+
+The three boys said little to each other. They did not waste their
+breath with threats of what they would do to their captors later on, but
+accepted the situation with true western stoicism. But you may be sure
+that their minds were active even if their tongues said little.
+
+They were so securely tied that there was no chance for them to make a
+move as their arms were corded tight to their bodies and their feet were
+tied under the belly of the mule. Unless they had been experienced
+riders they would have had a difficult time of it. But it was terribly
+humiliating, especially under the insolence of the malignant Mexican.
+But he did not dare do them any actual injury, because the Skipper had
+given him a warning which he did not dare to disregard. Finally, old
+Pete put an end to his slurring remarks to the prisoners, so he had to
+content himself with ugly looks and frequent expectoration wherewith to
+express his disgust.
+
+Before they reached the foot of the trail, Jack Cales changed with Pete,
+though the latter demurred at first, at boarding the strange black craft
+with four legs, but finally consented under the urging of Jack and the
+warm recommendation of the boys, who had taken somewhat of a fancy to
+the old sailor, since he had shut up the Mexican in their behalf.
+
+"He won't hurt you, Pop," said Jim, "he is a good horse. Any lady could
+ride him."
+
+"I ain't no lady," replied the old fellow suspiciously, as he slowly
+and stiffly mounted, while Jack held his head, that is to say, the
+horse's head, not Pete's.
+
+"What did he do that for?" inquired Pete, anxiously, preparing to
+dismount.
+
+"Stay on, you old Barnacle," roared the Captain from the head of the
+procession, for though he could not see anything in the rear, still he
+seemed able to keep an instinctive tab on his old comrade Pete.
+
+"That horse is all right, Pop," said Jo, "and I ought to know. I've
+ridden him a good many hundred miles. Don't tickle him with your heels,
+that's all."
+
+"I guess that's what I've done," admitted Pete.
+
+Then the procession resumed its march with Pete as rear guard, riding
+with due caution and circumspection as though his craft was loaded with
+dynamite and liable to explode at any time. Jack Cales tried to quiz the
+prisoners on the mule in a friendly way, but they would not relax in
+their attitude of grim, if not sullen, defiance towards their captors.
+
+Captain Broom need not think that his prisoners would ever accept any
+conditions from him. Doubtless, he thought that these boys might be
+trained to help him in his business for he appreciated their courage
+and fighting ability, but he did not fully understand what stuff the
+frontier boys were made of.
+
+The procession of pirates and their prisoners had now reached the foot
+of the range and were in close proximity to the ranch, but everything
+favored the plans of the Skipper of the Sea Eagle. The fog became denser
+when they reached the level plain so that it was scarcely possible for
+the rider to see the ears of his horse.
+
+Every sound was deadened, so that they could have gone directly past the
+ranch houses and not even the dogs would have heard them. But the
+Captain was determined to take no chances, and as soon as the party were
+free of the canyon, he bore off toward the south, making quite a
+circuit.
+
+Anybody but an experienced navigator would have been lost in the fog
+upon the plain, but you could not lose Captain Broom either on the high
+seas or the low plains. They passed between two wooded hills, which the
+reader will have to take on faith as he cannot see them. Then across a
+gully, on the other side of which they came to a barb wire fence.
+
+This did not stop them long, as the Captain cut it and they rode
+through. From the footing which was about all that could be observed,
+they appeared to be in a pasture land with a gentle slope towards the
+sea. The fog did not diminish in thickness and the boys determined to
+escape. Here was their chance, if they could be said to have one.
+
+"Here's where we make a break," said Jim to Juarez. "Guide the mule
+alongside of Tom. Then we will run for it." Jim did not say this in so
+many words, but he had ways and means of indicating to Juarez, who was
+tied directly back of him, by a sign and poke language which Juarez was
+quick to seize.
+
+It seemed at every turn that his experience with the Indians was a help
+to him. The mule was a protege of Juarez and with a word he could guide
+it in any direction that he wished it to go. The fog was one thing that
+favored them. The Mexican could scarcely be seen and Jack Cales stalked
+along looking like a giant through the mist.
+
+He had grown somewhat lax through the long march. This was the time, if
+ever. Jim gave Juarez the signal that all was ready. A quick word to the
+mule and he trotted out from his place in the column, knocking over the
+Mexican and before Cales was fairly awake to the situation, he was
+obscured by the fog.
+
+In about two seconds he had hove alongside of the horse that the mate
+was on. Tom was foot-loose, and no sooner did he see Missouri's long
+ears through the fog, than he was ready for action.
+
+"Jump, Tom," urged Jim. It took only about two seconds for Tom to
+execute the manoeuvre.
+
+"Halt!" roared the Captain, and he tried to turn the roan to capture the
+runaways, but right here, the broncho strain in the animal showed
+itself.
+
+He began to buck and never in all his experience had the redoubtable
+Captain Broom ever been on so choppy a sea. It was hard to distinguish
+fog from whiskers. At the second hunch upward, the Captain shot into
+space. The boys did not tarry to watch for his descent. A word from
+Juarez to the mule, and Missouri turned directly south just as Jack
+Cales came rushing up.
+
+"Touch him with your foot, Tom," said Juarez, meaning the mule, not
+Cales. Tom's heel reached the right spot and up flew the mule's hind
+feet with the rapidity of a rapid fire-gun.
+
+One foot struck Cales on the shoulder with a sufficient impact to send
+him down and out. The mate had been involved in the cyclone of which
+Captain Broom was the centre. Tom's horse, considered the gentlest of
+the four, had become infected with the roan's example and he started in
+to do a little bucking on his own account. Never since the mate had
+rounded Cape Horn, had he known so much action in so short a time.
+
+The only one left was Old Pete and he came on right gallantly, but by
+dodging and turning they got away in the fog. After putting what they
+considered a safe distance between themselves and their former captors,
+Juarez persuaded Missouri to halt, and Tom went to work and with great
+difficulty first untied, then lifted, them to the ground for the boys
+were as stiff as boards from being tied hard and fast for so long a
+time.
+
+"My, but it certainly hurts," said Jo, stamping around in an endeavor to
+get the blood to circulating again. "It's just like it used to be back
+home in the winter when we would go skating and get our hands numb."
+
+"What is the matter, Juarez?" asked Jim in alarm.
+
+"Oh, I'm all right, I guess," he said in a voice that sounded faint to
+the boys and far away to himself. Then, without warning, he fell over on
+the ground and stiffened out.
+
+"It's from the blow that the greaser gave him," said Tom. "It would have
+killed him if it had struck him fair."
+
+"Wait until I get my hands on him," cried Jim, significantly.
+
+What should they do now? It was not an easy question to decide.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE RANCHERO
+
+
+They could not desert Juarez and they could not get far with him. It was
+enough to stagger them and it seemed that they had reached the end of
+their resources.
+
+"If it wasn't such an open country," said Jo, "we might hide until they
+had got out of range and then get to the nearest ranch."
+
+"If they overtake us we can stand them off," saying this Jim reached for
+his revolver. To his astonishment it was gone. Then he remembered he had
+been disarmed by Captain Broom, and they were absolutely defenseless
+unless they could depend on Missouri's heels which had furnished them
+such active protection.
+
+Finally they brought Juarez around so that he was able to sit up.
+
+"Where am I?" he asked in a sort of daze.
+
+"You will be all right in a minute, old chap," encouraged Jim, speaking
+cheerfully, but he did not feel so.
+
+"You bet I will," he assented feebly, but with invincible determination.
+"What are you holding me for, Jim? Let's get at those fellows." It was
+evident that his mind was not exactly clear yet. They got him on his
+feet and he seemed better, though still very wabbly.
+
+"There come those fellows," cried Jim, suddenly, with more of despair in
+his tone than he had ever spoken before, no matter how hard pressed they
+had been. But before there had always been something to do, but now they
+were helpless. Jim looked hastily around for some weapon. All he found
+was a small round stone.
+
+With a yell of exultation, Jack Cales and the mate dashed down upon
+them, followed by the Captain and old Pete. They had been able to follow
+the distinctive mark of the mule's shoes in the soft earth until they
+came in hearing of the boys' voices. Then they jumped upon them. They
+were out for blood this time, for they had the boys' revolvers in their
+hands, probably because they were better than their own.
+
+Missouri, finding himself free, made off. Tom halted when covered by one
+of the sailor's revolvers, but Jim dodged as the mate fired at him. The
+lug of lead spattered the mud between his feet, the next second he was
+off full speed through the fog, followed by fleet Jo.
+
+The sailors soon gave up the useless chase, for there was no trail to
+guide them, so they had to content themselves with half of their
+original capture and they started for the cove where the Sea Eagle was
+anchored as fast as they could go, though they were hampered by Juarez.
+
+"Better leave him, Captain," urged old Pete. "He is nothing but a
+nuisance."
+
+"I'll have use for that fellow yet," said the Captain. "As for the other
+lad, he won't feel so lively after a few days on shipboard."
+
+This did not have a very cheerful sound for Tom and he was in anything
+but a happy frame of mind. Still he had great confidence in Jim and did
+not give up hope of being rescued before the coast was reached. It was
+now getting towards daybreak, and the fog began to lift somewhat so that
+they could see a distance of thirty or forty yards.
+
+Captain Broom's gang had now left the region of the level pasture and
+were coming to the brush section, fringing the coast, and beyond that
+they reached the sand dunes. The nearer they came to the sea the more
+depressed Tom became. The only thing that encouraged him was the fact
+that Juarez began to seem like himself.
+
+Let us now return to Jo and Jim, who had been so fortunate as to make
+their escape. As soon as they were sure that the pursuit was at an end,
+they slowed down to a walk.
+
+"Well, they didn't give us much of a chase," remarked Jim.
+
+"Plenty to suit me. What are we going to do now?"
+
+"This fog is beginning to lift," said Jim, "and then we can take our
+bearings. I want to locate this ranch the first thing, and then we can
+get help."
+
+"Here's a wire fence," announced Jo, "I reckon it's the one the old
+geser cut."
+
+"It surely is and a straight course north is our direction," remarked
+Jim.
+
+"Here are hills that look like those we rode through," said Jo.
+
+"We will soon be there now," was Jim's cheerful comment "What's that? It
+sounds like a dog barking." They stopped, listening intently, as the
+sound came faint, but there was no mistaking it.
+
+"I suppose it's some big hound, that they usually keep on these
+ranches," said Jo, who was beginning to feel depressed from hunger and
+fatigue, "and he will jump at us because we haven't any weapons."
+
+But in spite of Jo's fear they hurried on in the direction of the sound.
+In a short time, they came to a road between two barb wire fences, which
+the reader will remember that the Captain and his crew took when they
+were coming through the Sebastian ranch. But the boys struck it higher
+up, and were soon in the pasture that sloped down from the ranch houses
+toward the road.
+
+Jim and Jo now heard the voices of men as well as the baying of the
+dogs. The men were talking excitedly about the finding of one of their
+number in the canyon tied and gagged, and it was evident that it was not
+a good time for strangers to visit the ranch of the Sebastians.
+
+But Jim and Jo were dulled to danger and did not care what risk they ran
+and so they called to the men in a friendly Spanish greeting. There was
+instantly a great hubbub, and two men charged down upon them, preceded
+by a couple of fierce-looking mongrels. These came dashing for them with
+red, gaping mouths. The boys defended themselves gallantly with two
+stout sticks that they had picked up. Then the two Mexicans took a hand.
+
+"Look out, Jo," cried Jim, who was ever on the alert. "That fellow is
+going to throw his lasso." Jo dodged just in the nick of time, but this
+gave one of the dogs a chance, and if Jim had not stunned him by a
+resounding crack on the head it would have gone hard with his brother.
+
+Just then another man appeared on the scene, attracted from the vicinity
+of the house by the noise of the encounter. He came full speed on a
+splendid sorrel. It was Juan Sebastian, a dark, handsome young man, a
+true son of Spain.
+
+"What's all this?" he cried as he rode up. "Here, Sancho, Jan, you
+brutes, come off." The dogs slunk obediently to heel.
+
+"We found those insolent Gringoes," said one of the men, "coming
+straight for the Senor's house. We undertook to stop them."
+
+"Senor," said Jim, bowing low and speaking in his best Spanish, "we are
+sorry, my brother and I, to have caused this disturbance. We are
+strangers and unfortunate, and we have heard of your hospitality,
+Senor"--Jim bowed again. He was not so simple, after all.
+
+The Senor Sebastian returned the bow with more grace than Jim could
+command.
+
+"I regret, Senor--" he hesitated.
+
+"Darlington," added Jim.
+
+"Senor Darlington, that you have been attacked in this manner, but there
+has been a party of desperadoes that have been overrunning this part of
+the country for the past two days, and they took one of my men and bound
+and gagged him and so you see, Senors," a smile and bow completed the
+Spanish gentleman's apology perfectly.
+
+"We have just escaped, not more than an hour ago, from these same
+desperadoes," said Jim. "They have taken my brother and friend with them
+towards the coast."
+
+"We will saddle and overtake them," promised the Senor, "after we have
+had breakfast."
+
+Jim was stunned by this gentle sort of procrastination.
+
+"But, Senor," he said gravely, "we will not be able to overtake them if
+we do not start immediately. Pardon my abruptness, but I cannot rest
+while there are two of my party prisoners in the hands of this gang of
+cut-throats."
+
+"It is to be perfectly understood," replied the Spaniard with no less
+gravity, "we will make haste, but first we will eat while the servants
+are getting two of the horses ready for you and your brother."
+
+This was not Jim's idea of making haste by a long shot, but he was
+enough of a traveler to recognize that the ways of men and nations
+differed and that nothing was to be gained by going against the grain
+of a national characteristic. So while fuming inwardly, he was outwardly
+quiet and composed. He argued, too, that it was not likely the pirate
+gang would retain the captured prisoners. Later, when they were
+themselves at a safe distance they would set free the others.
+
+As they went towards the house, the Spaniard dismounted and walked with
+them, giving his horse into the charge of one of the men, with
+directions to bring two other horses to the house. There was an
+unmistakable courtesy in doing this and the boys appreciated it. They
+could not help but contrast their appearance with that of the Spaniard.
+He was not gaudily dressed like a vaquero, but everything he wore was
+possessed of a certain richness and was not lacking in color. He truly
+was a Prince of the South in appearance as well as in courtesy.
+
+Jim and Jo were disreputable beyond words. Their clothes were muddy,
+torn and disheveled, their faces so grimed that it was hard to tell
+their original color, and there were blotches of blood upon their
+clothes as well as faces and hands. But, though they looked worse than
+tramps, there was something straightforward in their manner and their
+way of speech that the Spaniard was quick to recognize.
+
+As they walked along the Spaniard explained that his household had been
+unusually disturbed that morning. His mother, he said, was an invalid,
+and had escaped from her attendant. Some mental trouble, he briefly
+mentioned as the cause of the elderly lady's worriment. Evidently, he
+did not connect the tragedy in his own life, in which his father's life
+was sacrificed, with the boys' antagonist. His mother, he assured them,
+had been found and was returned to her home.
+
+The boys now had a good view of the house, as they approached it. The
+fog having lifted, they could take in the whole situation. The structure
+itself was of adobe, of the early California type, low, with broad
+verandas, and built on four sides around a court with a fountain in the
+centre, with fish in the basin, and grass around it. There were
+beautiful rose-tree bushes with gold and red clusters growing over the
+corners of the house.
+
+From the verandah there was a beautiful view looking off over the
+surrounding country. The house itself stood on a rise of ground that
+sloped gently from the plain below. Back of it rose the mountains of the
+coast range, while in the distance glittered the broad breadths of the
+Pacific, shining like an azure floor. As far as eye could see was the
+domain of this great ranch. It was, indeed, a princely estate, and one
+of which the Senor Sebastian might well be proud. Those were the days of
+romance and of charm in the land of Southern California.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+A NEW FRIEND
+
+
+The servants eyed the two boys curiously as they stepped upon the
+verandah and the brothers were not reassured by any looks of
+friendliness, though they were outwardly courteous. A withered looking
+old woman, who looked to Jim as though she had Indian blood showed the
+boys to a room, where they could wash up.
+
+"Jove! Doesn't it dazzle your eyes, Jo?" exclaimed Jim, "to see a real
+room, with a bed and a white spread, with those starched things where
+the pillows ought to be."
+
+"This room would certainly please Aunt Maria," remarked Jo. "That four
+poster bed with the canopy over it, is an old timer, I'll warrant you."
+
+"If I slept in this room," said Jim, "I would make a low bow to the bed
+and then roll up in my blanket and go to sleep on the floor."
+
+"How do I look?" asked Jo, after he had rubbed and scrubbed his face
+for a long time.
+
+"You have got off the first layer," replied Jim, "and look about the
+color of a half-breed. Let me try my hand at polishing up."
+
+"It will take you a week," remarked Jo discouragingly.
+
+It cannot be truly said that they looked ornamental even when they were
+clean, for Jim's face was badly torn, one side of it being scraped raw.
+He got this memento when he tackled the Captain and fell down into the
+canyon with him. One eye was blackened and the other cheek bruised.
+These disadvantages were not to be overcome in a short time.
+
+Jo was somewhat more presentable, but he, too, showed signs of the rough
+time that they had had with the Captain and his "merry" crew. But in
+spite of all this, there was something in their bearing, an honest
+hardihood and manliness that could not be discounted by torn clothes and
+bruised faces.
+
+"This room looks dirty, now," said Jo, "I'm ashamed to leave it like
+this."
+
+"We will go outside to brush off our clothes," proposed Jim, "and I'm
+going to empty this dirty water myself." He started out with it when he
+met one of the servants in the hall. With many explanations, numerous
+gestures and much excitement, she took the pail from Jim and disappeared
+with it.
+
+"They won't let you do anything for yourself here, Jo," reported Jim,
+returning to the room.
+
+This was correct and the boys noticed afterwards that the servants
+regarded them with odd expressions of amusement and it was evident to
+the sensitive Jo that they were being "guyed" by them, to use a modern
+expression. The boys being American lads, were self-reliant, and were
+accustomed to do everything for themselves, and, unknowingly they had
+gone counter to a custom of constant service of the Spaniards. It was to
+demean oneself, according to their code, to do any menial work.
+
+"Might as well start for the dining room," proposed Jo. "I hate leaving
+Tom and Juarez to their fate this way."
+
+"I more than hate it," protested Jim, "but as you can't hurry these
+people, we will make the best time by falling in with their way of doing
+business."
+
+Then they went out into a passageway and, taking the wrong turn, which
+was quite easy in the rambling old house, they came to a door that
+entered into the courtyard.
+
+"My, but this is beautiful," exclaimed Jo. "It makes you appreciate
+California better when you see a place like this."
+
+"That hammock looks good to me," said Jim. "I would like to stretch out
+in it right now."
+
+Just then the door opened on the verandah and a really beautiful young
+girl stepped out. She was probably seventeen years of age, dressed in
+white, with a black mantilla over her equally black hair and her dark
+cheeks glowed with color. A very romantic meeting, Messieurs, the
+gallant young Americans at one end of the verandah and the Senorita at
+the other. Then she saw Jim and Jo with their scarred and bruised faces.
+With a little shriek, and clasping her hand to her eyes, she retreated
+quickly to her room.
+
+"What did you do to scare that girl, Jo?" inquired Jim severely of his
+brother.
+
+"Nothing," declared Jo, stoutly. "It was the sight of your face. It
+would give a wooden Injun a chill." Jim felt of the said face
+reflectively.
+
+"I guess you are right, Jo," he admitted, "but you ain't so charming in
+appearance that you would do any damage."
+
+"Let's walk along this side," proposed Jo. "Perhaps we will locate the
+breakfast."
+
+"All right," agreed Jim.
+
+So they stalked along, more or less conscious that a pair of dark blue
+eyes were regarding them, and they thought they heard a trill of
+laughter, but it might have been one of the maids. They need not have
+felt embarrassed for there was the grace in their movements that goes
+with strength and youth and suppleness.
+
+They were walking under a perfect bower of flowers anyway. For this side
+was beautifully latticed and over the lattice work grew vines with
+purple and golden flowers, that would give a grateful shade when the
+California sun would drive the fog away.
+
+Under foot there was a double flagging of stone with trodden dirt on
+either side.
+
+"I don't see a broom anywhere," said Jo.
+
+Just then they heard the voice of Senor Sebastian behind them and they
+turned quickly.
+
+"I had begun to fear, Senors, that you had become lost again."
+
+"We were, partially, Senor."
+
+"Our simple breakfast is ready now if you are," he said.
+
+"We will have to brush the dirt off before we can go in," protested Jim.
