when we get on that mountain,
Ned, we may be able to settle with these fellows on something like fair
terms."

"Let's spurt a little," said Ned.

They put on extra steam, but the Mexicans seemed to have done the same,
as presently, appearing a little nearer, they began to shout or fire.
Ned heard the bullets pattering on the bushes behind him.

"A hint to the wise is a stitch in time," said Obed White. "Those
fellows are getting too noisy. I object to raucous voices making loud
outcries, nor does the sound of bullets dropping near please me. I shall
give them a hint."

Wheeling about he fired at the nearest Mexican. His rifle was a long
range weapon and the man fell with a cry. The others hesitated and the
fugitives increased their speed. Now they were at the base of the
mountain. Now they were up the slope which was densely clothed with
trees and bushes.

Then they came to a great hollow in the stone side of the ridge, an
indentation eight or ten feet deep and as many across, while above them
the stone arched over their heads at a height of seventy or eighty feet.

"We'll just stay here," said Obed White. "You can run and you can run,
but the time comes when you can run no more. They can't get at us from
overhead, and they can't get at us from the sides. As for the front, I
think that you and I, Ned, can hold it against as many Mexicans as may
come."

"At least we'll make a mighty big try," said Ned, whose courage rose
high at the sight of their natural fort. They had their backs to the
wall, but this wall was of solid stone, and it also curved around on
either side of them. Moreover, he had a chance to regain his breath
which was once more coming in hot and painful gasps from his chest.

"Let's lie down, Ned," said Obed, "and pull up that log in front of
this."

Near them lay the stem of an oak that had fallen years before. All the
boughs had decayed and were gone, so it was not a very difficult task to
drag the log in front of them, forming a kind of bar across the alcove.
As it was fully a foot in diameter it formed an excellent fortification
behind which they lay with their rifles ready. It was indeed a miniature
fort, the best that a wilderness could furnish at a moment's notice, and
the fighting spirit of the two rose fast. If the enemy came on they were
ready to give him a welcome.

But the two heard nothing in the dense forest in front of them. The
pursuers evidently were aware of the place, in wh