From the
outside the bandits no doubt used the same method that the Pony Rider
Boys had used to gain an entrance.
"Keep clear of the opening and don't shoot until we're all ready.
One volley will be enough, then back and trip the jack. All ready!"
The men began creeping out, Willie Jones in the lead.
"Now!" whispered Tad. "Follow me! Look out for squalls! Things
will happen rapidly when they begin."
The boys crept out, following the outlaws as closely as they dared.
Once outside the bandits quickly skulked off to one side or the other.
"Get down quick!" whispered Tad.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
Tad Butler fired three shots from his revolver, then threw himself
on the ground. Almost with the first shot he heard the voice of the
Ranger captain. McKay, ever on the alert, was not caught napping.
"Throw torches away! Down!" he roared.
A thundering volley crashed from the rifles of the outlaws, answered
by a rattling fire from the revolvers of the Rangers. Tad heard an
outlaw utter an exclamation of pain and knew that one at least of
the bad men had been raked by a bullet.
"Back!" came the command from the leader of the bandits. The word
was not spoken loud enough to be heard far away, but every man there
heard it, and back they rushed into the cave. A shower of dirt fell
over the two Pony Rider Boys, who were by this time crawling on all
fours to get away from the tree that they knew would come down with
a bump.
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