+
+"Antonio bring a brush," called the Senor. In a moment a gray-haired,
+bent Mexican came with a big kitchen broom. Instantly the Senor flushed
+with anger.
+
+"Stupid one, my guests are not my horses. Have a care."
+
+A suspicion flashed through Jim's mind that the ancient servitor had
+brought the broom on purpose. It was clear that the servants did not
+have a very high opinion of their American visitors. The next time he
+returned he had gotten the right brush, and made a point of sneezing as
+the dust flew from their mud-dried clothes. This made Jim laugh in spite
+of himself.
+
+"More dust than the Sirocco brings," said Jim. The old servitor regarded
+him with a cunning eye.
+
+"Si, Senor," he said, then he was seized with a perfect convulsion of
+sneezing. This aroused his master's ire.
+
+"No more of that, Antonio," he commanded, "or it will be the lash."
+Antonio's cold was cured from that moment. Jim's mouth twitched at the
+corners with the humor of it but he did not laugh now for that would be
+discourteous to his host.
+
+Finally the brushing was finished to the regret of the servants, who had
+kept an amused eye on Antonio's performance, while pretending to be busy
+on some trivial tasks near the Patio or court. In her own room, the
+Senorita was faint with laughter as she watched Antonio dusting the two
+American lads.
+
+It was a simple breakfast that the boys found prepared for them in a
+long, low dining-room, with its dark beams and white plastered walls.
+The coffee was excellent, with a delicate aroma, and was probably the
+best that Mexico could afford. There was a large plate of meat garnished
+with peppers, and a mixed dish of vegetables that looked odd, but that
+tasted deliciously. You may be sure that Jim and Jo appreciated their
+meal, and they felt invigorated when it was finished, wishing all the
+while, however, that they were on the trail of their captured comrades.
+
+"Now, Senors, the horses are at the door. They are spirited, but I am
+sure that you ride well."
+
+This was a mere expression of courtesy on his part, for he did not
+expect any such thing and thought to see his guests fall off if the
+horses should rise on their hind legs, as they no doubt would, for there
+was not a horse on the big rancho but what was peppery and spirited. No
+sooner had the Senor spoke than Jim jumped to his feet, putting his hand
+to his head.
+
+"I have forgotten about Caliente!" he exclaimed. "It is my horse,
+Senor," he explained to his host. "He is up the canyon because the gang
+that attacked us last night were afraid of him."
+
+"I will send for him," said the Senor.
+
+"By the pool in the pocket," said Jim. "But I think I ought to get him
+myself, though I appreciate your offer, but one's horse, you know--"
+
+"I understand perfectly."
+
+"I cannot leave him without food and water," said Jim.
+
+"I will attend to that. I will send a trustworthy man," and he spoke to
+the servant who was waiting on the table. In a short time he returned
+with a tall, sinewy man, with straight black hair and dark skin. He gave
+this man the necessary instructions and with a "Si, Senor," the man went
+out.
+
+"A good reliable fellow," remarked Jim. "He looks like an Indian."
+
+"He is an Indian," replied their host, "but of the right kind. Your
+horse is in good hands."
+
+"Tell him to bring him down to the ranch," said Jim. "I'll trust
+Caliente with him." The Indian was called back and under his stolid
+demeanor was an appreciation of Jim's confidence.
+
+Breakfast over they went out on the verandah, where they could see the
+horses. They were spirited looking beasts all right. One was a bay, the
+two front legs white stockinged, very trimly built, with a flashing eye,
+that he kept rolling around. The boy who was holding him had his hands
+full, as the bay would rise on his hind legs and strike out viciously
+with his forefeet.
+
+The other animal was much heavier than the bay. A brilliant black, whose
+coat fairly shone with careful grooming. He had been standing
+comparatively quiet until the three appeared upon the verandah of the
+house, then, with a sudden surge backward, he dragged the Mexican boy
+off his feet, shaking his head viciously.
+
+"We ought to be armed, Senor," advised Jim. "If we should overtake those
+men, they will put up a desperate fight."
+
+"Certainly, Senor," he answered. "Come into this room and select your
+weapon."
+
+After both Jim and Jo were armed, they went out to the horses.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE PURSUIT
+
+
+All the servants seemed just now to find duties of importance in front
+of the house or near it. They had no idea of missing the chance of
+seeing these Gringoes, whom they held in contempt, thrown from their
+horses.
+
+Jim took the black and Jo was left the red, the easiest to manage even
+if he seemed the liveliest. Jo was too quick for his horse and before he
+could whirl to one side, he was in the saddle. Then his animal reared
+and plunged but Jo sat on him as easily as a cowboy does his steed.
+There was no mistaking his horsemanship. The servants were duly and
+deeply disappointed.
+
+But their hopes revived when they saw Jim tackle the black. He began
+that steady sideways movement which Jim knew so well, whenever he tried
+to put his foot in the stirrup. The servants began to smile, here would
+be some fun. The "Black Devil," as they called the horse, had been known
+to kill men, so they had pleasant anticipations. When Jim found that he
+could not mount by the stirrup, he made a quick, powerful leap and was
+in the saddle.
+
+"Bravo!" cried the Senor Sebastian, but he knew that the fight had just
+begun.
+
+Jo looked on with interest and perfect confidence in brother Jim's
+ability. The black stood perfectly stunned for a moment or two at being
+so suddenly mounted, then he sprang into action. With his back in a hump
+he shot into the air and came down stiff-legged.
+
+Without loss of a second he went into the air again, higher than before.
+From the corral the Mexican cowboys were looking at the duel between the
+horse and the boy with lively interest.
+
+"The Diablo will kill him," said one nonchalantly, blowing a puff of
+smoke from his cigarette.
+
+"Five dollars that the Gringo stays on," said a second. The wager was
+made and others followed, for the Mexicans are inveterate gamblers. The
+third time the horse pitched into the air, Jim swaying with the animal's
+every motion as the trained cowboy does. Finding that he could not
+dislodge his rider that way, the black rose on his hind legs to a
+perpendicular position.
+
+Jim knew the trick of old, and was prepared for it. As the horse started
+to fall backwards, Jim who had been sticking like a leech, leaped
+lightly to the ground and with all his strength, pulling upon the
+bridle, slammed him to the ground. No sooner was the horse upon his feet
+again than Jim was in the saddle.
+
+Once more he tried that falling back trick and this time Jim brought him
+down upon the damp earth with a thud that jarred things. The black devil
+had had enough. He stood quivering and sweating, but for the time being
+subdued.
+
+"Bravo!" cried the Senor Sebastian again, and he shook his guest by the
+hand warmly. "You are a true horseman. Now we shall go. We shall eat up
+the miles."
+
+The crowd of cowboys swung their hats in a salute to the Gringo, who
+could conquer the black devil, while the house servants, disappointed at
+the stranger's triumph, went back to their different tasks.
+
+The three horsemen galloped away down the sloping pasture, the Spaniard
+in advance as he knew the country and the most direct way to the coast.
+His horse was a splendid sorrel, somewhat taller than the horse that Jim
+rode. And he was a gallant figure in his leather riding suit and peaked
+sombrero with a brilliant colored band around it.
+
+Jim and Jo rode few yards behind the Spaniard and side by side. Jim felt
+a certain exultation in his victory over the Black before people who
+would have liked to have seen him defeated. It was exhilarating, too,
+this plunging gallop ahead with a chance to rescue Tom and Juarez and to
+get even with Captain Broom and his gang, who had taken away their
+valuables and had given the boys such a cruel defeat.
+
+"This is a fine horse," said Jim, "though he hasn't the stride of
+Caliente."
+
+"He is a beauty, when it comes to bucking," Jo commented. "There is
+nothing the matter with this bay but my black can beat him for speed."
+
+So they flew on, the speed of their steeds blowing back their horses'
+manes, and the fresh air from the sea bringing a feeling of hope to
+their hearts, that they would yet be able to overtake the pirates, and
+rescue their comrades in distress. Their horses' feet were devouring the
+miles.
+
+"We stand a chance to get 'em at this rate," shouted Jim.
+
+"Won't it be fine if we can all sit down to dinner tonight?" replied Jo.
+"I bet that Tom and Juarez would enjoy a square meal with the Senor at
+the ranch house. Ifs kind of nice to be civilized once in a while."
+
+"You're right, it is," declared Jim emphatically.
+
+"I wonder if there isn't a store around here where we could buy some
+clothes," inquired Jo, anxiously. "We look too disreputable to appear in
+polite society."
+
+"Thinking about that girl, I suppose?" remarked Jim with brotherly
+intuition.
+
+"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you," replied Jo evasively. "How about
+the Senorita down in Mexico who threw you the rose at the castle?" This
+reference to the Senorita Cordova whom the Frontier Boys had rescued in
+Mexico, checked Jim from getting too gay for he still had a tender place
+in his memory for her.
+
+The fog by this time was entirely dissipated, and they could see by
+certain white or rather light spots in the clouds where the sun was
+going to break through and an absolutely clear day would result. The
+three riders had now reached the brush region that began a few miles
+from the coast and they were compelled to go more slowly.
+
+But if they had only known what was going on not more than two miles
+away from where they were, they would not have slackened speed no
+matter what risk they ran. For Captain Broom and his crew with the two
+captives had arrived at the cove and old Pete and Jack Cales were going
+into the cave for the boat.
+
+There was a chance, but the Senor and his companions must hurry. Some
+mishap to the pirates' expedition just at this point and the frontier
+boys would win. Tom and Juarez might have sung the tune that they had
+often sung before in camp.
+
+          "Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching,
+            Cheer up, comrades, they will come,
+          And beneath the starry flag
+          We will breathe the air again
+            Of freedom in our own beloved home."
+
+But they did not know and they sat miserable and dejected upon the damp
+sand of the beach, not knowing that Jim and Jo were coming nearer every
+second. Then there came an accident, though a slight one, that gave the
+pursuers a chance.
+
+Old Pete was carrying one end of the boat. He was nervous, anyway, in
+regard to the cave and its grewsome contents, thought he saw some dark
+spectre coming for him out of the blackness of the cave and he dropped
+his end of the boat and scudded for the beach.
+
+The Captain was furious, giving him a blow that sent him spinning half
+way down to the water, and he and the mate rushed back to see what
+damage the boat had suffered. It was only slightly stove in, but every
+second was precious. The pursuers were only a mile away.
+
+Jim began to grow restless as they neared the coast. He seemed to feel
+that they were nearing the enemy, and at his urging, the Spaniard, who
+had an increased respect and liking for Jim ever since he had conquered
+Black Diablo, put his horse to the gallop, and away they went along the
+narrow winding path through the bushes.
+
+The branches whipt them, but they paid no attention, but on they went;
+it was evident that they made considerable racket and Captain Broom,
+with a fierce burst of energy for which he was famous, got the boat
+launched, the two prisoners in, and with himself and the mate at the
+oars, made the boat leap forward over the lazy rolling swell towards the
+graceful Sea Eagle.
+
+When they had reached a point half-way to the vessel, the horsemen came
+tearing through the last screen of brush onto the yellow sand. The enemy
+had escaped by the skin of its teeth and it was heart-rending to see Tom
+and Juarez being carried away from them at every stroke of the oars
+towards their black prison. Jim put up his hands to his mouth and
+yelled:
+
+"We will rescue you, boys. Don't give up. We'll get 'em yet."
+
+A derisive yell greeted this challenge and one of the men in the boat
+fired at the group on the shore, but the bullet fell harmlessly short.
+They did not dare to fire in return lest they hit either Tom or Juarez.
+
+"They have steam up on board," observed Jim. "But I see one chance to do
+some execution."
+
+It was this. The Sea Eagle was anchored close under a cliff on the
+northern side of the cove. So Jim slipped off his horse, for the way on
+that side was impracticable except on foot. It was hard going at that,
+especially as there were a good many cacti with their wretched thorns.
+
+Jim stepped gingerly along over the rocks, gliding through the bushes
+until at last he reached a point above the vessel where he could almost
+look down upon her decks. The boat from the shore had just come
+alongside and the prisoners were hustled into the cabin and the door
+locked. Tom and Juarez were a dejected-looking pair and it made Jim's
+heart ache to see them.
+
+The Captain went upon the quarter-deck and gave an order to the man at
+the wheel. The anchor had already been weighed. Slowly and gracefully
+the Sea Eagle turned, and there stood Captain Broom, as big as life upon
+the bridge. Why did not Jim fire? Because he had come to a certain wise
+conclusion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+JIM AND THE SEA EAGLE
+
+
+As Jim had raised his revolver to fire, a sudden idea came to him. In
+the first place he rebelled instinctively from shooting a man down in
+cold blood from ambush, even if he was as desperate and crime-stained a
+character as Captain Bill Broom, besides it would not save Tom and
+Juarez and only make their captivity harder to endure, if any injury was
+done the Captain.
+
+Another thing, Jim was sure that if he began the attack that his two
+comrades would be used as shields to protect the man at the wheel, so
+that the Sea Eagle could be navigated safely out of the cove. He saw
+with interest the narrow place between two lines of foam above hidden
+ledges where the boat must pass in order to reach the open sea. He
+marvelled at the temerity of Captain Broom in daring to bring his ship
+through such a place.
+
+Then a brilliant thought came to him, a sudden stroke that might turn
+defeat into victory. The Sea Eagle was now making straight for the
+narrow channel. Jim slipped back for a short distance an ran as rapidly
+as he could to a point a little to the west of where he had first
+hidden. He did not have long to wait. The Sea Eagle was almost directly
+opposite his place of ambush, and was just sticking her nose into the
+narrow passage.
+
+Jim raised his revolver and took careful aim and fired. The man at the
+wheel gave a yell and clapped his hand to the shoulder, letting go the
+wheel and the nose of the little steamer swung toward the rock. A swell
+lifted her bow clear by a few inches, and the Captain caught the steamer
+by the wheel and brought her to a course.
+
+"Bring those boys up on deck and shoot them if that black-haired devil,"
+(meaning Jim) "fires another shot," he called to the mate.
+
+That worthy was not slow to obey the order, he had them on deck in full
+sight in a jiffy and held a pistol at Tom's head. Jim had raised his arm
+to fire at the Captain when he heard his order and it was as if he had
+been paralyzed. He knew that Tom and Juarez would have been killed to a
+certainty if he fired another shot.
+
+Luck had broken against him again, for that was all that had kept the
+Sea Eagle from going on the reef, where if she had not been wrecked,
+she and her crew would have been at the mercy of the men on shore. Just
+the lifting of the wave had saved the vessel by a few inches, that, and
+Captain Broom's quick and skillful action.
+
+The second round of the contest had gone in favor of the pirate and his
+crew, but only by a shade as it were. But it would not surprise me a bit
+if Jim evened up matters in the third and final round. Let us hope so,
+at least, for that will give a silver lining to the black cloud that had
+rolled over the boys' fortunes at this particular time.
+
+Jim made his way slowly back to where Jo and the Senor were waiting for
+him on the beach. He was despondent over the failure of his plans by so
+close a margin, and the sight of Tom and Juarez helpless on the deck in
+the hands of these sea-coast pirates, was always before his eyes.
+
+"What were you trying to do, Jim?" inquired Jo, "Sink the ship?" Before
+Jim could reply, the Spaniard gave a cry of warning.
+
+"Look out, they are going to shoot."
+
+Glancing toward the Sea Eagle, which was now a half mile from shore,
+they saw a puff of smoke, and then a shell struck into the beach below
+them and exploding, sent a shower of sand over them and the horses. The
+latter, frightened, reared and plunged, but the boys soon got their
+animals under control, as they quickly tired of acting up in the heavy
+sand. Jim shook his fist in the direction of the Sea Eagle.
+
+"Curse your insolence!" he yelled. "I'll make every one of you eat crow,
+you miserable hounds!"
+
+Jim looked ugly, his eyes glared with concentrated fury and the veins on
+his temple were swollen and throbbing. Unthinkingly, he pulled back hard
+upon the bit, sending his horse up in the air.
+
+"Easy, boy," he said, soothingly. "Easy. It was my fault for yanking
+you."
+
+When the horse was quieted, Jim was cooled down to his normal
+temperature, and he told his comrades of his attack upon the Sea Eagle
+and how it had turned out.
+
+"Senor Darlington," said the Spaniard impressively, "I will take off my
+hat to you. You are a natural General. Take my advice, my friend, and go
+to Spain. There you might head a revolution and in time rise to high
+mark."
+
+"I appreciate your praise deeply, Senor Sebastian," responded Jim, "but
+my own country, Senor, I could not leave it for another."
+
+"Right, Senor," replied the Spaniard, "you have the true spirit."
+
+"Which way will she turn, do you suppose?" asked Jo, pointing to the
+vessel that was moving steadily out on the Pacific in a straight line
+from the shore.
+
+"To the North, doubtless," replied the Spaniard.
+
+"Wherever she goes we must find her out," said Jim, with grim
+determination.
+
+"I wish we could follow them," sighed Jo. "If we could only hire a
+boat."
+
+"They have our money," replied Jim, briefly.
+
+"I had forgotten that," said Jo, and his face showed his disappointment.
+
+"Permit me to help you," said the Spaniard, "I am to blame for detaining
+you at breakfast."
+
+"That is generous of you, Senor," replied Jim, "but I do not favor going
+to the expense of chartering a steamer. Even if it were possible, my
+plan would be to follow along the coast on horseback and see what can be
+done when they make a landing."
+
+"As you are the General," replied the Spaniard, "we will allow you to
+make the plans."
+
+"Look!" exclaimed Jo, "they are turning South instead of North."
+
+"Impossible!" cried the Spaniard. "There is only one port within two
+hundred miles. I do not understand. Yes, they are surely going South."
+
+"Perhaps they have a secret landing place," hazarded Jim.
+
+"Not so," replied the Spaniard. "Not a harbor where they could land save
+one and there they would not dare to go."
+
+The three watchers on horseback gazed until there was little to be seen
+other than a smudge of smoke upon the horizon. It was no use, the Sea
+Eagle was holding to her southerly course to some mysterious port. The
+sun had now come out and was shining with sheer brilliance upon the
+sparkling ocean.
+
+"We must return now," said the Spaniard. "There is nothing more for us
+to do at present."
+
+"I think that my brother and I will start this afternoon and take the
+trail to the south," announced Jim, "wherever those fellows set foot, I
+want to be waiting for them."
+
+"I fear it is impossible to start so soon," replied the Spaniard, "I
+must go with you as I know the country to the South, every foot of it."
+
+"The Senor is right, Jim," put in Jo, quickly, as he saw a frown on
+Jim's face and was afraid that he was going to say something abruptly.
+"You will want to give Caliente a good rest, so that when we start, we
+will make the distance without delay. Then we have to make some
+preparations ourselves."
+
+Jim looked at his brother with a moment's dark suspicion, but it was
+evident that Jo was perfectly sincere in what he said.
+
+"I will promise, Senor," said the Spaniard with a peculiar smile, "that
+when we start which will be early tomorrow morning, that we will travel
+far and fast enough to suit you and your horse." There was a challenge
+in his voice that Jim met smilingly.
+
+"So be it, Senor," he said, "I will try to be in sight at the finish."
+
+"My horse is a remarkable animal for speed and endurance, I must tell
+you frankly," said the Senor gravely. "He has no equal in this country
+of California. He has proved it more than once and against all comers."
+
+"He is certainly a fine horse," admitted Jim, looking at the sorrel with
+admiring eyes. "He has a splendid stride."
+
+"Ah, no, Senor," laughed the Spaniard with a gleam of his white teeth,
+"I did not mean him," patting the horse on the neck, "a good animal,
+indeed, but more for my little sister to ride than for me. Wait, my
+friend, until I introduce you to Don Fernando and then you will see a
+horse for the first time."
+
+"I should be very much pleased to see him," said Jim, frankly curious
+and interested.
+
+"Tomorrow," said the Spaniard.
+
+They had now turned into the narrow trail among the bushes and had only
+ridden a few steps when Jo called a sudden halt.
+
+"What do you think, Jim, there's my horse and Tom's tied in that
+thicket."
+
+Sure enough there they were, utterly worn out, but with spirit enough to
+recognize their old comrades Jim and Jo, and if ever horses expressed a
+welcome these two did when they first caught sight of their two friends.
+
+"They have cut the saddles to pieces, the brutes," exclaimed Jo.
+
+"I'm glad to get the horses," said Jim, "I am surprised that they didn't
+cut their throats."
+
+"They will follow us all right," said Jo, in reply to the Spaniard's
+suggestion that they would have to be led, and they trotted along behind
+Jo, who was the last one in line.
