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The Clark brothers and their cousin, a man by the name of Mason, ere the sole inhabitants of the ranch counseled a long rest--two hours at least, for the border was still ten ht be their soleon at once before the reinforcements, for which he was sure Rozales had dispatched his er, could overtake theued, too, that upon jaded ponies they could not hope to escape and so they waited, until, just as they were ready to continue their flight, flight became impossible

Darkness had fallen when the little party commenced to resaddle their ponies and in theinterruption Billy had kept either the Chinae constantly upon watch toward the direction in which Rozales' e's carbine which awoke the Ah the border lay but a few miles away they were still far froe turned in his saddle and shouted to the others to make for the shelter of the ranchhouse

"There are two hundred of them," he cried "Run for cover!"

Billy and the Clark brothers leaped to their saddles and spurred toward the point where Bridge sat pu hurried Barbara to the questionable safety of the ranchhouse The Mexican followed the the doors and hile he and Billy and the Clark boys held the bandits inconstantly as they came the four approached the house while Pesita and his full band advanced cautiously after theed forward fro their ponies inside the house Billy alone noted the wounding of his friend Without an instant's hesitation he slipped froe lay and lifted hi thick about thealloped forith drawn saber to cut down the gringos

Billy, casting an occasional glance behind, saw the danger in tih the air toward his head Dropping Bridge and dodging to one side he ed to escape the cut, and before the swordsman could recover Billy had leaped to his pony's side and seizing the rider about the waist dragged hiround