ee here, Ramon," he
went on, dropping his tone, "we ain't here to molest you. We come out
here with a scientific gent, to measure the mesa. We was going back
home ter-night, an' was takin' a last look around when you come along.
I'll give you my word--and you know it's good--that we don't want ter
meddle with your affairs so long as they don't affect us. Run all the
guns you want--for I know that's your little game--but we've got some
kids with us, and it's up to me to get 'em back home safe. Let us git
out of here peaceable, and no more will be said."

"Hum!" grunted the Mexican. "You forget that I owe you a little debt
for some things that happened across the border some time ago. Black
Ramon does not forget, nor does he forgive. I can guess who those boys
are you have with you, and here is my proposal: You leave that cub,
Jack Merrill, with me, and the rest of you can go, and----"

_Swish_!

Before Coyote Pete realized it, a raw-hide lariat circled through the
air from behind, and settled about his neck. The next instant he was
jerked from his feet, as Con Divver, who had crept unobserved around
the altar, drew the rope tight. Ramon had seen the other creeping up,
and had been talking against time till the crucial moment arrived.

Now, with a howl of triumph, he rushed at the cow-puncher, and was
about to aim a terrific kick at his prostrate body, when a lanky form
suddenly appeared over the edge of the altar, and fixing ten bony
fingers in Ramon's inky locks, tugged till the Mexican yelled with pain.

"Well may you cry aloud for mercy, sir!" exclaimed the professor, for
he it was who had suddenly come to the rescue, forgetting even the pain
of his ankle in the crisis. "Even in Homer you may find it written,
'Never kick a man when he's down.'"

"_Phew_!" whistled Hickey, his smile puckering up his whole face in an
evil grimace. "This is growing interesting."

"Sanctissima Santos! Take him off! Make him let go!" yelled Ramon,
dancing in agony. But the professor's long digits were entwined in his
locks, and the man of science showed no disposition to let go.

"Sa-ay, yo-ou animated hop-toad, I reckin you'd better let go uv ther
Mexican gent's draperies, er I'll be compelled ter drill yer, by
hemlock."

It was Rafter who drawled out the words, and, as he spoke, he held a
revolver leveled at the professor's head.

"Better drop the varmint, perfuss," directed Pete, from the ground,
"they've got u