+
+"Do you know of any place where we could buy things?" asked Jim. "We
+need a new outfit."
+
+"But we have no money," put in Jo quickly.
+
+"I will get the money or its equivalent today," said Jim. "If there is a
+store where the Senor can get me credit."
+
+"Yes, there is a store where a Portugee sells about everything that we
+need in this country," replied the Spaniard. "It is some distance to the
+north. We will ride there before we return to the ranch. There will be
+no difficulty about the credit," he concluded, with a bow to Jim.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+THE BOYS PUT ON STYLE
+
+
+"You do not know my ability to spend," said Jim, "I may have to plunge
+to the extent of several hundred dollars. You see my brother has very
+expensive tastes. It will cost quite a small fortune when I buy him a
+complete trousseau including diamonds."
+
+"I will pledge my lands if necessary to get the young Senor diamonds,"
+said the Spaniard laughingly.
+
+In about an hour's time they came to a large one story frame building
+painted a rather light blue, which color had weathered a good deal. It
+had a square, false front with a sign on it that read, "Mr. Gonsalves,
+General Trader."
+
+They hitched their horses to some well graveled posts, and went inside
+leaving Jo's and Tom's horses free to graze at will around, or to stand
+under the shelter of some drooping pepper tree across the road. The
+proprietor, a short, thick-set Portugee with a close trimmed black
+beard, and a gray slouch hat which he always wore, apparently, received
+them graciously. The contents of the store were entirely at their
+service,--if they paid for them.
+
+"We will miss poor Tom here," said Jo, "he was always our purchasing
+agent."
+
+"And a mighty good one," added Jim. "Not even a Connecticut Yankee could
+get the best of him in a bargain."
+
+The Spaniard sat in a round armed wooden chair, gracefully smoking a
+cigarette, while his guests busied themselves making purchases. First
+the boys bought some new clothes, which they retired behind a counter to
+put on, and emerged in proper apparel for the plains.
+
+Blue flannel shirts, and pants of the same color, held up by leather
+belts, with much glitter of silver on them, then they bought a sombrero
+apiece, not after the Mexican style, but of the American type. Jim had a
+red band around his and Jo had a blue.
+
+"Now we want some handkerchiefs to tie around our necks," said Jo.
+
+"Of course," remarked Jim with a wink, "something that will catch the
+eyes of the ladies."
+
+So M. Gonsalves brought out a brilliant assortment of handkerchiefs.
+
+"Here's a very fine article, gents," he said holding out a red silk
+handkerchief, clustered with white horseshoes.
+
+"Nothing the matter with that," admitted Jim admiringly, with a droll
+look at Jo. "But this plain red one will suit me. My brother would
+probably like the horseshoe one." But Jo also declined.
+
+"I will take the dark blue one," he said, "it matches my costume
+better."
+
+"Gee! but you will look like a color scheme," laughed Jim, "blue eyes,
+blue pants, shirt, tie and socks, and hat band, you ought to be a sailor
+on the blue Pacific."
+
+"The next things are boots," remarked Jo.
+
+"Not for me," said Jim briefly, "I want moccasins. Worn 'em all my life,
+and I am not going to change to boots now."
+
+"Fine line of moccasins," said the accommodating Mr. Gonsalves in his
+best trade manner. You see he had been in business in San Francisco and
+knew something of the ways of customers.
+
+"But it gives us more style to wear boots. You notice that all the
+inhabitants wear them, we can buy moccasins too. You wear them all the
+time and they will set you down for an Indian."
+
+"When a fellow once gets the idea of style in his head," said Jim
+resignedly, "nothing this side of matrimony is going to stop him. So lay
+on MacDuff and cursed be he who first cries hold, enough."
+
+"I feel like I was anchored," commented Jim, stepping across the floor
+with heavy tread. "I should like to stalk a deer or an Indian in these
+things. He could tell you were arriving before you got above the
+horizon."
+
+"But you look fine in 'em," said Jo.
+
+It was true that he made a striking figure in his blue togs. The lithe
+powerful physique, and the strong, resolute face.
+
+"Better look out, Jo," grinned Jim. "No Senorita would look at you, when
+they see me dashing over the landscape."
+
+"I'm a pretty stylish looking guy myself," responded Jo, confidently. He
+did make a good appearance, there was no doubt of that. Though slighter
+than his brother he was well set up, and his frame was well muscled. He
+was handsomer than Jim. But there was no nonsense about either of the
+two boys and they never gave an unnecessary thought to their appearance.
+
+"Now, Mr. Gonsalves," said Jim, "we would like to look at some of your
+man-killers."
+
+"Revolvers?" he questioned, "just step this way. I can fit you out all
+right."
+
+He did have a fine collection and Jim examined the different ones
+carefully, noting their action and how easily they worked.
+
+"I see you are no tenderfoot," complimented the proprietor. "You have
+handled shooting irons before."
+
+"I'll be a tenderfoot before long, if I wear these condemned boots you
+sold me," said Jim gruffly ignoring the compliment. He did not care
+especially for M. Gonsalves' style. "Now let's have a look at your
+rifles." The proprietor actually took off his hat and bowed.
+
+It was evident that the distinguished gentlemen from nowhere in
+particular were going to buy out his entire stock.
+
+"Would you be so gracious as to step this way?" he said, "I have the
+rifles in the back of the store."
+
+They were so gracious, and after due examination they selected a couple
+of well balanced guns and purchased enough ammunition to stand off a few
+Indian raids. All the stuff besides what they had on their backs they
+packed upon Tom's horse, as Tom was not present to resent the indignity.
+
+"Now the last things are some saddles," said Jim, "seeing that our kind
+friends, the pirates, cut up those we owned."
+
+"Senor Darlington," said the Spaniard coming forward and touching Jim
+lightly on the arm, "Do not speak of buying saddles. I will see to
+that." Jim did not know exactly what their host meant but he thanked him
+and deferred to his request.
+
+Now behold the frontier boys in complete costume, with glittering
+revolvers at their hips and rifles swung across their backs, upon their
+hands were fringed buckskin gloves. They had gone the whole hog as Jim
+said.
+
+"I'll take the shine off this costume in about one day," said Jim
+grimly, "when I get in the open, I would rather break a broncho, than a
+new suit of clothes." There was no doubt about his impressive
+appearance, as the sun flashed on the metal of the accoutrements and he
+swung himself into the saddle. Even their host seemed to hold them in
+higher regard. Different people, different manners.
+
+When they reached the house ranch the first thing Jim did was to find
+Caliente. He was in the long adobe stable that was a half-mile from the
+house, at the beginning of a wide mountain valley, where the air drew
+through from the sea.
+
+"How are you, Caliente old fellow," cried Jim, as he opened the box
+stall and went in to shake hands with his old comrade. But the horse
+leaped to one side, and then reared up as if to strike Jim.
+
+"He don't know you," cried Jo who was on the outside of the stall. "Take
+off your hat."
+
+Jim whirled it out of the stall, and a change came over Caliente. He
+recognized his master, and nickering in recognition he rubbed his head
+against Jim's shoulder, and took playful nips at his fine new shirt,
+while Jim fairly hugged him, and gave him resounding whacks with his
+open hand upon his splendid sides and shoulders.
+
+"A magnificent animal, Senor Darlington," said Senor Sebastian to Jim,
+"I congratulate you."
+
+It was a true word. Caliente with his proud neck, small but shapely
+head, powerful but not too heavy frame, and color of mottled gray was
+magnificent.
+
+All that afternoon Jim busied himself grooming his horse until his coat
+fairly glistened. He looked carefully to his feed, and saw to his
+watering. For Jim was determined that his horse should not be beaten by
+the Spaniard's. He knew that the latter's horse must be an unusual
+animal. It was not a short race, instead, one of two hundred miles that
+lay before them on the morrow.
+
+That evening the American boys presented a better appearance than they
+did at breakfast. It was a pretty scene that evening in the long dining
+room. The snowy table lit by light of candles and set with ancient
+silver brought from Spain. The young Senorita was seated at her
+brother's right, and on the other side were James Darlington and his
+brother Joseph. As to the impression she made upon them, we will say
+nothing, as this is not a romance, but they had a merry and delightful
+evening.
+
+Their host and the young Senorita were much interested in hearing of the
+adventures of the boys in Mexico, especially that part that referred to
+the rescue of the Senorita Cordova from the hands of Cal Jenkins and his
+gang. I do not know that The Frontier Boys told it with any less fervor
+because the eyes of the young girl, seated opposite, were fixed intently
+upon them. It appeared that their host knew of the Senor Cordova, who
+was a man of prominence in his country, though he had not actually met
+him. So there was one more bond of sympathy between the Senor Sebastian
+and James and Jo Darlington.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+ON BOARD THE SEA EAGLE
+
+
+Let us now turn our interest and attention for a time to the cruise of
+the Sea Eagle, under the guidance of that redoubtable free-booter,
+Captain Broom. It was a mystery to the three who watched the ship turn
+to the South, what her port could be. We will soon be in a position to
+solve that problem.
+
+No sooner had the Sea Eagle cleared the cove than Captain Broom went to
+his cabin to go over his spoils which he had taken from the frontier
+boys. He placed all the belts upon the table, took up one, and with a
+keen knife slit the first pouch. A large heavy Spanish coin rolled out
+and then clinked down upon the table.
+
+The Captain's eyes glistened. "By Gosh!" he exclaimed, "it was worth
+while rounding up those fellows. They must have struck it rich down in
+Mexico. I bet the boys will be tickled to death to get their share." For
+whatever crimes and shortcomings Captain Broom could be charged with,
+at least he always divided fairly with his crew. Thereby he held their
+loyalty. It was not all policy, either, for there was a sterling streak
+in the bad old fellow.
+
+Out of the next pouch there glittered upon the table several diamonds
+and a small palm full of rubies, with their rich color and radiance.
+"The boys will have enough to start a jewelry store," commented the
+Captain. "But I am not surprised at this haul. I know something about
+the hidden treasures myself, and they do say Mexico is the the place for
+them."
+
+Out of another belt he got some ingots of gold and a girdle that caused
+the Captain to open his eyes. At first he did not know what to make of
+it. When he held it up he saw that it was formed of golden disks linked
+with strings of rubies and sapphires. In the third belt was a necklace
+that might have been worn by some Princess of the Incas. It was oddly,
+almost weirdly beautiful.
+
+The fourth belt that he picked up chanced to belong to Jim.
+
+"This seems lighter than the others," remarked the Captain. "Three of
+the pouches are empty." His face got black with rage. For instantly his
+mind leaped to the suspicion that one of his men had rifled it. If such
+had been the case, the guilty party would have got short shift at the
+end of a rope from the yard arm.
+
+But the second examination showed that the cut was an old one.
+
+"So!" he cried, "one of the boys has cached part of his share. I bet it
+was that long-legged, black-haired guy. That fellow would give the best
+of us trouble. I wish I had him to train. Maybe, I can make something of
+the Injun boy," meaning Juarez.
+
+As to the belts, the shrewd old fellow, to make sure, measured them to
+see where the worn holes of the leather came, and the partially empty
+belt had been worn two inches longer than any of the others.
+
+"It was the big fellow's," said the Captain.
+
+Then he went upon deck and called the crew forward.
+
+"Now, lads, choose your man to get your share of the goods," he said.
+
+"It's Jack Cales, sir," they said, knowing that they would be called
+upon to select a man to take their share.
+
+"All right! Come, lad," said the Captain, and led the way to his cabin.
+When Jack Cales saw the treasures on the table, he opened his eyes and
+mouth in astonishment.
+
+"Why, Sir," he exclaimed, "we haven't seen anything like this since the
+day two years ago when--" he stopped suddenly, seeing from a look in the
+Captain's eyes that no reminiscences were desired.
+
+"This is your share, lad," said the Captain, gruffly.
+
+"Thank you, sir," responded Cales, as he swept the small pile of gold
+and jewels into the palm of his big hands.
+
+"And mind ye, lad," warned the Captain, "I don't want any quarreling
+among yourselves or ye will hear from me."
+
+"Aye, aye, sir," replied the sailor and backed out of the cabin.
+
+There was an interesting gathering in the forecastle when Jack Cales
+deposited his handful of treasures on the top of a sea chest that had
+been hauled out for the purpose.
+
+For once it was not necessary to have the lantern lit, for a broad band
+of sunshine shone down the steep ladder and cut a golden swath through
+the dingy gloom and fell athwart the chest and illuminated the group:
+the tall and swaggering Cales, the rugged, grizzled Pete, and the other
+sailormen; a typical group and not to be matched for picturesqueness
+anywhere; with their faces intent upon the center of the old black sea
+chest, where glowed and glittered the gold and jewels in the band of
+light that shone upon some of the faces of the intent group, while
+others were in the shadow. It was a scene such as Rembrandt--pardon,
+kind reader, I forgot for a moment, this is a simple narrative of
+Adventure.
+
+"Pete," said Cales, "how the ladies will love you when they see a chain
+of glittering diamonds around your throat."
+
+"One thing is certain, lad," replied the grizzled Pete, "I won't be
+givin' none of my diamonds away to the ladies. I'll keep the stones safe
+in my jeans."
+
+"You'll have to be keerful, Pete," rallied another, "they'll be marrying
+you for your ill-gotten wealth, when they find out that you are an
+heiress. You can't help yourself, Pete. It won't make any difference
+because you are a pirate, that won't scare 'em. Not when they see them
+jewels."
+
+"What's the use of you boys a talkin' to me," he said with a wise wink,
+"you're only kittens. I'm sixty year old and I'm a free man yit."
+
+"Here's a pill for you, Pop," said Cales, dropping a diamond into his
+horny hand.
+
+"Gee! I'm just as well pleased to get this as I was to get a bunch of
+popcorn when I was a kid back in New England, off the Christmas tree."
+
+"Better have it sot in one of your front teeth, Pop," said Jack. This
+produced a roar of laughter, for Pete's front teeth were conspicuous by
+their absence.
+
+So the distribution went on without any bickering at first, only jovial
+jokes, but at last there came a bone of contention over the last
+diamond. And in a jiffy Jack Cales and a short, stocky sailor were all
+tangled up in a fierce encounter. Their comrades, none too gently,
+hoisted them up on deck. There they continued their fight.
+
+No sooner did Captain Broom see them than he cluttered down from the
+bridge at a furious rate. The two combatants ought to have taken warning
+but they were deaf to everything except their own struggle. He was livid
+with anger, and his wrath was in a large measure justified.
+
+"I'll larn you!" he yelled, grabbing each by the back of the neck. "You
+won't fight any more this trip."
+
+They were like children in his hands. He had not only the arms of a
+gorilla, but the strength of one when he was aroused and it was a
+caution the way he slammed them around, flaying the deck with them, and
+dashing their heads together. It seemed as if every bone in their bodies
+would be broken. Finally he flung them unconscious on the deck.
+
+"Put them in the Sagenette," he ordered the mate.
+
+"Aye, aye, sir," he replied, and with the aid of one of the sailors,
+they were chained in a narrow cell.
+
+Here was where Juarez and Tom came in. As the two fighters were knocked
+out and locked up, it made the crew short and they were ordered out on
+deck from the cabin where they had been kept. Almost famished though
+they were, they had to jump in and work like nailers, not to say,
+sailors.
+
+Fortunately for them, they had experienced a hard schooling in many
+different ways since they came west and were practical masters of
+several lines of industry, but this was their first experience
+sailoring. It was a hard school, but they learned more in a few days,
+than they would have under months of more gentle tuition. This was to
+stand them in good stead when they started on their cruise to Hawaii.
+
+"I'll get even with those fellows," growled Tom as he passed near Juarez
+who was busy polishing some brass work. "Yes, if it takes the rest of my
+life."
+
+"What do you mean, stopping and gabbing, you little shrimp?" roared the
+mate who chanced to see Tom stop.
+
+And he rushed up and grabbing Tom by the back of the neck, shook him
+ferociously, landing him a couple of kicks at the same time. This was
+too much for Juarez, who poised a stone that he was using and was about
+to brain the mate with it when the Captain's iron grip fell on his arm.
+He didn't throw that brick.
+
+"Easy, lad," said the Captain. "No more fighting on board this ship, or
+I'll take a hand again and don't you two lads pass the time of day
+either. You won't be killed if you work hard and keep cheerful." Then he
+gave the mate a look, which that worthy understood and Tom was allowed
+to go about his work without further molestation.
+
+But this was a new and hard doctrine that the Captain had laid down that
+the boys had to take hard usage and unceasing work and keep cheerful
+about it. They soon found that the Skipper meant what he said. It was a
+bitter lesson, but perhaps they were the manlier for learning it so
+young. For it's something that life hands out to everyone sooner or
+later.
+
+Often the boys looked longingly over the rail towards the faint, far
+outline of the California coast. The Skipper was keeping his ship far
+out from the land for reasons best known to himself. One thing was
+favorable in that the sea air had braced up Juarez so that he felt more
+like himself though his head was queer at times. And no wonder for that
+blow the Mexican dwarf had given him was sufficient to have stunned an
+ox.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+A DAY AT SEA
+
+
+The Sea Eagle was steaming steadily South to her mysterious harbor. The
+day was a brilliant one and as the afternoon wore on the wind from the
+Northwest began to blow with fresher force and the white caps began to
+jump, here, there and everywhere over the broad surface of the ocean,
+and then slide down on the back of the waves.
+
+There was a good deal of motion on the part of the Sea Eagle now, as she
+plunged into the waves and threw the spray back over her decks. Both
+Juarez and Tom proved themselves good sailors, which was just as well
+for if they had been sea sick together with their other miseries they
+might have succumbed.
+
+Finally the long afternoon wore away and the time came for supper. The
+boys being neither flesh, fish or fowl, were not allowed to eat with the
+crew, and they did not mind in the least. When their rations did arrive,
+or rather when they went to the ship's galley and got their share, they
+found the fare not lacking in quality and abundance. There was a heaping
+plate of Mexican beans, a big hunk of bread and a bowl of hot tea. After
+the boys had stowed this below in their hatches they felt a hundred per
+cent better and more fit to meet any fate that might await them.
+
+An hour before sunset a heavy bank of fog began to roll up from the
+West, soon covering the whole sky with its gracious softness, and
+decided restfulness, after the glittering blue-diamond beauty of the
+day.
+
+It is the fogs alone that make the climate of California, especially in
+the Southern part endurable. Too much sunshine becomes as unbearable as
+too much cloudiness.
+
+The sea went down, when the fog came up and the waters took on a steely
+color under their blanket of gray, rolling on, in that monotonous
+meditation that holds the mystery of forgotten ages in its brooding.
+
+"Here's where you will sleep, boys," said Old Pete, who had been
+appointed by the Captain to have special charge over their education.
+"The men won't have you in the fo'castle, and it's pretty crowded there
+anyway."
+
+"This will suit us, sir," replied Juarez. He did not call him Pop, as
+he would have on the land. This was the sea and had its own rules and
+customs, therefore Old Pete received his due of respect. But in his
+rough way he was not unfriendly towards the boys, for he remembered that
+they had given him friendly advice, when he was aboard that strange
+craft, a horse, the night before.
+
+The place where the boys were to sleep was a sort of cubby hole in the
+bow of the boat, that was roofed over and where anchor chains and other
+junk was sometimes kept. It was not over four feet high, five in width
+at the broadest and narrowing to the bow.
+
+A rude place to sleep in, but what did the Frontier Boys care for that?
+They could scarcely count the nights that they had slept out on the
+ground, and in bad weather too. They had a blanket apiece, and a
+tarpaulin to pull over them.
+
+The blankets they had spread out on the floor of the cubby hole and they
+found that the tarpaulin made a mighty warm protective covering, keeping
+out the damp sea air in fine style.
+
+"Where do you suppose we are heading for, Juarez?" inquired Tom.
+
+"Maybe a port in Mexico or South America and then again we may head for
+Hawaii before we intend to."
+
+"We are going South now, though," said Tom.
+
+"If we run in close to the coast, we'll jump overboard, and swim for
+it," said Juarez.
+
+"We could do it if we get within a mile," said Tom, "if it is not too
+rough."
+
+Just then Juarez put his hand over Tom's mouth, he felt sure that
+someone was listening or was preparing to. Juarez ran his fingers
+carefully over the boards until he found where a hole had been bored
+through the planking a little back of their heads. It was just as he had
+suspected, someone was listening to hear what plans they would make.
+
+With the noiselessness characteristic of him when scouting, Juarez crept
+out partially and cautiously raised his head until he caught sight of
+the sole of a man's boot. Then he crept back to his place and gave Tom a
+nudge. Forthwith they began talking in rather loud tones.
