Page:Allan Dunn--Dead Man's Gold.djvu/254

240 "Time to put hup the shutters," said Larkin. "W'ot habout the gold, Stone? We forgot to fetch it hup." There had been other things besides gold to think about.

"Leave it," said Stone. "If that door works. We want to get after those skunks out there. They've got the best of the machine."

"Leave me here while you do the chasin'," suggested Harvey. "Thet door may not work from the outside after thet crack you give it. Better take some gold along with us. It might come in handy. I'll get it up. You get down the ladders."

The first machine had struck a patch of soft sand and the fleeing Mexicans gained. One man was far in the lead, better mounted than the others. The car plowed out of its trouble and with a burst of speed began to overhaul the fugitives. One of them fell, the rest faltered and then halted, holding up their arms in token of surrender, all save the man on the fast horse, who disappeared in the ravine.

"I bet that's 'Ealy," said Larkin, bitterly.

They found Doctor Seward in the second car. The sheriff of Yavalai County was in the first, he said, after he had congratulated them.

"I had trouble in getting a posse to cross the county line," said the doctor. "It's a toss-up whether you are in Gila or Coconino right here. But we can fix that. They are not so fussy over county trespass in Arizona and I fancy that some of the rascals the sheriff is rounding up will be acceptable to any of the nearest jailers. Did you make your strike?"