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206 "I know a better trick," I answered, and stepped over both men with my pistol. "Silence!" I commanded, and pointed the weapon at first one and then the other.

My meaning was clear even if my word of command was not, and with a shiver of terror the fellow who had been calling out relapsed into silence.

"Help me!" came faintly from Longley, and he sat up and stared about him. "Wha—what has occurred? I—I thought I was shot down!"

"You were," answered Dan.

"And those three villains?"

"Two are wounded and lie yonder and the third is dead."

"Thank heaven for that!" And then unable to hold himself up longer, the clerk sank back again.

Soon we heard the tramp of a dozen feet outside and there followed a loud knocking on the door. We became as quiet as death.

"Open the door!" came the order, in Spanish, but nobody moved, while Dan and I and even Matt Gory, wounded as he was, kept our pistols ready for use.

"Open the door!" came the order a second time. Then a brief discussion followed. "The shooting must have come from elsewhere," said