+
+"Say Tom, do you know I rather like this ship. These fellows are rough
+in their way but that is to be expected."
+
+"Of course," said Tom, in an equally loud voice, "but we might as well
+make the best of it. There is no chance for the boys to find us."
+
+"You're right there, Tom."
+
+Then in a short time they appeared to fall into a deep and sonorous
+sleep. This was no fake on the part of Tom who was actually and
+thoroughly tired. But Juarez was more of a veteran and he kept his eyes
+open and he was rewarded in a few minutes by seeing a man's feet hanging
+over the edge of their bunk house and then he saw the figure of the mate
+slouch aft.
+
+"You sly old rascal, you," remarked Juarez. "We will 'larn' you to try
+and be too smart with the Frontier Boys. We may be young but we are not
+fools."
+
+Nothing happened for a while and the gentle plunge of the Sea Eagle into
+the long rolling swell soon lulled the tired Juarez into a sound sleep,
+so that neither he nor Tom were aware that the ship had suddenly changed
+her course.
+
+By and by however, Juarez waked with a start. Something had happened, he
+knew not what. He sat up and struck his head upon the planking overhead.
+Fortunately however he did not hit the place where the Mexican had
+struck him but at the best his head was a tender place with him and the
+blow stunned him, but as he was now more his rugged self, he soon
+recovered.
+
+He found what had wakened him was the stopping of the ship. He saw
+several dark forms moving aft and he crept out to see what was afoot. He
+had to move very carefully but managed to reach the hood of the
+forecastle, where he crouched looking and listening.
+
+He saw that they were lying to, close in to shore and could see the
+white splash of the breakers as they rolled towards the shore and could
+hear their monotonous thunder upon the beach. Here perhaps was their
+chance. Just then he heard the heavy voice of the Captain from the
+bridge.
+
+"Lower away there." Then the starboard boat slid noiselessly down from
+the davits into the water.
+
+Juarez got up and glided back into the cubby hole to tell Tom the good
+news. It was their opportunity to escape and seemingly a good one. The
+sea was smooth and the night was dark. They could slip over the side of
+the vessel and pull for the shore, and not a soul on the Sea Eagle would
+be the wiser until they looked into their nest in the morning to find it
+empty.
+
+Once they got to the shore it would be an easy matter to make their way
+North until they met Jim and Jo.
+
+The anticipation of the escape had already thrilled through every nerve
+in Juarez's body. But he had just started to wake Tom, when something
+made him look down the deck. There was the tall figure of one of the
+sailors coming directly towards the bow.
+
+Juarez lay down quickly as though asleep. Then the man reached down and
+caught hold of Tom's foot and Juarez's and gave them a rough yank. "So
+you are here, you young brats. You had better make a move or the Cap'n
+will finish you."
+
+Juarez was fairly sizzling with rage especially as Tom was really
+frightened by being wakened in such rough fashion and after all Tom was
+but a boy and it pained Juarez to see him so scared, but he was
+helpless, and all he could do was to add one more black mark to the
+score he was charging up to the free-booters.
+
+Instead of moving away, the man sat on a capstan a few feet distant from
+the boys' den, watching for the slightest move on their part, a marlin
+spike dangling playfully in his hands. Juarez had not taken the crafty
+and keen sighted Captain Broom into account.
+
+From the Bridge, that worthy, although he was watching the launching of
+the boat, had chanced to catch sight out of the tail of his eye of a
+dark shadow flitting back to the forecastle. He was not sure it was one
+of the boys, but he was taking no chances, for he had a real respect for
+their prowess and audacity as he might well have.
+
+So he had sent one of his crew to guard this young lions' den, while the
+ship was so close in shore. He did not intend to stay longer than was
+necessary right at this point, and he waited with some anxiety for the
+return of the mate and Pete in the boat.
+
+It was now two o'clock in the morning and Captain Broom wanted to be out
+at sea a good safe distance before the light broke. The mate's boat had
+now been gone over a half-hour, and the Captain stood at the end of the
+Bridge looking towards the shore. There was not a light upon the vessel
+to show her position. She lay silent and black upon the dark waters.
+
+Then the Captain straightened up. He saw a moving body approaching the
+ship and heard the slight dip of oars. Then the boat was alongside and
+instead of two men, there were three in the boat. The Captain went down
+to the main deck to meet them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+THE PASSENGER
+
+
+They met without any formality. The new passenger was a tall, slightly
+stooped man, with long hair falling down to his shoulders. Juarez was
+exceedingly anxious to see him, but could make out only a dark form
+moving along the deck.
+
+"Come to the cabin, Jeems," called the Captain. "I've got something to
+tell ye."
+
+They were soon seated in the Captain's cabin. This was a good-sized
+room, panelled in light wood and very neatly kept. There was quite a
+broad table of the same wood as the walls and a swivel chair in front of
+it. The Captain seated himself in this chair and whirled to talk to the
+visitor from the shore.
+
+It was evident that he was not a temporary visitor for scarcely had they
+seated themselves in the cabin than the Sea Eagle slowly and gently
+turned and they felt the pulsation of her engines as she headed once
+more for sea. The man was seated on a sea chest opposite the Captain.
+
+He wore long cowhide boots, with jeans pants thrust into their tops,
+flannel shirt of a nondescript color and a corduroy jacket. His hat was
+of a battered gray. The face was smooth-shaven, deeply lined and burnt
+to a dull brown. The hair which came down to his shoulders had that
+peculiar sun-burnt weathered tinge that comes from continual exposure to
+the weather. He was not an old man, probably on the sunny side of forty.
+
+"Well, Jeems, what is your news?" inquired the Captain.
+
+"The government boat is in the harbor, that's all." The Captain gave a
+low, peculiar whistle.
+
+"When did she show up?" he asked.
+
+"Two days ago, Cap'n," he replied.
+
+"Come from the South?"
+
+"Yes," replied the man. "Put in for coal, I reckon."
+
+"Then put out for us," said the Captain briefly.
+
+"Any 'baccy, Cap'n? Been out two days," remarked Jeems.
+
+"Lift your lanky frame off that chest," replied the Captain, "and I'll
+git you some."
+
+The man sprang up with remarkable alacrity, and as he unfolded length
+after length of his long figure, it seemed as if his head would touch
+the ceiling of the cabin. In fact, he did not miss it by many inches.
+It was a comical contrast between the short stooping figure of the
+Captain and the tall stranger.
+
+"Waal, Jeems, I wouldn't advise you to grow any more, or I'll have to
+raise the roof of my cabin."
+
+"That's what, Cap'n," replied Jeems imperturbably. "That's what happens
+when you grow up in Californy. You grow all the year around, and not
+like in New England where the winters makes you stubby."
+
+Then the native philosopher seated himself on the chest again and took
+long and delightful pulls at his recently staked pipe.
+
+"Hum!" he said. "This tastes right. Did yer ever know what it war to be
+starved for yer 'baccy, Cap'n?"
+
+"No," replied the Captain, "I can't say that I ever did."
+
+"Well, I want to tell you, Cap'n, that it is worse than going without
+water and I know what that is. Been on a desert till my tongue was as
+thick as a cow's, and hung out between my teeth, black."
+
+"How long have you been away?" inquired the Captain.
+
+"Three weeks, Cap'n."
+
+"How are the sheep lookin'?"
+
+"Pretty fair, Cap'n," he replied. "I think that they had a whiff of rain
+over there a few days ago."
+
+"It won't be long till we git the rains," suggested the Captain.
+
+"I don't know, Cap'n," remarked the lanky one. "The climate of Californy
+is a curious proposition. It's built on the bias down at this end."
+
+"How's that?" asked the Captain curiously. He had a certain interest in
+this particular courier's theories, however he might laugh at their
+peculiarities. For there was apt to be a basis of reason in them.
+
+"Well, it's this way, Cap'n," said James Howell, to give him his correct
+name, thrusting one lanky hand deep into his jeans pocket and bending
+forward awkwardly. "It's this way. You see the storms come down from the
+North to the Tehatchipei mountains, where there isn't any way for them
+to get through to the south. Then the clouds shift around to Arizony,
+and if the wind is right they are blown through the passes of the Sierra
+Madre into Southern Californy, then we get the rain. That's why I said,
+Cap'n, that this dazzling climate is built on the bias."
+
+"Waal, Jeems, as a weather prophet you can't be beat," said the
+Skipper.
+
+"In my business I get plenty of time to think, Cap'n," he remarked, "and
+as they ain't much to see except climate I think about that."
+
+"Waal, I have a good sight more than that to consider," replied the
+Skipper. "I'm thinking right now about that government boat. I'm going
+on deck. You can turn in."
+
+The Captain showed him to an empty cabin and the lanky stranger
+proceeded to make himself comfortable for the balance of the night,
+while the Captain went up on the Bridge.
+
+"Where are you heading this boat to?" he asked gruffly of the man at the
+wheel.
+
+Then he took the helm himself and immediately the Sea Eagle's prow
+pointed to the Westward as if she were heading directly for Japan.
+However, she held this course for only an hour and a half when the
+Skipper swung her bow once more to the South.
+
+Long before the morning broke, Tom and Juarez, hauled out of their
+resting place, were set to scrubbing the decks and rubbing them down
+with holy-stone. They waited eagerly for the first break of day to see
+where they were.
+
+Then the light came slowly through the fog-covered sky, showing a glossy
+sea with a slight swell and not a sign of land anywhere. The boys'
+hearts sank within them and they felt sure that they would not see their
+native land again.
+
+Once in a while they would glance up at the Bridge where stood the
+Captain with his powerful stooped figure. He was evidently on the
+lookout, for with his eye at a long glass, he kept scanning the sky-line
+to the east. What was he looking for? Juarez knew instinctively that he
+was afraid of pursuit.
+
+If only they could be overtaken and captured, his heart thrilled at the
+thought and he watched the Captain eagerly for the first sign of
+excitement. About ten o'clock he saw by the Skipper's actions that
+something of interest had come under his observation.
+
+There were a number of quick, sharp orders given and Juarez noticed the
+increased volume of smoke pouring from the stack. The Sea Eagle began to
+show the speed that was in her trim, black form. Juarez worked around
+the port side of the boat as rapidly as he dared, and his heart leaped
+with hope.
+
+He saw low upon the eastern horizon a smudge of black smoke. If he only
+had known what the Skipper knew, his hopes would have risen still
+higher. Certain preparations were going on upon deck. The three cannon,
+one in the stern, that had fired the salute to the group on the shore,
+one on either side of the quarter-deck, were divested of their canvas
+jackets.
+
+They certainly gleamed bravely in their polished brass. Then the
+ammunition was got ready beside each separate gun. It begin to look like
+business. The Sea Eagle began to justify her name and fly through the
+water. Still the spot upon the horizon grew bigger.
+
+Then Juarez began to have a paralyzing feeling of doubt. The steamer,
+though coming up fast, did not seem to be steering the proper course to
+head the Sea Eagle, bearing on her port-quarter instead of across her
+bows as would have been the natural course if she wished to intercept
+her.
+
+Then the doubt in his mind was changed to disappointed certainty for the
+Skipper waved his hand to the mate, who was busy on the deck below. It
+was after he had taken a pull at the spyglass, which this time seemed to
+have an intoxicating effect upon the Captain.
+
+"It's all right, Bill," he yelled, "It's nothing but a steamer bound for
+'Frisco. It looks like the Panama."
+
+Juarez and Tom resumed their work doggedly. That was all that was left
+for them to do. They scarcely glanced at the big steamer as she
+appeared, growing constantly larger above the horizon, and then
+diminishing as she steamed North towards San Francisco.
+
+Juarez was scrubbing the deck near a cabin door when it suddenly opened,
+and a tall, long-legged figure stepped out and fairly over him. He came
+to the conclusion that it was the man who had come aboard the night
+before.
+
+He took in the tall, gaunt man with the smooth-shaven face and long hair
+at two glances--one not being sufficient to his height.
+
+"Well, who are you?" he inquired lounging on the rail and regarding
+Juarez with mild-eyed interest.
+
+"I'm Juarez Hopkins, deck scrubber. Who are you?"
+
+"I'm James Howell, sheep farmer. I'll add you two lambs to my flock," he
+replied, whimsically, glancing at Tom who was down the deck a way.
+
+"You are more apt to find us wolves in lamb's hide," retorted Juarez.
+"Where's your farm?"
+
+"There," said the stranger, pointing with a long, bony finger on the
+port-quarter, "that nigh island."
+
+Then Juarez saw to his surprise, two islands that seemed to have sprung
+like magic upon the South-eastern horizon. The further one lay long and
+low and dark but distant beneath the fog-lined sky, the "nigh one" was
+more short and dumpy in appearance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+TO THE RESCUE
+
+
+During the afternoon, everything had been made ready for the journey of
+the morrow. There was not a great deal to be done for the three rescuers
+would travel light. There would be no need of a pack animal, because the
+Senor had assured the boys that they would find hospitality on the way.
+
+Jo however was in mourning because when he gave his black a trial
+gallop, it was discovered that he was badly lamed in the right knee. It
+would not have been safe for any of the pirate gang to come within range
+of Jo's wrath.
+
+"The cursed brutes stove him up for fair," he declared grinding his
+teeth.
+
+"I'm afraid it will take a month's rest before he will be fit,"
+determined Jim.
+
+"Then I'm out of it," exclaimed Jo sorrowfully.
+
+"Not so, my friend," interrupted the Spaniard. "Take the bay. He is not
+as good a horse as yours, but he has great endurance. He is yours to use
+as long as you wish."
+
+Jo thanked the Spaniard heartily for his kindness and generosity. Then
+he spoke in a low voice to his brother. "How about that money, Jim?
+Don't forget to pay the Spaniard for those goods we bought at the
+store." Jim spoke up.
+
+"Senor, I wish to show you a little something of interest."
+
+Then Jim got his heavy saddle, on which he had ridden so many hundred
+miles. And the Senor regarded it with interest, because of the carved
+leather workmanship which was of the finest and he was a connoisseur of
+such matters.
+
+"How much would you give for it, Senor Sebastian," inquired Jim, "if it
+were put up for purchase?"
+
+"It is a beautiful saddle. I would be willing to give a hundred dollars.
+It is worth it."
+
+"That saddle is worth several thousand, Senor," replied Jim confidently.
+
+"I do not understand," replied the Spaniard. "It is the personal value,
+I suppose."
+
+"I will show you," said Jim.
+
+Then he took from his hip pocket a heavy bone handled knife which he had
+bought at the store and pulled back the hoof cleaner, an instrument
+attached to the knife that was used to get a pebble or anything that had
+got into the horse's hoof.
+
+With this he worked at the leather that covered the high and rather
+thick horn of the saddle. Finally he pried the top leather flap off.
+There was a heavy piece fitted into the top of the horn. With some
+difficulty Jim got this out disclosing a hollow, in which was concealed
+most of the jewels he had found in Mexico.
+
+"Hold your hands, Jo. Tight now." And with the word he emptied the
+contents of the horn into Jo's palms. Diamonds, rubies, turquoises and
+some heavy gold pieces.
+
+"That is what you might call a horn of plenty," said Jim jocosely.
+
+"But!" cried the Spaniard in amazement, "where did you get these?"
+
+"In Mexico," replied Jim. "This was what the Pirates were after. And
+they got all but this. Sometime I will tell you the story of its
+discovery. Now take this to reimburse you, Senor, for the money we spent
+at the store." And he held out the diamond.
+
+"That is far too much. That stone is worth five hundred dollars at
+least," said the Spaniard. "These three rubies would be more exact and I
+will take them."
+
+Jim, handing over the three stones selected, said, "Now, Senor, you
+shall take the diamond as a token of good will from my brother and
+myself."
+
+"We insist upon it," chimed in Jo.
+
+Finally the Spaniard accepted the gifts with many protestations of
+obligation and appreciation. Jo was about to urge him to accept a jewel
+for his sister, but Jim stopped him, knowing that the proud Spaniard
+would not hear to such a present.
+
+The next morning they were up an hour before daylight and ate a hearty
+breakfast by the light of the candles. Veterans though they were, the
+boys felt a thrill go through their pulses as they thought of the
+expedition that lay before them. Outside they could hear the pawing of
+the impatient horses.
+
+"To the success of our expedition and the rescue of our friends!" was
+the toast the Spaniard proposed as they rose from the table. The
+Frontier Boys drank it, but not in wine. They felt just a little foolish
+too, but such is the reward that often comes with doing what is right.
+But they were sturdy in their determination to stick to their
+principles.
+
+If they had only known it, down in his heart the Spaniard respected them
+the more, even though it seemed odd to him.
+
+Then they went out on the verandah, fully armed and ready to take their
+departure. Two oil lamps near the door and fastened to the wall, backed
+by shining reflectors sent a strong light across the verandah and into
+the darkness outside.
+
+There stood the three horses, eager to be off, each one held by a
+Mexican groom. Caliente we already know, and the horse that Jo is to
+ride also. So let us take a glance at the third animal, Don Fernando. He
+evidently justified all the enthusiasm of his master, a truly splendid
+creature.
+
+A dark chestnut, as large as Caliente and built on something the same
+lines. They were beautifully matched except in color. It was with a
+thrill of pleasure that Jim swung himself into the saddle. His mount was
+in fine fettle and ready for the long pull ahead.
+
+They started from the home ranch with a thunder of hoofs in unison, the
+riders checking their horses to a slow gallop with a heavy hand.
+Together they pressed through the waning darkness. There was a wonderful
+exhilaration, as they leaped forward, the horses powerful and fresh.
+
+Instead of following in the direction of the morning before, the
+Spaniard turned to the East until they came near the foot of the range.
+In a short time they came to a gate, which seemed to open mysteriously
+as they approached, but the motive power proved to be a small Mexican
+boy, whom the Senor had sent on ahead.
+
+Now they were on a turf road with bushes on either side and down this
+they thundered, Caliente the gray, and Don Fernando the dark, matching
+stride for stride, with Jo well in the rear. For he found if he rode
+close up he was blinded and stung by sods and stones thrown back from
+the flying hoofs of the two horses in the front.
+
+It was a bit lonely for Jo and he wished that one of the other boys was
+here to keep him company. As they rode, the bushes seemed to fly by as
+they do when you look from a railroad train and Jo was afraid lest his
+horse would be unable to keep the pace indefinitely. One thing in Jo's
+favor was that he was the lightest of the three and what is more to the
+purpose a very light rider.
+
+So like the good horseman he was, he determined to save his horse all he
+could and make him last out. For eight miles or more they rode without a
+stop until they came to another gate. This the Spaniard unfastened and
+swung open without dismounting, then closed it after Jo.
+
+The morning light was now distinct, although the fog was over the sky.
+Before them stretched a long level plain that broke into sand dunes near
+the sea. They could see the ocean lying dark in its monotonous level of
+color, to the Western horizon.
+
+"We have just left the Sebastian ranch," called the Spaniard.
+
+"It is immense," commented Jim. "May I ask how many acres it embraces?"
+
+"It was immense in the old days," replied the Spaniard. "Before your
+people took possession of the land. It was held by no fences then. But
+your laws were not ours and we lost many square miles. Now there are
+fifty thousand acres under fence."
+
+"Fifty thousand acres!" exclaimed Jo.
+
+"Ah, but it was double that before the Americans came," replied the
+Spaniard. Then he glanced critically at Caliente. "Your horse looks as
+cool as though he had been standing in the stable. The pace does not
+affect his wind either. Splendid condition!"
+
+"Caliente is as hard as nails," said Jim proudly. "But your horse has
+wonderful speed."
+
+The chestnut seemed more on edge than the old warrior, Caliente, and
+tossed the foam from his bit, until his dark coat was speckled with it.
+
+"He is high strung," said the Spaniard, "but I would back him against
+any horse flesh in California. We can let them out here for a half dozen
+miles."
+
+"Let her go, Senor. I won't let you lose me."
+
+At the word the Spaniard gave his chafing horse his head and away the
+chestnut sprang in the lead. It was slightly down grade for a mile,
+then there was a gulch twelve feet wide and of considerable depth. It
+was a good jump and to make it saved a little distance. Going at top
+speed the chestnut took the jump in fine style. His rider half turned in
+his saddle to watch Jim's effort. Caliente had faced worse leaps than
+that, he rose to it and swept over it as gracefully as a bird.
+
+"Good fellow!" exclaimed Jim patting him affectionately on the neck.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE BANDITS
+
+
+When Jo saw the gulch ahead, he decided that discretion was the better
+part of valor as he did not know his mount well enough to risk the leap,
+so he galloped a few hundred feet below, where the gulch narrowed and
+then he took the jump nicely, and scampered after the other two riders
+who were quite a way ahead.
