Almost
before they realised it, they had swung around the curve.]
"Consarn their yellow hides," grunted Pete, "that shows they kep'
closer tabs on us then we knew. I reckon they was scared to follow us
to Rosario, thinking, like we did, that the regulars was there. Waal,
that was a neat little surprise party, but it didn't work."
Round the curve they tore, at a hair-raising gait, but the engine stuck
to the metals. Ten minutes later a cheer went up, as the red-brick
station, which they knew must mark the Esmeralda switch, came in sight.
"I got the switch key from Whiting," cried Buck, as they reached the
switch, "I'll throw it."
He swung himself down from the cab, and ran rapidly ahead, down the
track, to the switch lever. As he bent over it, from a clump of bushes
near by, there leaped a score or more of men.
"Buck! Buck!" yelled Coyote Pete.
The big fellow looked up just in time. The foremost of his attackers
was upon him as he threw the switch over. Buck picked him up, and
fairly pitched the little Mexican over his head.
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