knees.

"Fight done now!" muttered Red Ben, as he saw Merriwell lift his
blood-stained blade.

"You're at my mercy, Del Norte," said Merry. "I can kill you with a
single stroke. I'll spare you if you speak the truth. Where is Inza
Bur----"

Out of the shadows behind Merriwell darted a figure. A heavy club
crashed on Frank's head.

Thus treacherously struck down, the brave youth dropped his knife and
fell senseless to the ground.

CHAPTER X.

THE LANDSLIDE.

When Frank regained consciousness and opened his eyes he found he was
lying on the rocky floor of a cave, his arms being bound at his sides.
The place was lighted by two flaring torches thrust in crevices of the
rocks.

Near at hand were three men. One was Del Norte, pale from loss of blood,
yet with a murderous light gleaming in his eyes. Another man was Red
Ben, who stood with folded arms, silently watching. The third man was
unknown to Merry.

The Mexican uttered an exclamation of satisfaction as he saw Frank's
eyes unclose.

"At last he is conscious," said Del Norte. "I wished him to have his
reason when he died. Look you, dog of a gringo, your time has come. I
bear many wounds on my body and limbs made by the knife in your hand.
You have only one scratch on your knuckles. But soon you will have this
knife of mine in your heart!"

He displayed the weapon, stooping to sweep it flashing in the torchlight
before the eyes of the helpless youth.

Frank did not shrink in the least.

"Oh, you're defiant, I see, Senor Gringo!" snarled Merry's enemy. "Soon
I will make you groan with agony. Your sweet senorita is near in this
very cave, but you shall not see her. She is guarded by one of my
faithful ones. When I take her from here we'll leave your lifeless
carcass behind. Have you still a grain of hope in your soul? Cast it
away. Even though thousands of your friends were near they could not
find you in this place. You are doomed."

He took savage pleasure in taunting Frank thus. Again he swept the knife
before the eyes of the helpless youth, repeating his threats.

"Beg, gringo dog!" he exclaimed--"beg for your worthless life!"

"A thousand greasers could not make me do that!" declared the defiant
captive.

"Do you think so? We'll see! Remember that once I vowed to cut from your
mouth your stinging tongue? That was when we stood face to face in New
York. You thought my opportunity to keep that oath would never come, did
you? It has come at