+
+Jim purposely held Caliente in check, keeping a hundred yards in the
+rear of the Spaniard. Ahead a few miles, there was a perfect sea of
+yellow where the tall mustard covered the plain for a great distance.
+Into this they charged full tilt, the mustard reaching as high as their
+heads.
+
+There was a swish of its blossoms in their faces as the powerful horses
+charged into it and in spite of their strength they began to tire after
+going some distance.
+
+"Where is Jo?" inquired Jim suddenly after they had slowed down, "I
+don't see a sign of him." And he rose in his stirrups looking over the
+level lake of mustard.
+
+"Hello, Jo," he yelled at the top of his voice. No answer came. Could he
+be drowned in this lake? There was not a motion to indicate his
+whereabouts, no waving of the yellow tops.
+
+"It is very strange," said the Spaniard. "Did he cross the gully all
+right?"
+
+"Yes, I saw him take the jump below us a ways." Then Jim raised his
+revolver above his head and fired.
+
+"That ought to fetch him," he said. Then they listened intently.
+Suddenly about a quarter of a mile ahead of them they saw a sombrero
+rise like a gray mushroom above the yellow surface of the mustard, and
+Jo's voice came back to them.
+
+They both gave their horses the rein, this time Jim did nothing to hold
+Caliente back, and with their powerful speed the two great horses tore
+forward, on even terms until in the last hundred yards Caliente forged
+ahead by half a length.
+
+"Hold on boys," yelled Jo in warning. There was Jo sitting quietly on
+his horse.
+
+"That's how you beat us," exclaimed Jim, pointing to a cow trail running
+diagonally through the growth of mustard.
+
+"Yes," laughed Jo, "I struck it further down after I jumped the gully.
+Otherwise you fellows would have lost me."
+
+"Good work, Jo," said Jim. "Now we will have it easier going."
+
+So in single file they galloped along the path, until they found
+themselves by noon, at the foot of a spur of mountains that extended
+from the main coast range to the ocean. Jim regarded this barrier in
+their way with a practised eye.
+
+"This will slow us down, Senor," he said. "It looks like a pass below
+there, about two miles."
+
+"Yes," said the Senor, "we can get through there all right, but it is
+pretty rough going."
+
+They had to advance more slowly now, as the ground was broken into stony
+ravines, and there was a good deal of brush. In this kind of country
+Jo's horse more than held its own with the bigger animals, for he was as
+nimble as a goat.
+
+"I hope we will find water, Senor," remarked Jim. "Our horses are pretty
+dry now."
+
+"Yes," replied the Spaniard, "there is a good spring at the foot of the
+Pass."
+
+They found it all right, in the entrance to the Pass, where there was a
+small green cove, surrounded with bushes, and on one side was a sheep
+herder's shanty. Jo investigated this immediately and found nothing in
+it but the charred remnants of a fire and a pair of discarded overalls.
+
+Jim, who had himself been looking around, made a more important find.
+
+"There has been somebody here recently," he announced. "Here are some
+tracks around the spring and not over twelve hours old."
+
+"Yes, I have no doubt," said the Spaniard carelessly puffing at his
+cigarette. "This Pass is used occasionally by ranchmen and herders."
+
+"There have been five or six horses here," said Jim, whose experiences
+had made him suspicious.
+
+"There are no Indians," said Jo, "in this section, at least none who are
+on the warpath."
+
+"I suppose you do have cattle rustlers, Senor?" inquired Jim.
+
+"Yes, there is a band of outlaws," replied the Spaniard, "that raids
+from as far north as our ranch, south to San Diego, but we have seen no
+trace of them for many months."
+
+"Then, Senor," remarked Jim, "it is about time that they paid you
+another visit."
+
+"Ah, Senor Darlington," exclaimed the Spaniard. "We Castilians do not
+reason so. We say that there is no trouble today, why worry about
+tomorrow. Perhaps these bandits may have starved to death, or been hung,
+or the good Padres may have persuaded them by the fear of Hell, to
+become quiet, sheep raising citizens. God knows."
+
+"I fear that they are raising sheep in their old style," grinned Jo. The
+pun glanced off the Spaniard harmlessly.
+
+"The theory that they may be hung, sounds plausible, Senor," admitted
+Jim. "But before we advance into the Pass, I will scout a little."
+
+"If the Senor pleases," responded the Spaniard courteously.
+
+"Do you chance to know of a small, hunchbacked Mexican who is more or
+less in this section of the country, Senor?" Jim suddenly inquired.
+
+The Spaniard flushed with red anger and spit emphatically on the ground.
+
+"You give him into my hands and I will reward you well," cried the
+Spaniard.
+
+Jim made no immediate reply but gazed thoughtfully at the ground. He was
+considering the case. This was not the time to turn aside in a chase for
+even so desperate a criminal as the hunchbacked greaser. So he made no
+definite reply to the Spaniard.
+
+After the horses were fed, and watered, and while Jo was looking after
+the coffee, Jim started off, to do a little scouting up the Pass. The
+first thing that he did was to slip off his heavy riding boots, which
+the stylish Jo had forced him to buy, and to put on his noiseless footed
+moccasins.
+
+Then with his revolver loaded and ready to his hand, he went swiftly and
+silently up the trail that followed through thick brush, gradually
+working up the side of the mountain. It was no difficult task to follow
+the tracks of the horses. In a half hour's swift climbing he came to the
+top of a stony ridge, over which the trail curved, and dipped down the
+other side.
+
+Jim now saw that the Pass was an irregular one with recurrent spurs,
+thrusting out from the mountains on either side, at quite frequent
+intervals. There were innumerable chances for ambuscades. Jim did not
+stand in the trail but to one side partially hidden in a thicket.
+
+All the time his keen eyes were taking in the canyon below, not however
+admiring the scenery. In fact there was nothing particularly beautiful,
+or interesting in the view. In the Rockies and further South too he had
+seen canyons incomparable to the rather ordinary ones that he had seen
+in California.
+
+Jim was watching for some slight movement of a living creature in the
+canyon. Finally he gave it up, and was about to turn away, then he gave
+a start, he saw one, two, three, men crouch across the trail, a quarter
+of a mile below, and disappear into the thick brush. He was almost
+certain that the first one was the hunchback.
+
+That was all that Jim wanted to see. He noiselessly took the back trail,
+thinking over the best course to pursue. He would have liked nothing
+better under ordinary circumstances than to fight it out with the
+outlaws and to capture the hunchback. But their first object must be the
+rescue of Tom and Juarez.
+
+Was there not some way by which they could get to the South without
+going through this bandit infested Pass?
+
+"Well brother, what didst thou find?" inquired Jo, who was at times
+pleased to be dramatic.
+
+"Very few specimens in the way of bandits," replied Jim.
+
+"As I said, Senor," remarked the Spaniard, "they have become good
+citizens."
+
+"Not yet, I am sure, because they are alive."
+
+"That is a good one, Jim," remarked Jo, appreciatively, but the Spaniard
+was politely mystified. "Same as Indians."
+
+"I found one thing out," said the diplomatic Jim, "and that is, that the
+Pass is a hard one on horses. Are you sure, Senor, that there is no
+easier way than this to get through?"
+
+"Positive," briefly responded the Spaniard.
+
+Jim who was seated on a rock digging his heel into the soft earth,
+looked up as a sudden idea struck him,--but without knocking him out.
+
+"How far is it from here to the sea, Senor?" he asked.
+
+"Not over five miles."
+
+"Can we not get around that way?" Jim inquired eagerly.
+
+"Why, yes," replied the Spaniard slowly, "if the tide is not coming in.
+In that case we should be drowned." Jim glanced hastily at his watch.
+
+"We can try for it and make it, if we do not waste any time," he said.
+"The horses have had a good rest."
+
+"Very well, Senor," said the Spaniard resignedly. He regarded Jim as an
+amiable hurricane whom it was not worth while battering to resist. Jim
+hastily swallowed his coffee and a hunk of bread and in five minutes the
+three musketeers were in the saddle again.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+RACE WITH THE TIDE
+
+
+In spite of the rough going, they made good time for the five miles,
+spurred on by the constant anxiety lest they should not reach the beach
+before the tide began coming in. There were several gathered to see them
+off when they left the mouth of the Pass, but not to give them a send
+off.
+
+A short explanation will prove this. It is not to be supposed that the
+hunchbacked Mexican and the bandits did not know that the three horsemen
+were coming over the plain of the mustard growth. Indeed, their scout,
+the Mexican dwarf, saw Jim, Jo and the Spaniard when they first landed
+in the entrance to the canyon.
+
+He had gone back to report to the bandits their coming, and after Jim
+had returned, they had prepared the nicest trap imaginable near where
+Jim had been hiding. They had had numerous experiences in that line and
+were perfectly qualified experts. The spider and the fly was nothing to
+the arrangements they had made to receive their supposably unsuspicious
+guests.
+
+You can imagine the surprise and disgust of the bandits and their scout
+when they saw the three horsemen ride in an entirely different direction
+than that they had looked for. Talk about convulsions, you should have
+seen these desperadoes express their disappointment. It was terrific.
+Not a saint in the long calendar was left unscathed.
+
+How Jim would have enjoyed the performance. But entirely oblivious to
+this, Jo, Jim and the Spaniard were riding rapidly towards the sea.
+Before an hour had passed, they had ridden between the rounded sand
+dunes and then out upon the hard, smooth sand of the beach.
+
+"This is splendid going, Senor Sebastian," exclaimed Jim.
+
+"It is all right," he replied, "if the sea does not get hungry too
+soon." But the sea appeared to be in a very pleasant mood and the white
+breakers had withdrawn as far out as it was possible to get. It was such
+a smooth smiling sea with the laugh of its little sparkling waves that
+it seemed that there could be no possible harm in it.
+
+"I never saw a road that was better than this!" exclaimed Jo in
+delight. "It is perfectly springy and no dust or mud."
+
+It deserved all of Jo's praises, this broad, firm California beach. The
+brown sand, that had been pounded down by the force of the great rollers
+some hours before, showed scarcely a sign of the shoes of the horses.
+
+There was plenty of width and the three horses pressed on abreast, the
+powerful sweep of the gray Caliente and the chestnut Don Fernando, and
+the snappy, nervous leaps of the little bay that Jo was riding. With the
+bracing sea air and the exhilarating speed, the three musketeers were
+invigorated.
+
+The Spaniard hummed a gay ballad, while at times Jim's heavy bass and
+Jo's lighter treble were joined in a rollicking American song. They
+laughed without reason, for the simple joy of being alive and on the
+move; but as pride sometimes goes before destruction, so happiness often
+goes before disaster.
+
+It was a small matter too, but it made for trouble. The Spaniard's horse
+stepped between two small rocks that were close together and wrenched
+one of his hind shoes nearly off. Jim and Senor Sebastian hastily
+dismounted. Of course they carried with them the necessary things to
+fix the shoe on again, but even then it was a question of a number of
+minutes.
+
+"You had better ride ahead, Jo," urged Jim. "Your horse is beginning to
+tire and we will overtake you, when we once get started."
+
+"It is a good idea," joined in the Spaniard.
+
+"All right," acquiesced Jo readily enough, and he gave his bay the rein,
+riding slowly down the beach.
+
+Then the two began operations on Don Fernando's hind foot. Here they
+found their first real delay. At the point where the accident happened,
+the mountains came down quite close to the sea, so that they were
+crowded in much closer than they had been. The nearness of the water
+made the big chestnut restless and hard to handle.
+
+The Spaniard had great difficulty in getting near enough to his horse to
+get hold of his hind foot. When he did succeed in doing this, and was
+just starting to peg the shoe on, an extra big wave slapped down upon
+the beach, though at a safe distance and caused the big chestnut to jump
+and hurl his master to a distance of a dozen feet.
+
+"This won't do," cried Jim. "I'll take my horse around to the sea side
+of yours and close up. Perhaps that will give your animal confidence."
+
+It worked like a charm, for though Caliente was high-spirited, he was
+not flighty and he steadied his comrade so that the two workers were
+able to fasten the shoe.
+
+"We have lost a good half hour," said Jim, looking at his watch with a
+grave face.
+
+"Perhaps we shall have to turn back," remarked the Spaniard with
+gravity. "We may not escape the incoming tide if we go on."
+
+"Don't you believe it," cried Jim, impetuously. "I've got business ahead
+and must go."
+
+"Have it your way," said the Spaniard with a peculiar smile. He knew
+what dangers lay ahead with a rising tide and Jim did not or he probably
+would not have been so insistent.
+
+"I see no sign of Jo," remarked Jim, as they swung into the saddles.
+
+"Ah, we will not catch him. He is safe," replied the Spaniard.
+
+Then with tremendous speed, they swept down the beach, the splendid
+horses responding to the crisis. It was their fleetness against the
+steadily rising rush of the inexorable sea. They actually gained ten
+minutes on the first two miles and a half. Then Jim saw ahead the dark
+form of a headland thrusting out towards the sea.
+
+Already the rush of a long wave would send the water lapping around
+their horses' feet. Jim recognized the danger. They must get around that
+promontory or give up beaten. Then he gave Caliente a touch with a spur,
+the first that day. With a snort, the spirited animal sprang forward
+faster than before and at his shoulder was the chestnut with flaming
+nostril.
+
+None too soon had they reached the headland, for the recurrent waves
+were beginning to surge against it, with full force and gnawing foam. In
+the fierce fury of their charge, they sent their horses against the sea.
+It was at the long withdrawal that made bare the scattered black rocks,
+that they rounded the headland.
+
+But too soon a great thundering wave with the force of the Pacific
+behind it came roaring in and swelled to the horses' throats, almost
+submerging the riders. But the animals held against its withdrawing
+power and before the ocean could return to the attack, they had got
+beyond the headland to a safe place on the beach.
+
+The horses were trembling and quivering with their exertions and with
+the fear of the sea which is the most terrible and paralyzing of all
+fears. Jim drew a long breath of relief and looked ahead to see if there
+was any sign of Jo. Then to his consternation he saw that the beach
+curved inland and at the further end of the curve was another frowning
+headland thrusting itself out somewhat further than the one they had but
+just rounded.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+THE ENCHANTED ISLE
+
+
+Let us now return to the Sea Eagle, and find out what is happening
+there.
+
+You recollect that Juarez had just discovered two islands lying on the
+South-eastern horizon, the one, long and low, the other comparatively
+short and dumpy. He had been conversing with the tall shepherd of the
+island, who seemed to take an interest in Juarez. But because of his
+isolated life during a greater part of the year, he would have taken an
+interest in a stone idol, if he had chanced to discover one.
+
+"Which of these islands are we making for?" inquired Juarez.
+
+"The one where we land," replied the sheep farmer oracularly. "I might
+ask the Cap'n, only I never pester him with questions. You aren't a
+Yankee, are you?"
+
+"No," replied Juarez, "I'm not. My folks live in Western Kansas."
+
+"I'm glad to hear it, son. But what are you doing here?" he asked.
+
+"You aren't a Yankee, are you?" inquired Juarez, quizzically. The man
+laughed softly to himself.
+
+"You've got me there, lad," he said. "It looks to me," he continued,
+"that the old man is going to steer for the further island."
+
+"Then you will have to swim for your home," remarked Juarez.
+
+"I can wade," he replied whimsically, looking down at his long legs.
+
+"You are a humorist," said Juarez.
+
+"No, you can put me down for a philosopher, that is to say, a man who
+has much time to think and nothing to do."
+
+"I should like to be one," said Juarez. "Suppose you holy-stone these
+decks while I try it."
+
+"No, my friend," replied the shepherd, "I am too much of a philosopher
+to make any such swap."
+
+"Is Captain Broom one?" asked Juarez.
+
+"Well, he is a sort of a philosopher till he gets mad, then he becomes a
+living active volcano, belching out a lava of hot language and scorching
+things generally. I guess that I had better be moving along. I see that
+he is eyeing me from the Bridge, and he is likely to get active any
+moment if I keep you from working." With this the lanky shepherd
+strolled forward and seating himself upon the top of the boys' sleeping
+place in the bow, smoked his pipe in meditative comfort.
+
+His estimate in regard to the destination of the Sea Eagle proved to be
+correct. For in the early afternoon the ship passed under the lee of the
+long island and was steaming up the channel between it and the mainland,
+which was distant some thirty-five miles.
+
+The fog had cleared by noon, and there was that complete transition to
+brilliant, sunny weather. There was a sort of a white haze along the
+distant coast and beyond far inland, rose the faint summits of the high
+mountains.
+
+Fortunately Juarez and Tom had a chance to observe their new
+surroundings for they had been set to work sewing on a small sail that
+was to be used in one of the boats. They sat upon the top of one of the
+hatches, under the watchful eyes of old Pete and the philosophic gaze of
+the shepherd. Sewing was one of the accomplishments of the Frontier
+Boys. They had been obliged to learn.
+
+"What is that particular bronze looking weed, floating in these waters?"
+asked Tom. It was as Tom phrased it, bronze and a most beautiful color.
+
+It was indeed a giant among weeds; just such as the garden of the ocean
+would grow. The stems were fifty to eighty feet long, with peculiar
+colored leaves eight to ten inches in length, growing on little boughs
+from the parent stem. The whole structure was held up by small bronze
+buoys, of a round shape.
+
+"Well as ye seem likely boys and want to learn, I'll tell you about this
+plant," said the shepherd. "The scientific fellows call it Algae. When
+the world was first made this algae covered the whole surface of the
+ocean."
+
+"How did you learn this?" asked Juarez.
+
+"You know that the Captain is quite a collector, and in his travels has
+gotten together among many other things some interesting books. He gives
+them to me when convenient." The face of the lanky shepherd was
+perfectly grave when he spoke of Captain Broom as a collector.
+
+"What makes the water so clear around here?" asked Juarez. "I never saw
+anything like it."
+
+"Well, you see," replied their mentor, "this island is placed
+peculiarly, I mean this side of it. You see how quiet the water is?"
+
+"It is certainly smooth and blue," said Juarez. "More like a lake than
+the ocean."
+
+"That's only true of this side," resumed the shepherd, "the other is
+rough enough, but you see the prevailing winds are from the Northwest
+and this shore is never disturbed. So on the beaches you will find not
+sand, but smooth round pebbles, because there is no action of the water,
+no breakers or waves to grind them into sand."
+
+About four o'clock the Sea Eagle came into a perfectly beautiful little
+harbor, at the South-eastern end of the island. There was a small level
+plot back from the beach and on all sides rose steep hills and back of
+them the mountains. It was the most picturesque scene the boys had ever
+beheld in all their travels.
+
+What would they not have given to have been free to roam that island,
+hunting inland, or fishing or bathing along those quiet, enchanted
+shores. But this was no pleasure excursion. Far from it. Captain Broom
+had his own ideas, and he did not intend to make a landing at all.
+
+"Get the whale boat ready, lads!" he ordered. "And put her over, we've
+got no time to lose."
+
+They lost no time either, under Captain Broom's commanding eye.
+
+What was necessary for the cruise was already in the boat. Two casks of
+water, several guns, and a lot of provisions. Then the boat was hove
+overboard into the quiet bay. The captain was ready with a much battered
+satchel in his hand. Not for one second did he entrust it to any one
+else.
+
+"Now over with you, you two lads," he commanded and Juarez and Tom,
+with a sinking of the heart, got into the boat. This was the last leg of
+their mysterious journey, and it boded them no good they felt sure of
+that. The mate they noticed stayed aboard in charge of the ship.
+
+They were put in the stern where old Pete had the steering oar. Near
+them sat the shepherd on one of the casks of water, his long legs
+getting uncertain accommodation. The captain had his position in the bow
+and two powerful sailors were at the oars, one on either side. They did
+not sit down, but stood up to their work.
+
+Without any loss of time the boat got under way proceeding seaward from
+the shelter of the beautiful little harbor. In spite of their
+depression, the two boys could not help being interested in the
+absolutely clear water in which they could look down for eighty feet.
+
+They could see the straight slender columns of the Algae rising to the
+surface, starting from where they were rooted in the bottom of the bay
+and swaying to the slow pulsation of the tide. These strange plants of
+this marine garden were marvels indeed. Between their stalks and among
+the encrusted rocks swam in absolute unconsciousness of being watched,
+many beautiful, and strange fishes.
+
+Some were small of golden hue, with little spots of a marvelous blue
+(poetry) that flashed like keen electric dew, (that will do). Others
+were like gold fishes, a foot in length and of corresponding breadth.
+There were long mackerel, and innumerable minnows, and over the rocks a
+peculiar little fish crawled or rather walked on thin rat-like feet.
