"Can't be helped. Needs must when a certain person drives," responded
the rancher's son. "Listen, they're coming closer."
The trampling of their pursuer's horses could, in fact, now be heard
quite distinctly in the gulch below. Suddenly all sound ceased.
"They've stopped to listen," whispered Jack. "I only hope they hear
our horses up ahead."
Apparently the searchers did hear, for, after a brief pause, on they
came again. As nearly as the boys could judge, there seemed to be
several of them. They made a formidable noise, as they came crashing
along below. Hardly daring to breathe, the boys crouched back into
their retreat. Their nerves were strung as taut as vibrating electric
wires, their hearts pounded till they shook their frames. The crucial
moment was at hand.
If the insurrectos passed the cave-mouth without glancing upward and
noticing it, the boys were out of the most imminent part of their
peril. If, on the other hand--but none of the party concealed in the
cave dared to think of that.
On came the trampling, and now it was quite near.
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