+
+Before they had time to observe further the boat had got out of the
+harbor where the water sunk away to blue unfathomed depth. When clear of
+the harbor, they turned to the South, passing near a cove with a
+symmetrical pebbly beach, built up for five feet, above the level of the
+water. The ocean was perfectly smooth, with not a ripple upon its
+surface. They were evidently making to round the Southern extremity of
+the Island.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+IN THE WHITE BOAT
+
+
+Ahead of them was a rock rising fifty or sixty feet out of the water. It
+was evident that the rock was inhabited for there could be seen dark
+forms moving around upon it. Nothing had been said since they started,
+for the Captain was not in a talkative mood. Jeems Howell, the shepherd,
+had sat silently smoking his pipe in philosophic contentment.
+
+"What are those things on that rock?" inquired Tom, his curiosity
+getting the best of his reserve.
+
+"Two yankees in this boat," commented the shepherd. "Those are seals,
+son. Didn't you ever see any before?"
+
+"No!" admitted Tom.
+
+"You didn't know that seals, next to humans, are the smartest animals,
+in the world."
+
+"Is that so?" inquired Juarez. "They certainly are sleek."
+
+"They have got the most brain room, that's a fact."
+
+The boys regarded the seals with peculiar interest as the boat passed
+near the rock. They were moving about awkwardly by means of their
+flippers, moving their sinuous necks this way and that and regarding the
+strange boat with their soft brown eyes. Then they dived headlong into
+the sea, swimming about with a peculiar grace.
+
+"Queer animals," remarked Tom, "belong half to the sea and half to the
+land."
+
+"Something like sailors," remarked the shepherd.
+
+"What's the Captain going to do with us?" asked Juarez in a low voice.
+The shepherd's face took on a solemn expression, but before he could
+reply the Captain's voice roared.
+
+"None of that, you'll find out soon enough. You can talk about the flory
+and fauny, with long shanks, but don't let me hear anything else out of
+you," such was the Captain's ultimatum.
+
+But soon matters grew so interesting that they lost all inclination for
+talking. When they got near the Southern end of the island they began to
+notice white caps to the Southward, dotting the darkness of the sea.
+
+"You lads will have to hold tight now in a few minutes," remarked
+Howell. "Do you get seasick?"
+
+"No," replied the boys.
+
+"Well, you will have a chance soon, and if it don't fetch you, nothing
+will."
+
+So far they had been rowing under the sheltering lee of the island whose
+huge rocky bulk had shouldered off the charge of the wind-driven seas.
+Now before they had fairly rounded the island the character of the water
+began to change. The boat began to toss on the great rollers. Then as
+they cleared the land for good and were in the channel, a fresh gust of
+wind struck them, drenching the occupants of the boat with spray.
+
+The Captain stood up in the bow of the boat and steadying himself took
+in the conditions of the sea and wind. There was nothing in his grim
+weatherbeaten face to show what he felt. The men at the oars now made
+hard work of it against the headwind and the running sea.
+
+They would climb up a steep wave and then with a sickening slide, go
+down into the hollow, then with a lusty pull the sailors would bring the
+heavy boat over the toppling crest of wave to find another rushing to
+meet them. No rest, this was what made it such heart breaking work.
+
+The early fog had come, covering the sea with gloom, and the waves did
+not go down perceptibly. At times, they shipped a good deal of water and
+Tom and Juarez were kept busy bailing out. After an hour's hard
+struggle the sailors were about all in and seemed hardly able to hold
+their own against the sea and wind. The Captain was quick to notice
+this.
+
+"Can you row, lad?" he inquired of Juarez. Now the latter's experience
+had been confined to his work going down the Grand Canyon of Colorado,
+on the raft-boat that the Frontier Boys had built.
+
+Even the old ocean itself could not show anything worse than some of the
+rapids that the boys had run. As for rocks, nothing could beat the
+canyon for them.
+
+"I'll try, sir," he replied, "I've never rowed on the ocean."
+
+"Humph!" grunted the Captain, "take the starboard. And you, you lazy
+long shanks, you take the other oar."
+
+"All right, sir," replied cheerfully, the one addressed.
+
+"Get out of here, Pete," he cried, giving that worthy a lift with his
+foot that landed him on top of Tom, "I'll do the steering. You boys will
+only have to pull, that's all. I'll keep her headed up right."
+
+Fortunately Juarez was in fine condition, or he could never have stood
+the gruelling work ahead. He weighed one hundred and sixty pounds and
+there was not an ounce of fat on him. Likewise he had had a sound
+night's sleep and three square meals so that he was fortified for what
+was ahead.
+
+Juarez buckled to the task with all his strength, and he was glad of the
+chance to get his blood in circulation for he was chilled to the bone by
+the flying spray, and then too, anything was better than thinking of the
+fate ahead. He was surprised to find out that the shepherd who appeared
+rather frail in physique was able to keep up the pace.
+
+But he had that sinewy length of muscles that counts for more than mere
+bunchy thickness. Juarez was crafty enough not to spend all of his
+strength in the first fifteen minutes of work. He liked this, fighting
+the sea and standing on his feet he was able to put the whole leverage
+of his body into the stroke.
+
+The change in speed was noticeable right away, and the boat began to
+pull ahead steadily. The two sailors who had been laid off from
+exhaustion, had watched Juarez with a sneering grin as he took the oar.
+They were sure that the first wave that came along would wrench the oar
+out of his hand. Great was their surprise when they saw him buckle to
+the oar, rising and pulling at the right time to meet the toppling,
+rustling seas.
+
+"That little shrimp will last about ten minutes," said one of them to
+his mate.
+
+"Sure, Bill," replied the other.
+
+Juarez choked back a hot reply, for he knew that it would not be good
+for him to say anything to them. They were in the majority and would get
+him if he did, besides making it bad for Tom. The ten minutes passed and
+Juarez was just beginning to warm to his work. This took the wind out of
+their sails completely.
+
+The powerful hand of the Skipper at the steering oar was a great help,
+for now all that the two men at the oars had to do was to pull and not
+to worry about keeping her headed right. Juarez kept steadily at it for
+an hour and then darkness began to fall over the channel but not until
+the island that they were approaching had begun to loom up, dead ahead.
+
+They were now getting in the lee of the strange island and the sea was
+moderating perceptibly. At this juncture the two sailors who had become
+thoroughly rested took the oars from Juarez and his co-worker and pulled
+steadily through the gathering gloom. In a short time the bulk of the
+island loomed above them in the darkness.
+
+Not a word was said, only the swish of the sea was heard and the
+groaning of the oars in the locks. Tom and Juarez were deeply depressed
+and gloomy. They felt exactly as though they were being taken to prison
+and could sympathize with sailors who had been marooned on lonely and
+desolate islands.
+
+"Easy now, lads," called the Captain, as he brought the boat's head
+squarely around towards the shore.
+
+"Two strokes," he yelled, "and let her run."
+
+With great force they pulled the oars in succession, then they shipped
+them in a hurry. Juarez could see the dashing of foam on either side of
+the boat where the waves smote the rocks. There was a roar in his ears
+as the boat rushed toward seeming sure destruction. It was going with
+great speed from the impetus of the sailors' strokes.
+
+The Captain was standing taut at the steering oars, his eyes piercing
+the darkness ahead, then the foam of the breakers dashed in their faces,
+there was a quick sliding past of dark rocks and before they could draw
+breath again the boat was in quiet water, under some black cliffs. At
+last they had reached the mysterious goal of their mysterious journey.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+IN PERIL
+
+
+We must now go back in our narrative to where we left Jim Darlington and
+the Spaniard, Senor Sebastian, in a position of extreme peril, between
+the cliffs and the deep sea, with the white-fanged tide coming in like a
+devouring monster eager for its prey.
+
+"Is there a chance, Senor?" cried Jim as soon as his horse gained his
+footing.
+
+"It is the fatal day, I fear," replied the Spaniard with resigned
+hopelessness. "The sea is hungry."
+
+"As for that, so am I," declared Jim coolly. "So let us try to get
+around the headland and after that, supper."
+
+"As you please," acquiesced the Spaniard quietly.
+
+Then Jim turned Caliente's head and with a quick touch of the spur sent
+him full stride along the curving beach, followed closely by the
+Spaniard. Already the heavy waves were licking far up the slant of the
+sand. Even the veteran Caliente seemed nervous at its approach, while
+Don Fernando would jump and shy as the hissing water crept around his
+feet.
+
+In about two minutes the two horsemen reached the base of the rocky
+headland that barred their way. It was a desperate moment, there was but
+one thing to do and that was to take the chance.
+
+"Better be drowned quick, Caliente, old boy," cried Jim, "than slowly,
+but we'll beat you yet," and he shook his clenched fist at the ocean,
+and whirled his horse to meet a wave that struck Caliente breast high.
+So for a moment, the two, boy and horse, stood facing their powerful
+enemy, The Sea, that came with the recurring charge, its evenly
+separated files robed in blue with white crests. Thus they stood getting
+a full free breath before they leaped into the ranks of the foe.
+
+Jim's strained, keen gaze took in every detail of the situation, noting
+the position of the rocks that a receding wave left bare, so that he
+might find a clear path or trail in his dash for life. Nor did his gaze
+flinch as he saw the advancing wave break against the front of the
+cliff.
+
+"Now, Caliente," yelled Jim, with a sense of fierce determination and
+exultation that communicated itself to his horse, and lifting his feet
+free from the stirrups so that he would not be entangled, if Caliente
+should fall, he headed him seaward, galloping fast down the beach upon
+the heels of the withdrawing wave.
+
+Meeting a smaller inrush of water and dashing through its foaming crest,
+his gallant horse swam until he got a foothold upon the rocks at the
+base of the cliff. Now was the crucial moment. With absolute
+recklessness, Jim urged his powerful horse over the foam-covered rocks,
+striving to get around the prow of the headland before the charge of the
+next wave. Not one look did Jim give seaward, all his energies were bent
+upon using every precious second, and Caliente was filled with his
+rider's indomitable spirit.
+
+Then above them towered the fatal wave, and with a confused roar, it
+broke over them in sweltering foam and they were swept towards the black
+front of the cliff. Then came the impact against the rock and the next
+moment, stunned and bruised, Jim holding to the pommel of the saddle,
+with a death-grip, was carried out to sea with Caliente in the grasp of
+the retreating wave.
+
+It was all over, as like pieces of drift, horse and rider were swept
+away, but fortune does sometime favor the brave and, being caught in a
+powerful current, Caliente was carried South of the headland and his
+progress towards the sea was stayed by a rock that rose high, an
+outer-guard of the headland. So then the next great wave bore them
+toward the beach, and once Caliente got his feet upon the sandy bottom
+he braced himself against the fierce pull of the retreating sea,
+striving to drag him back again.
+
+Though almost unconscious, Jim clung to the saddle with his body
+half-drooping over the pommel. Then Caliente plunged blindly forward
+until he stood with head bent down and nose almost touching the sand,
+his great sides heaving, but safe at last.
+
+In the distance, a horseman could be seen coming at full gallop along
+the straight line of the beach. It was Jo, who finally had become
+frightened by the non-appearance of his two comrades and had turned
+back. His fright had been increased by seeing a horse and rider coming
+apparently out of the sea.
+
+When he came up, he found his brother Jim sitting on the sand still half
+dazed but slowly coming to himself.
+
+"Where's the Senor, Jim?" cried Jo. This question served to bring Jim
+completely to himself. He got up, looking pale, with one side of his
+face bruised to a real blackness, and the flesh of his left hand badly
+torn, where it had struck the cliff, but he was not thinking of these
+matters.
+
+"Why, Jo, the Senor came after me. Where is he?" Then it came over him
+all at once, that his companion was even now caught between the jaws of
+the black cliff.
+
+"We must get to him, Jo," he cried.
+
+"But how did you ever get around that cliff?" asked Jo.
+
+Already it was an awesome sight as the waves crashed in foam against its
+front and rushed shoreward along its black sides. It seemed impossible
+that only fifteen minutes before Jim had actually come around that
+foaming headland.
+
+In reply to Jo's question, Jim threw his arms around Caliente's neck
+with warm affection.
+
+"This is the old fellow that pulled me through," he cried. "But we must
+go to the help of our Spanish friend."
+
+"How can we?" inquired Jo. "We can't get around the headland unless we
+become fishes."
+
+Jim considered the problem carefully. One thing he was determined on and
+that was not to leave the Spaniard who had been so hospitable and
+helpful to them.
+
+"No, we can't go around by the headland," he determined, "but we might
+be able to find a way over the rocks and down on the other side."
+
+"All right, I'm ready."
+
+"Let's find a place for Caliente first," advised his owner. Back a short
+distance from the beach there were some trees on a lower spur of the
+mountain. Here Jim brought Caliente and took off the saddle and bridle.
+
+"Now make yourself comfortable," said Jim.
+
+Caliente, in seeming recognition of what was said, took immediate
+advantage of the invitation and rolled heartily in a dry and dusty spot.
+
+"Get your lasso, Jo," urged Jim, "and we will start."
+
+So together they made for the steep rock and soon reached the base of
+it, and now began a hard climb, but no more difficult than they had
+encountered before in their travels.
+
+"Do you recollect, Jim," inquired Jo, "that day you got stalled in our
+first canyon in Colorado, when you tried to imitate an eagle and fly up
+a precipitous cliff and we had to get you down?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I remember," replied Jim, "and how I scared you and Tom by
+pretending that an Injun was after me, when I went down to the creek for
+water."
+
+"Poor Tom," said Jo sadly, "I wonder when we will see him again."
+
+"In a couple of days," stoutly declared the optimistic Jim.
+
+They were now going up the face of the cliff, the lariats over their
+shoulders, and searching with careful feet for a foothold, while their
+hands clutched some piece of projecting rock.
+
+"Lucky this rock isn't rotten," cried Jo, "or we would find ourselves
+stuck headfirst in the sand below."
+
+"Like an ostrich," said Jim. "We couldn't do much in a place like this
+without our moccasins, that's certain."
+
+The moccasins did make them nimble as goats, and they not only made
+possible a secure hold, but they protected as well the feet. At first
+they were not in any grave danger of a fall because the drifted sand at
+the bottom of the cliff would have made a soft landing. But after a
+while they were forced to work their way out over the rushing water,
+then if they had slipped and fallen it would have been all up with them.
+
+It seemed as if the sea, furious at having lost Jim a short while ago,
+was making fierce efforts to get at them now. The great waves foamed
+against the cliff and the spray dashed over the boys, making the
+surface of the rock treacherous and slippery.
+
+"I can't bear to look down," said Jo. "It makes me dizzy."
+
+"Look up, then," Jim called back.
+
+"That's almost as bad," replied Jo.
+
+"Keep 'em shut then," was Jim's command.
+
+Finally they came to a place that stopped Jo entirely. Jim was able to
+get over it, because of his superior height and reach, and he attained a
+point of safety above Jo.
+
+"What am I going to do now?" cried Jo. "I can't go any higher and it is
+impossible for me to go back."
+
+"You wait," urged Jim, "till I get a secure foothold above here."
+
+"Oh, I'll wait," said Jo grimly, "you don't observe any anxiety on my
+part to move, do you?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+TWO LASSOES
+
+
+Finally Jim reached a broad ledge, that gave him an excellent foothold,
+and he got his lariat ready and dangled the loop under Jo's nose.
+
+"What are you going to hang me for?" inquired Jo.
+
+"For a horse thief, I reckon," replied Jim, "that bay don't belong to
+you does it, Mister?"
+
+"Meaning this ocean bay?" queried Jo.
+
+"I certainly will hang you for that," retorted Jim, "Now get the loop
+under your armpits."
+
+"All ready," cried Jo.
+
+Then Jim, bracing himself, kept a taut line on his brother, and with
+this help he was able quite easily to get over the slippery, bare belt
+of rock, and in a few moments was safe with Jim on the ledge.
+
+"It won't take us long now," said Jo, "to get to the other side."
+
+"Let's give him a yell," suggested Jim, "to let him know that we are
+coming."
+
+Then Jim put his hands to his lips and cried:
+
+"Senor, ahoy." They listened breathlessly and in a few moments came a
+faint reply. This put renewed energy into the boys and as the way was
+now easier, they leaped ahead, agile as goats, and had soon reached the
+top of the cliff. They looked eagerly down.
+
+There was the deep short semi-circle of the little bay with the waves
+heaving in against the cliffs and at the point midway between the two
+head-lands, where the beach was highest, they saw the Spaniard on Don
+Fernando. Already the encroaching waves were gnawing at them.
+
+It was only a question of minutes now, and horse and rider would be
+carried out to sea. The Spaniard sat like a statute. It was seemingly
+possible for him to have made his escape up the cliffs, which were not
+overly precipitous, like those Jim and Jo had just scaled, but he was a
+fatalist and believed that his day had come. Perhaps he did not want to
+abandon his horse, in which his pride was centered.
+
+"Cheer up, Senor, we'll be there," yelled Jim.
+
+Then followed by Jo, he sprang forward, leaping from rock to rock, and
+from jutting point to opportune foothold. It was dangerous and daring
+work, but the life of their friend was at stake and the boys were not
+the kind to consider their own safety at such a time.
+
+It was only their sure-footedness and varied experience in climbing that
+saved them from broken limbs or possible death. In a remarkably short
+time, they stood upon a ledge above the Spaniard.
+
+"Here, Senor," yelled Jim, "catch the rope."
+
+He did as ordered but called up, "Is there no way to save my horse?"
+
+Jim considered a moment, then shouted: "All right, yes, we will save
+your horse, too. Tie the ends of the lasso to the iron rings at the ends
+of the front cinch." This was a broad, strong band, which would furnish
+a good purchase, when Jim tossed down the lariat. The Spaniard caught it
+and made it fast as ordered.
+
+"Now, fasten this under your arms," ordered Jim, as he cast down the
+second lariat, which belonged to Jo. They then drew up the Spaniard to
+safety and he appeared to be pleased in a quiet way but not at all
+enthusiastic.
+
+"I am your eternal debtor, Senors," he said with a courteous bow.
+
+"How was it you did not follow me, Senor?" questioned Jim, "when I
+sailed around the headland?"
+
+"Don Fernando balked," replied the Senor. "I thought, too, that you had
+been drowned."
+
+"Came near it," replied Jim. "I would, too, if it had not been for
+Caliente."
+
+"But my poor Fernando, he will be drowned," cried the Spaniard, now much
+more excited about the safety of his steed than he had been for his own.
+It did look rather bad for the big chestnut, as a large wave swelling
+in, almost took him off his feet. He began to neigh wildly.
+
+"Don't worry, Don, old boy," cried Jim to the frightened horse. "If you
+will help yourself." There was something in his voice that seemed to
+reassure the animal.
+
+"Now, Jo, we will let you down by the lariat and get the bridle reins
+over his head and help him get a foothold on that ledge below us. He
+will be safe enough there, even if he does get somewhat damp."
+
+"Let me go. It is my risk for my horse," urged the Spaniard.
+
+"It is no risk, Senor," replied Jim. "You are heavier than my brother
+and stronger and can do more good on this ledge with me."
+
+"The commands of the General!" said the Spaniard with a low bow. "I see
+your plan is good."
+
+"We will tie this end of the lasso to the tree," said Jim, "so you will
+feel perfectly safe, Jo."
+
+The tree referred to was a sturdy, gnarled cedar, growing on the ledge.
+Then Jim swung his brother off and with every confidence in the strength
+of the lariat to hold, Jo made his way quickly and safely down, while if
+he had been without the rope he would have doubtless fallen into the
+water below.
+
+A wave surged in, submerging him, and then started triumphantly to carry
+him out to sea, but when the lariat pulled taut Jo struggled safely back
+on the rock, while the wave went grumbling back.
+
+"Catch the bridle now, Jo," urged Jim. "Don't waste any more time
+swimming."
+
+Thus adjured, Jo grabbed the bridle reins and pulled them over Don
+Fernando's head, and braced himself on the rock above. All was ready
+now, and the two above held the loop of the lasso that had been tied at
+the cinch, with both hands, and they pulled together. Again a big wave
+swelled in towards the cliff, which gave the frightened horse a big
+boost.
+
+Then, with Jim and the Spaniard pulling mightily from the ledge above,
+and Jo giving the big chestnut a purchase by a steady pull upon his
+bridle, the horse scrambled with a mighty clatter and all his frightened
+energy up the sloping rock. The lariat and Jo's work helped a whole lot.
+Without the three, he would never have made it.
+
+Before the next wave swept in, Don Fernando stood, trembling and
+dripping, but safe, upon the lower ledge. He seemed above the danger
+point now, though an unusually big wave welled up around the horse's
+fetlocks and the spray was continually dashing upwards.
+
+"He is all right now," cried Jim, "better come up, Jo, where it is
+dryer."
+
+"Haul in then," replied Jo, and then he was landed safely on the ledge.
+
+"Caught a speckled trout," exclaimed Jim in happy humor again.
+
+"Referring to my freckles, I suppose," grinned Jo. "If I'm a fish, I
+reckon Don Fernando is a whale."
+
+"Do you suppose he is safe?" inquired the Spaniard anxiously.
+
+"Who, Jo?"
+
+"Ah, no," said the Spaniard smilingly. "I mean the Don. The water seems
+to be rising."
+
+"You may rest assured that he is safe," replied Jim. "It is the turn of
+the tide now, and it is only a westerly wind that makes it appear
+higher. All we will have to do now is to wait."
+
+"It is a great pity, this delay," said the Spaniard warmly. "You are
+anxious to be on to the rescue of your brother and his friend. Anyway, I
+hope you will succeed as well in their case as you did in mine."
+
+"In another hour we will be able to start," said Jim, "the tide will
+then commence to run out."
+
+"Where shall we stop tonight?" inquired Jo.
+
+"Camp in the open as usual," replied Jim.
+
+"I hope we will get up above the sea so high that it won't come within a
+mile of us," said Jo, fervently.
+
+"As to a place to stop, I will see to that," said the Spaniard. "Do not
+give yourselves any uneasiness on that score."
+
+"It's getting kind of chilly roosting up here," remarked Jo,
+plaintively, "especially as the fog is coming in."
+
+"I'll warm you," said Jim. "Put up your Dukes."
+
+"You'll take the counts if I put up my Dukes," said Jo, who was an
+inveterate punnist.
+
+"Shut up," yelled Jim, giving his brother a hearty chug in the chest.
+Then they went at it hammer and tongs, giving and receiving good hard
+blows, and after ten minutes of whaling at each other, both were plenty
+warm. The Spaniard looked on in mild wonder.
+
+"You Americans love the hard exercise," he said. "I should think you
+would have great pleasure in resting awhile."
+
+"I got the best of the bout," declared Jo. "See how black and blue your
+face is on this side."
+
+"You didn't do that," protested Jim. "That was a wallop that old Neptune
+handed me when he bumped my head against yonder cliff."
+
+"Neptune! Yonder cliff!" jeered Jo. "You ought to be a story writer and
+use fine words."
+
+"Me a story writer!" growled Jim. "I ain't got so low as that, not so
+long as I have got two hands to steal chickens with."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+ANOTHER FRIEND
+
+
+"Do you not think, Senor Darlington, that it is now safe to start?"
+inquired the Spaniard, who was fearful of bloodshed, not quite
+understanding the boys.
+
+"Certainly," responded Jim, "we will get Don Fernando down from his
+perch and proceed."
+
+This proved to be an easier task than getting him up. His master lowered
+by the rope to his side, one scrambling leap and the horse was on the
+firm wet sand of the beach, almost knocking his master over in his
+eagerness to be on safe footing again. Don Sebastian now showed the gay
+side of his nature, as he vaulted into the saddle.
+
+He swung his hat wildly, the blood mounting to his face, and the horse
+seemed to feel the sting and excitement of his master's mood, as he
+pranced, danced and caracoled upon the sand and ended up by bowing in
+unison with his master to the two American lads, who were looking on
+with interest and amusement.
+
+Then the party made their way quickly along the curve of the beach and
+went around the fateful headland with perfect safety, while quite a
+distance out among the hidden rocks snarled the defeated ocean. Then
+Caliente heard them coming and he quickly raised his head, neighing in
+welcome to Jim and his comrade, Don Fernando.
+
+Jim gave him a vigorous hug for more than ever he was fond of his
+faithful horse. In a few minutes he had him saddled and away the three
+horsemen thudded in a swift gallop down the beach. The horses fairly
+flew, the wind of their speed tossing their manes back. It was cool
+beneath the fog laden sky and the refreshing sea air seemed to give the
+horses tireless endurance.
+
+Soon three miles had spun backwards under their hoofs and the boys were
+filled with the joyous excitement of the run. It seemed now that every
+stride of the horses was bringing them nearer to the hoped-for rescue of
+Tom and Juarez. And this was an incentive to their energy.
+
+"Here, friends, is where we branch off from the beach," cried the
+Spaniard.
+
+Then he turned his horse to the left and headed straight for a wooded
+spur that extended from the range to the shore. In a short time the
+three came to a well-traveled trail and were soon riding through the
+semi-dusk of the woods. For two miles they went up a steady grade.
+
+Then they rounded the summit of the wooded ridge and saw stretching far
+below them in the indistinct dusk, a wide plain bounded on the West by
+the blue darkness of the level sea with its rim of yellow sand.
+
+"We will soon be at the home of my friend, Senor Valdez," said the
+Spaniard, "where we will spend the night."
+
+"I'm a lovely looking object to present itself in a civilized home,"
+protested Jim, "I look like a tough who has been in a bar-room rush."
+
+"You are my brave friend," said Senor Sebastian, quietly, "and will be
+welcome."
+
+Jim blushed, at least one side of his face did, the other was already
+too deeply colored to show any emotion, and he grinned sheepishly.
+Before he had time to reply they swept into an open driveway, carefully
+sanded, and drew rein in front of a long, low white adobe house, that
+from its mountain terrace looked over Plain and Sea.
+
+Out came Senor Valdez to receive them, a stately Spaniard, who furnished
+the boys with an ideal of perfect courtesy ever after. To the end of
+their days they remembered their first visit to the home of Senor
+Valdez. How they did enjoy their dinner that evening in the long,
+pleasantly lighted dining-room.
+
+It was an excellent meal, with delicious soup, a salad garnished with
+peppers of the Spanish style, and garlic. Jim and Jo had never tasted
+anything equal to it. Besides there were frijoles and lamb, while the
+dessert was some slight and delicate confection of jelly and cream, made
+by the hands of the Senora Valdez.
+
+"I feel wicked sitting here and eating this fine meal," said Jo,
+addressing Jim in a low voice, "when Tom and Juarez are being ill used
+and probably starved."
+
+"Well," replied Jim, who was always practical, "I think it is better to
+eat, and to keep my strength up."
+
+"I guess it won't fail," commented Jo slyly.
+
+The boys bore themselves well, and without any diffidence though Jim had
+a whimsical recollection of his bruised side face and blackened eye, and
+he tried to keep it turned from the Senora Valdez, the fragile little
+woman who sat at the end of the table opposite her husband. She had snow
+white hair, parted low over her ears and the pallid face was lined with
+years. Very gentle was the Senora Valdez, but she had in her time beheld
+scenes of carnage and terror, so Jim need not have worried about his
+bruised face. But the wise old lady noticed his solicitude and
+understanding, was the more gracious to the young Americano because of
+it.
+
+That evening they sat on the piazza, that looked out towards the sea,
+the Spaniards smoking and Jim and Jo enjoying the music of a guitar
+played by a Mexican in a dim corner of the verandah and the boys heard a
+bit of important news.
+
+"There was a mysterious ship put into shore several miles South of here,
+late last night, Senor," said their host, "one of my shepherds brought
+me word."
+
+"The first scent of the trail," cried Jim eagerly. Then the Senor
+Sebastian explained to his friend more fully the objects of their
+search. Immediately the listener was deeply interested. Then he sent for
+an Indian, one of his trusted men, to come to him, and gave him minute
+instructions about some matters. Without a word the Indian turned and
+disappeared in the darkness, and in a short time there came the sound of
+a horse galloping full speed down the road.
+
+"Tomorrow, Senor Darlington, this Indian will meet you at a point near
+the Puebla de los Angeles, which my friend knows and he will have all
+the information there is obtainable as to the location of this ship and
+its crew," thus spoke the Senor Valdez. Jim thanked him with deep fervor
+for his unusual kindness, but the Spaniard made light of it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+A TALE OF YORE
+
+
+As they sat there in the dusk of the verandah, Jim would have liked to
+ask his host to relate some of his experiences in southern California
+for he felt sure that the Senor Valdez had known something of adventure
+not only because those early days were full of marvels of interest, but
+there was something in the bearing of the old Spaniard that spoke of
+former days of romance and of stirring incidents.
+
+Then, too, there was something in the after-dinner content and quiet,
+following the perilous adventure which they had been through that
+predisposed the boys to listen to a good story of adventure. Their
+friend, the Senor Sebastian, seemed to divine what was passing through
+Jim's mind, for he suddenly spoke, breaking the meditative spell that
+had fallen upon the group on the piazza.
+
+"It just occurred to me, Senor Valdez, that our friends here might like
+to hear something of the early days in this part of the country, for you
+of all men know it thoroughly and I am sure it would interest them."
+
+"Indeed, it would, Senor," cried Jim enthusiastically, "it was in my
+mind to ask Senor Valdez to tell us of the early days but I was afraid
+to impose upon him."
+
+"I feel greatly honored to think that you young men would care to hear
+anything my poor tongue could relate. It would hardly be worth your
+distinguished attention." Jim made due allowance for the courteous
+exaggeration characteristic of the Spaniard.
+
+"Try us, Senor," he said briefly, "we would want nothing better."
+
+"I will have the coffee brought first," replied the Senor, "that may
+serve to stimulate my dull imagination."
+
+In a short time a softly moving servant brought out a tray of coffee
+cups, and placed one before each guest on a small wicker table. Jim
+noticed these cups with immediate interest. They were certainly
+beautiful and he had never seen anything like them before. They were of
+a wonderful blue, each one, and had a coat of arms in gold with raised
+figures on it; a scroll above with a Latin motto, and beneath the
+representation of a wild animal couchant. The Senor Valdez was quick to
+see Jim's interest and respond to it. "That is the coat of arms of my
+family," he explained.
+
+"I am not a scholar, Senor," said Jim, "and all I can make of the motto
+is that it has something to do with a lion."
+
+"You are quite right," the ghost of a smile hovered around the
+white-fringed lips of the Spaniard, at Jim's innate boyishness.
+
+"That figure does not look exactly like a lion," remarked Jo frankly.
+
+"Not like an African lion certainly," replied the Spaniard, "but a lion
+nevertheless, such as one finds yet in the mountain fastnesses of Spain,
+something like a panther only larger and much more fierce."
+
+"The lion seems to have a rope or chain around his neck," commented Jim,
+"and fastened to a collar."
+
+"Quite so," responded the Spaniard, "likewise the motto translated
+reads, 'Gentle as a Lion.'"
+
+"Rather strange way of putting it," said Jim curiously.
+
+"I will explain, for you would naturally be puzzled by the phrase,
+'Gentle as a Lion,' as it seems to contradict common knowledge," said
+Senor Valdez. "You see my family has the distinction, if such it can be
+called, in these modern days, the distinction of being old. This
+coat-of-arms dates back to the eleventh century."
+
+Jo was about to give a prolonged whistle of surprise when Jim gripped
+his knee to enforce silence, for though Jo might mean all right, the
+Spaniard might not understand.
+
+"The founder of the family who flourished at that time was a rather
+rugged character, and I am afraid would regard the family
+representatives of this day as very puny and unworthy specimens. This
+Rodriquez de Valdez had his castle in a rugged mountainous part of
+Spain, where there were plenty of wild animals and of wilder and fiercer
+men, bandits and free-booters without number.
+
+"His castle was a very powerful one, not only in construction but
+likewise in location, as it was built on a shelf of rock above a deep
+chasm, with precipitous cliffs behind it. However, Rodriquez de Valdez
+spent but very little time behind the protection of its powerful walls.
+It would take the forces of some strong Duke from the lowland to cause
+him to seek the shelter of his castle and to raise his war banner of
+crimson with a blue cross upon it, above the turret.
+
+"He spent his days hunting among the mountains for wild beasts or for
+marauding bands of lawless men. Rodriquez was a man of wonderful
+strength, even for those days, when there were giants in the land. In
+stature six feet five and powerful in proportion and likewise very fleet
+of foot. If I should tell you of some of the legends of his strength and
+swiftness, you would probably laugh.
+
+"But the one that has to do with the coat-of-arms of my family I will
+tell you. It chanced one day that he was out in the wilds of the
+mountains and quite alone. Intent upon the trail of a deer that he was
+following along a shelving mountain side, he did not see a lion half
+grown, but nevertheless very dangerous, which was crouching on the
+branch of a tree ready to spring upon him when he got beneath it.
+
+"When he had passed by under the tree a pace or two, the lion sprang
+with distended claws. Some instinct of danger made Rodriquez turn and he
+was just in time to grapple with the brute, clutching it by the throat.
+The lion had some advantage in weight but not a great deal, for my brave
+ancestor was probably three hundred pounds of sinew, bone and muscle. So
+that the struggle was not such an unequal one, but it was terrific while
+it did last. Finally, though torn and bleeding, the man subdued the
+beast, and had it in abject fear of him.
+
+"Then instead of killing the lion as one would naturally expect,
+Rodriquez took a strange humorous notion into his head. He would make a
+pet of this same lion and it should be his dog to follow obediently at
+its master's heels wherever he went. This idea he carried out and he
+even had a heavy brass collar placed upon its neck, and it followed him
+on all his trips, slouching with padded tread at his heel, or behind his
+war horse as he rode abroad, like a powerful yellow dog.
+
+"I do not imagine that the beast ever had any great amount of affection
+for his master, but he no doubt was in great fear of him, which seemed
+to answer the purpose quite as well. So, my friends, you have a full and
+complete explanation of the coat-of-arms of my family. My only fear is
+that I have wearied you with what could not have the same interest for
+you as it does for me."
+
+"Indeed, you have not wearied us, Senor," exclaimed Jo enthusiastically.
+
+"That is one of the most interesting accounts that I have ever listened
+to," said Jim. "I only wish I could have lived in those days when there
+was plenty of adventure."
+
+"I do not think that you have any reason to complain," remarked the
+Spaniard laughingly. "Perhaps your descendants in future years will be
+pointing out your daring deeds as emblazoned on their coat-of-arms."
+
+"No danger of that, I guess," laughed Jim, "though they might have a
+picture of Jo and me tied to a mule. That was the way old Captain Broom
+treated us." The Spaniard joined in the merriment at this unheroic
+representation of Jo and Jim.
+
+"Now, Senor Valdez, you have told us a tale of old Spain, tell us
+something of new Spain here in California," urged Jo.
+
+"It seems to me that it is now someone else's turn," said the Senor. "I
+would not do all the talking. A host should sometimes listen. Perhaps
+Senor Darlington will tell us of some of his experiences. They will be
+much more stirring than any musty tales of mine." But Jim shook his head
+firmly, not to say obstinately.
+
+"I would not think of telling our adventures," he replied. "Perhaps
+after we have travelled more, we will have something worth while
+relating."
+
+"That's right," said Jo, "we would much rather listen to you, Senor."
+
+The Senor Valdez sipped slowly at his coffee, looking out into the
+semi-darkness beyond the verandah, where over the plain below stretched
+the gray blanket of the fog-clouds. Then he rolled another cigarette,
+lit it and took a few meditative puffs. The Senor now began his next
+story at a peculiar angle, and did not commence with the stereotyped
+form of "once upon a time," so dear to the days of one's childhood.
+
+"I see you do not take cream in your coffee," he said addressing Jim.
+
+"No, but I like some sugar, not too much."
+
+"It has seemed to me," said the Spaniard, "that the seasoning of coffee
+is in a way an indication of character."
+
+"Where the party uses milk in his coffee that indicates weakness, does
+it not, Senor?" inquired Jim with a sly look at Jo, but the subtle
+Spaniard was not to be trapped.
+
+"Not necessarily," he replied, "only mildness."
+
+"And when it is taken straight and black that means a strong character,"
+remarked Jo.
+
+"You have stated it," replied the Spaniard.
+
+"But I would like to know how I would be sized up?" questioned Jim, "you
+see I use a little sugar."
+
+"My friend," said the Spaniard with playful earnestness, putting his
+hand lightly on Jim's knee, "that shows a character of great strength,
+tempered with mercy and human kindness. All of which leads one to speak
+of a man who was once famous in this part of the country, but not
+popular. He always had the reputation for taking a strong liquor in his
+coffee, Fernet, if I remember right. His name was Alverado, but I judge
+that you are not acquainted with it."
+
+"No," replied Jim, "but I should say that he was a very fierce
+character."
+
+"He was. He was a bandit."
+
+"I thought so," agreed Jim.
+
+"This Don Alverado came from a well known Spanish family, of ancient
+lineage, but impoverished fortune. He was such a wild and unruly blade
+that his family were decidedly relieved when he left Spain and came to
+the new world to mend his fortune, if not his ways. He landed first in
+Mexico, and after a series of more or less remarkable adventures, he
+came to this part of California. I knew him, or rather I knew of his
+family in Spain, and for their sake I made him welcome here at my home.
+
+"He was really a charming fellow in manner and appearance, tall, slight,
+with dark eyes and hair, a typical cavalier. But the graces of his
+manner did not reach down to his heart, and after a disagreeable episode
+which I need not revive here, he left my rancho never to return except
+as an enemy. I heard nothing further of him after his departure for
+some six months. My next introduction to him was an unpleasant one.
+
+"It consisted in the loss of a band of horses and a herd of cattle which
+were driven off by a gang of raiders, thirteen in number, at the head of
+which was this fellow Alverado. His depredations went on for years among
+the ranchmen in this part of California. So resourceful and crafty was
+this desperado that he evaded trap after trap laid for his capture.
+
+"He had several very close calls and there were numerous battles between
+the outlaws and the ranch owners, but though some of his men were shot,
+he seemed to bear a charmed life. I remember one running fight over the
+plain yonder, when, believing me to be absent from home, as I had been,
+but returned unexpectedly from the north, this Alverado and his gang
+made a bold dash to capture some horses from a field directly below the
+house.
+
+"It did not take long to get my men together and I gave the bandits a
+surprise indeed. Nothing but the speed of Alverado's horse, a splendid
+black stallion, saved him from capture. We got several of his men
+however. At last there came the turning of the lane. Through the
+treachery of one of the band we found that their rendezvous was at the
+head of a small canyon in a range of foot-hills several miles south of
+here.
+
+"You will go through it tomorrow on your way south, if you carry out
+your speed schedule, which with your remarkable horses you ought to be
+able to. We came upon the gang about noon, where they were resting after
+a long chase. In a corral near by were a number of stolen stock. They
+were not expecting trouble of any kind. Some were playing cards, a few
+cooking, most, however, were enjoying the siesta, their leader among the
+number lay under the shadow of a tree, his head resting on a saddle,
+sound asleep.
+
+"There were fifty of us, and we had them surrounded, so that there was
+no chance of escape. Alverado himself made a desperate dash, but the
+cordon was too strong. The rest surrendered. That afternoon we took the
+bunch to the lower end of the canyon, where there was a giant sycamore
+tree. There we hanged the whole thirteen, and by them no more were
+troubled not even by their ghosts."
+
+Jim and Jo expressed their appreciation of their host's kindness in
+entertaining them as he truly had done in relating his tales. Then they
+said good night and went to their room.
+
+That night the boys slept in a comfortable bed in a quaint old bedroom
+with roses nodding in at the half open casement windows. By the light of
+the candles they could see the strange old and carved furniture and
+tired as they were how they did sleep.
+
+The next morning they started hours before daylight. "I will be prepared
+to welcome more of you in a few days," said the Senor Valdez, and the
+boys thanked him heartily. Promising to return soon they galloped away
+through the darkness.
+
+All day they rode, hardly drawing rein at all. At first through the
+foot-hills and then over the wide plains. Jo had a fresh horse, a
+powerful black, as his other mount could not stand the strain of the
+long trip that meant three score and ten of miles before evening.
+
+Early in the afternoon they left the plain and rode into the deep and
+rugged gorges of a mountain chain, running East and West. Thence into a
+broad valley leading South-easterly, and about four P. M. they turned
+directly South entering a Pass in the Southern side of the valley, from
+which they emerged on a plain. Where the trail left the Pass stood a
+large sycamore tree, when they reached it, the Indian messenger rose
+from its shelter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+A WONDERFUL LEAP
+
+
+Now without hesitation we must take up the fortunes or rather
+misfortunes of Tom and Juarez as they landed in the darkness upon the
+mysterious island, for our narrative presses to its conclusion. Never
+did they feel more hopeless than on this occasion, when they were going
+to a dubious and uncertain fate.
+
+"You boys come with me," called the Captain gruffly.
+
+"How about me, Cap'n?" asked Jeems Howell, the lanky shepherd.
+
+"What's your business?" inquired Captain Broom briefly.
+
+"Looking after the sheeps."
+
+"Then attend to it," said the Captain grimly.
+
+"Certainly, Cap'n," replied the shepherd, who was incapable of taking
+offense.
+
+"You come, Jake," called the Captain, to one of the sailors, "and be
+quick about it, we haven't much time." Tom shivered, for in the gloom
+and tired as he was he felt that his time too was short.
+
+Then with the Captain in the lead, carrying a lantern, which was muffled
+in his great coat, they started, the sailor bringing up the rear.
+
+"Look out sharp, that these lads don't spring something on you, Jake.
+They are a bad lot."
+
+"Aye, aye, sir," replied the sailor, "they'll have to be quick to get
+the jump on me, sir."
+
+"It's the Injun one's the worst. Don't let him scalp you," warned the
+Captain jocosely.
+
+"I'm no Indian," said Juarez, hoarsely and utterly reckless of his fate,
+"I'm an American, and was proud of it, till I found you were one, you
+cursed yankee barnacle."
+
+"Ho, ho, lad!" roared the Captain, "you won't talk so tall in a few
+minutes. Nothing like a slow fire for stewing the nonsense out of a
+fresh kid."
+
+"How far is this cave of yours, you are taking us to, old salt horse?"
+said Juarez insolently, and utterly unwise.
+
+This was too much for Captain Broom, and with an imprecation he turned
+to strike Juarez. This was what Juarez was looking for and as the
+furious Skipper whirled facing him, Juarez dodged his huge fist, and
+sent a fierce hook to the Captain's jaw. There was anger, desperation
+and strength behind that blow and the Captain fell, striking his head on
+a rock. That time the Frontier Boys scored.
+
+"Follow me, Tom," yelled Juarez, and he sprang away through the
+darkness. It seemed like a hopeless undertaking to make an escape with
+the sea on one side and the cliffs on the other, and a desperate enemy
+near at hand. But Juarez thought it was best to take a chance. Anything
+was better than captivity, that was seemingly just ahead of them.
+
+One thing he was determined on and that was, that he would not be taken
+alive. He ran splashing through the water, leaping rocks, with the two
+sailors in fast pursuit. Not far ahead to the right was the white dash
+of the breakers that shut off escape in that direction, to the left was
+the cliffs.
+
+Then before him rose a steep but not precipitous rock that had been
+divided from the main cliff by the action of the water. Instantly Juarez
+abandoned his desperate plan of plunging into the sea, and without
+lessening his speed, he sprang up the rock, in his moccasined feet.
+
+The sailor who was following most closely, got up ten feet when he
+slipped and rolled violently to the bottom, knocking down the one who
+came after. Once Juarez came near falling but he caught himself, and
+kept going up, driven by a desperation that seemed to carry him over
+every obstacle.
+
+"We've got yer, ye little shrimp," exultantly cried the sailors at the
+base of the rock, "Ye can't get away unless you fly."
+
+"Shoot the blasted little varmint," roared the Captain, who, still
+dizzy, had struggled to his feet. In obedience to the order a flash
+punctured the darkness and there was a roar like artillery echoing among
+the hollow cliffs. A slug of lead whistled past Juarez's head.
+
+The boy had now reached the top of the rock and was at the crisis of his
+fate, a distance of ten feet separated him from the main cliff, not an
+impossible jump but the foothold was precarious and uncertain, and fifty
+feet or more below were the jagged rocks, and enemies equally as hard,
+but Juarez did not hesitate.
+
+He dodged down just as the sailors fired another shot, then he sprang to
+the narrow pinnacle of the rock and bending slightly forward with bent
+knees and swinging hand, poised for the leap.
+
+"The condemned fool is going to jump," roared the Captain. "Shoot him on
+the wing."
+
+But the sailors were not ready and the skipper ran between the rock and
+the cliff to be at hand to stamp the life out of Juarez when he should
+fall as he knew he would. Then he leaped, a dark object flying through
+space, his hands caught the edge of the cliff, the roots of a small bush
+held him for a moment, then he slipped. Below him was certain death.
+
+Two strong hands caught his arms, and he was drawn in safety to the
+cliff above. The Captain and the two sailors watched in open mouthed
+wonder, all they could see was the dim figure of Juarez crawl in safety
+over the top of the cliff, but they could not determine the means of his
+escape.
+
+It struck a superstitious chord in their natures and the skipper became
+moody and silent.
+
+Juarez breathlessly followed the lanky figure of the shepherd through
+the darkness, for it was no other who had extended the rescuing hand.
+Hardly a word was spoken, and they started off. After going a
+considerable distance they came to a slab hut built at the foot of a
+high range of hills that formed the backbone of the island.
+
+Two shepherd dogs rushed forth and gave their master a boisterous
+welcome, and were soon good friends with Juarez. Everything in the hut
+was neat; with Indian rugs on the floor which gave a warm touch of
+color to the interior and one side of the hut was lined with books.
+
+"What am I thinking of," suddenly cried Juarez in dismay, "to leave Tom
+in the hands of that crew? My head is wrong." With that, he grew pale
+and slid unconscious to the floor. He had evidently not recovered from
+the blow that the Mexican had dealt him a few days before, and the
+strain he had been under brought on a relapse. The shepherd worked over
+him a long time before he finally brought him around.
+
+Meanwhile what had become of Tom? He had not been quick enough to make
+his escape, and his fate was in the balance when the Skipper came up to
+him just after Juarez had disappeared over the cliff.
+
+"You don't get away, I promise you that, lad," growled the Captain.
+Roughly seizing the boy by the shoulder he dragged him toward the cliff.
+Then the two disappeared into the entrance of a cave, the Captain still
+holding in one hand his battered leather satchel.
+
+The sailor who stood on guard at the entrance, saw just then the lights
+of a steamer that was just entering the channel and he rushed into the
+cave, called to the Captain, and in a few minutes that worthy appeared.
+If he felt any alarm he showed none, but without any loss of time he
+assembled his crew, got his boat free of land and rowed silently out to
+sea. Whatever he had intended to do with Tom, evidently passed from his
+mind, now awakened to the solution of some other problem.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+IN THE STRAIT
+
+
+As Juarez and Tom were under the kindly escort of Captain Broom and his
+sailors in the whale boat on their cruise to the mysterious island, Jo,
+Jim and the Spaniard had stopped at an old sycamore tree, where, as had
+been promised, the Indian messenger was awaiting their coming.
+
+"What news, Yaquis?" asked the Spaniard, who knew the Indian well.
+
+"I saw the boat by my own eyes," he replied, "heading for the Big
+Island," pointing to the South. "By her smoke she stopped in the Bow
+Harbor near the lower end." So spoke the Indian, standing straight and
+tall. He was a picturesque sight with his coarse, black hair cut square
+and long.
+
+"The trail is getting warm," exclaimed Jim eagerly. "Where can we get a
+boat?"
+
+"There is a small boat at the Harbor of San Pedro," replied the
+Spaniard, "that is the property of a friend of mine. I doubt not we can
+have the use of it."
+
+"It is now a little after six," said Jim. "How far is it to the Harbor?"
+
+"A dozen miles," replied the Indian.
+
+"Is your horse too tired, Senor Sebastian, to make it by eight?" The
+Spaniard's eyes flashed.
+
+"Senor, Don Fernando is never tired. Let us start."
+
+"We are ready," replied Jim. "Which is the shortest cut?"
+
+"I will guide you," was the Indian's response.
+
+"He knows this country like the foot does the shoe," assured the
+Spaniard.
+
+Without more ado, the new guide took the lead and they rode at a rapid
+gait in single file. At first they went down a gentle grade for several
+miles until they came to a perfectly level plain that stretched in three
+directions to the sea. At the end of the land was a perfectly rounded
+rise like a huge long bolster.
+
+The party of rescuers left the Puebla de los Angeles several miles to
+the East, taking the shortest way to the harbor. There was no let-up to
+the speed, if anything, they seemed to be going faster, with sweaty
+sides and shoulders, but with unaffected stamina. The going was fine,
+over a springy turf and sometimes they tore through wide belts of tall
+mustard.
+
+Jo and Jim were in fine fettle as the end of the journey came in sight
+and there was promise of their coming to close quarters with the pirates
+and possibly rescuing their oppressed brothers from captivity. Then,
+too, the passage of the strait in an open boat appealed to their sense
+of adventure.
+
+About eight o'clock, they came to a ranch two miles from the harbor,
+where Senor Sebastian had a short talk with a man who owned the small
+boat that had been referred to. He was perfectly willing to lend them
+the boat and also sent a Mexican servant to bring back their horses and
+put them up in his stables. Not forgetting to thank him for his great
+kindness to them, the boys turned their horses' heads for the harbor,
+the last lap of their long journey had begun.
+
+In a half hour, they stood on the shore of a long, narrow inlet, at a
+point where a craft was moored. From a small boat-house, they got the
+oars, the mast and the sail to be used if the wind was right. Then they
+were ready to get aboard. Jim looked at his watch. "It lacks ten minutes
+of nine," he said.
+
+Then they embarked. The boat was not a mere row-boat, but was found to
+be of good size and about equal to a whale boat. It was staunch, too,
+and sea worthy. The mooring was cast off. Jim was at the bow oar, and Jo
+at the one back of him on the other side, while the Indian, Yaquis,
+steered. The tide favored them as they glided quickly between the banks,
+and they were not long in reaching the channel.
+
+At first, there was a slow, heavy swell, while in the lee of the land,
+that did not bother the boys but within a half hour they were in a
+choppy sea with breaking crests, and now the real work for Jo and Jim
+began. Fortunately, the Indian was a most skillful oar, and he kept them
+from being swamped. As yet there was no breeze to help them.
+
+"This is almost as good as running the Rapids in the Grand Canyon,"
+cried Jim joyously.
+
+The boys were in fine fettle for their work, notwithstanding their long
+day in the saddle, and they buckled to it with a will, although wet
+through with flying spray. They had enjoyed a good rest the night before
+and after their long ride they were glad to get the kinks out of their
+muscles. They really made remarkably good headway against the sea and
+the stoical Indian grunted approval of their work. Ah, but it was fine,
+battling with the waves through the darkness, while the boat thrashed
+and beat its way ahead.
+
+The boys stood to their oars and put all the strength of their lithe
+young bodies into the stroke and they seemed tireless. The Spaniard had
+made himself comfortable in the bow, where, sheltered by a short
+overhead deck, he was soon fast asleep.
+
+"Wake me when it is time to be drowned," he said. "I know it is my
+fate." Jim remembered the Spaniard's melancholy of the day before, and
+laughed heartily, as he promised.
+
+"There are the lights of a vessel," cried Yaquis, who, though silent,
+was ever on the watch. "Ahead of us to the Southwest."
+
+"You are right," said Jim. The lights were like two faint, moving stars,
+one aloft and the other below.
+
+"That isn't the Pirate ship," declared Jo. "She wouldn't be showing any
+light." After a while, the lights of the vessel were suddenly eclipsed,
+but by the dull light of the moon, now risen, the vessel's bulk could
+still be made out.
+
+"She has gone into the further straits," said Yaquis, "between the two
+islands."
+
+A gentle breeze sprang up, but blowing directly toward them, it lent no
+aid. Before midnight, the westerly breeze had died absolutely down, and
+in a not very long time, the sea followed suit, leaving a long swell and
+the rowing became much easier. Nothing occurred to break the monotony
+for a while. There was the steady grinding of the oars in the row-locks
+and the lapping of the waves in the gloom, for the moon was now obscured
+by clouds. Then, of a sudden, the Indian called a halt.
+
+"Do you hear footsteps?" inquired Jim, jocosely.
+
+"A steamer coming, I hear her, no lights. Pull hard." In a minute, even
+the boys could hear the beat of her engines and saw the occasional flare
+from her stacks, then a dark form took shape through the night. They
+pulled lustily for they knew their danger and who it was. How quickly
+they would be run down, if discovered, and left to drown in the wide
+strait, when Captain Broom found out their identity. No wonder they
+pulled.
+
+"Stop now, draw in your oars. Lie down," warned the Indian.
+
+Not a hundred yards to the Eastward came The Sea Eagle and she was on an
+even line with the boat that lay a black patch on the dark water. If
+Captain Broom was not on the Bridge they would be safe.
+
+"Boat ahoy," boomed out his voice.
+
+"Indian fishermen," cried Yaquis. "Stop, take me ashore."
+
+With a growl, the Captain sent his ship ahead, paying no attention to
+the "Indian fisherman" in distress. There was a gleam of white teeth as
+the Indian smiled at the hearty congratulations of the boys and their
+glee at his stratagem. Then the Spaniard and Yaquis took the oars while
+Jim steered and Jo slept.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+When morning came, they were but a few miles from the Northern end of
+the longer Island and the fog was over the whole sky. The sea was glassy
+with a sullen glaze. Nowhere was there sign of any steamer or ship. The
+Sea Eagle had made good her escape.
+
+"I wish we had a stiff breeze to help us along," said the Spaniard, who
+loved not manual labor, as did the boys.
+
+"It will come, the strong breeze, soon," said the Indian.
+
+"When we make the Island, what are we to do?" asked Jo.
+
+"Who can tell, maybe Tom and Juarez have been taken along with the
+Skipper, instead of being marooned."
+
+"That's so," replied Jo, and gloom settled down upon his spirits,
+heavier than the fog upon the sea.
+
+"We will keep after them," said the never despondent Jim, "even if we
+have to chase them around the world."
+
+The boat seemed to crawl so slowly along, and the boys began to fret in
+their eagerness to find out whether their comrades were on the island or
+not, but they were not yet close enough to make out any object upon its
+surface. Then from the West there came a breeze rippling the glassy
+water.
+
+"Up with the sail," cried Jim. "Here's where we fly."
+
+As the breeze strengthened to a wind, they went towards the island at a
+clipping gait. When they got within a half mile of the shore, they began
+to look eagerly for some sign of a living being and they were
+disappointed at first, but they drove their boat along as near the shore
+as they dared.
+
+"Say, did you hear that?" cried Jim in excitement. "That was a rifle
+shot, or my name is Dennis."
+
+"Three men on the shore," said the Indian, imperturbably.
+
+"I see them," cried Jo, "on that beach yonder. I believe it is Tom and
+Juarez. Hurrah for the Frontier Boys."
+
+"It is they," declared Jim as they drew closer, "but how Tom has grown.
+He looks over six feet."
+
+"That isn't Tom," said Jo. "It's some one else. The short one is Tom."
+Then he saw Jim grin and realized that he had been kidded.
+
+"If this wasn't my busy day," said Jo, "I'd give you a punching for
+being so smart."
+
+Five minutes later, the boat had grounded on the pebbly beach and The
+Frontier Boys were again united. There was a great jubilee for a while
+with the Spaniard, the Indian, and the lanky shepherd on the outskirts
+of the family celebration, but in a short time they were all good
+friends, each according to his different nature; the Spaniard, suave and
+courteous, the Indian stolid, but with his share in the general
+good-will, and Jeems Howell, the shepherd, lankily humorous.
+
+"We met our old friend Captain Broom in the channel, boys," said Jim,
+"steaming along like the Devil was after him."
+
+"I'll give him reason to think so," growled Juarez sullenly, "if I ever
+get on his trail."
+
+The Indian, Yaquis, grunted approval, for there seemed to be a bond of
+sympathy between him and Juarez, as the reader can well understand.
+
+"How far is that cave, Tom, where the old codger left you?" inquired
+Jo.
+
+"Just around the bend," said Tom. "Here's the rock where Juarez made his
+famous jump."
+
+"How did you ever get up there?" asked Jo in wonder, looking up at the
+pinnacle of rock.
+
+"You'd a done the same if those fellows had been chasing you," replied
+Juarez, "but if it hadn't been for Jeems here catching me when I jumped
+they would have got me after all."
+
+"I was afeard you might have fallen on the Skipper and a hurt him. He's
+a kind of a tender plant you know." The Shepherd made this remark with a
+perfectly sober face, in no wise disturbed by the hilarity of the boys,
+over the idea of the tenderness of the Skipper.
+
+"Here's the cave," said Juarez, and he led the way through an arched
+opening in the wall of the cliff. Picking up a lantern, he went ahead as
+guide.
+
+"This is certainly a dry cave," said Jim.
+
+"It ought to be," said Jeems Howell. "It don't rain on this Island more
+than twice a year, but I feel it in my bones that it is coming on to
+storm today."
+
+"I hope you don't feel it in _all_ your bones," remarked Jim,
+quizzically, "because it is liable to be a long drawn out storm if you
+do."
+
+The lanky Shepherd gave himself over to spasms of silent mirth at Jim's
+queer humor.
+
+"Here's where we found Tom," said Juarez. "Just discovered him a couple
+of hours before you discovered us."
+
+When the Captain had made his sudden change of plans, Tom made himself
+as comfortable as he could for the night, intending to search for Juarez
+in the morning.
+
+"Sometime I hope that this wretched Captain will be captured and
+imprisoned right here," said the Spaniard with a cold, vindictiveness.
+
+"If he comes snooping around here again, that is what will happen to
+him," remarked Jim quietly. "I suppose, Tom, that he hid some of the
+loot he took from us in this cave somewhere. I bet this is his safe
+deposit vault, all right."
+
+"He went back in there with his small satchel," said Tom, indicating the
+depths of the cave as yet unexplored.
+
+"It will keep," said Jim, "but before I leave this island for Hawaii, I
+am going to search every corner of this cave and see if I cannot find
+our property."
+
+"We discovered it in a cave and perhaps we will lose our treasure in a
+cave," said Juarez, who was something of a fatalist.
+
+"Don't you believe that we won't find it," declared Jim stoutly, "but no
+work for me for a while. I'm going to take a good rest."
+
+"So say we all of us," chanted the boys.
+
+"Gentlemen," said Jeems Howell oracularly, "If it pleases you, and
+Christopher Columbus," with a wave of his hand toward Jim, "who
+discovered this savage group, we will now adjourn to my castle on the
+distant hillside."
+
+"We are with you," declared those assembled in unison, and in a short
+time they were making their way up the slope towards the "castle" on the
+hillside, where they made themselves at home.
+
+All the new arrivals at the island were soon fast asleep.
+
+Later after several hours of rest, they occupied themselves according to
+their different ideas of comfort.
+
+The Spaniard amused himself thrumming on a guitar, that belonged to one
+of the Mexican herders on the island. Tom got a book, and stretched out
+on a rug forgetful of all his recent troubles, while Jim and Juarez
+borrowed a couple of guns and went for an hour's hunting, in the woods
+which at that time covered the mountain ridges of the island.
+
+That evening they were all gathered in the cabin before the blazing fire
+on the stone hearth, while outside raged the Easterly storm that Jeems
+Howell had predicted, with rush of wind and sweep of rain. But the slab
+cabin was storm proof and comfortable. It is a good place to leave the
+boys after their days of trial and bitter hardship. In our next book we
+will meet "The Frontier Boys in Hawaii, or The mystery of The Hollow
+Mountain." There, I feel confident they will cope with adventures as
+unusual and as remarkable as they have heretofore encountered. I am sure
+that the Reader will be anxious to accompany them on their journey. But
+we must permit the Frontier Boys to have the last word, in this volume.
+
+"Do you think that Captain Broom, will return here, before we get away
+for Hawaii, Jim?" inquired brother Jo.
+
+"I certainly do," replied Jim, "and we will be right here, to give him a
+warm and hearty Welcome, you can rest assured of that."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
+
+Page 9, "hearn" changed to "heard" (I heard the mate)
+
+Page 136, "wierdly" changed to "weirdly" (almost weirdly beautiful)
+
+Page 148, "ever" changed to "over" (hanging over the)
+
+Page 158, "besiide" changed to "beside" (got ready beside)
+
+Page 170, text was both missing and repeated in the original. The
+original read:
+
+          on even terms until in the last hundred yards Cal-
+          iente forged ahead by half a length.
+
+          "Hold on boys," yelled Jo in warning. +"Don't
+          on even terms until in the last hundred yards Cal-
+          horses up.+ There was Jo sitting quietly on his horse.
+
+The words between the ++ were removed to try to improve readability.
+
+Page 172, "supose" changed to "suppose" (I suppose you do)
+
+Page 213, "aint" changed to "ain't" (I ain't got)
+
+Page 231, "scycamore" changed to "sycamore" (sycamore tree, when)
+
+Page 232, "hestitation" changed to "hestitation" (without hesitation we)
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Frontier Boys on the Coast, by Capt. Wyn Roosevelt
+
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