H^I^ XV IkYT^l 12* V^ 
 
 FRONTIER 
 
 ON THE COAST 
 
 CAPT.WYN ROOSEVELT

 
 "THEY WERE NOW GOING UP THE FACE OF THE CLIFF." P. 204. 
 Frontier Boys on the Coast.
 
 FRONTIER BOYS 
 ON THE COAST 
 
 OR 
 
 IN THE PIRATE'S POWER 
 
 BY 
 CAPT. WYN ROOSEVELT 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 HURST & COMPANY 
 PUBLISHERS.
 
 THE FRONTIER BOYS 
 
 By CAPT. WYN ROOSEVELT 
 
 This series tells the adventures of Jim, Joe, and 
 Tom Darlington, first in their camp wagon as they 
 follow the trail to the great West in the early days. 
 They are real American boys, resourceful, humorous, 
 and but you must meet them. You will find them 
 interesting company. They meet with thrilling ad- 
 ventures and encounters, and stirring incidents are 
 the rule, not exception. 
 
 Historically, these books present a true picture of 
 a period in our history as important as it was pictur- 
 esque, when the nation set its face toward this vast 
 unknown West, and conquered it. 
 
 1. Frontier Boys on Overland Trail 
 
 2. Frontier Boys in Colorado 
 
 3. Frontier Boys in the Rockies 
 
 4. Frontier Boys in the Grand Canyon 
 
 5. Frontier Boys in Mexico 
 
 6. Frontier Boys on the Coast 
 
 7. Frontier Boys in Hawaii 
 
 8. Frontier Boys in the Sierras 
 
 9. Frontier Boys in the Saddle 
 
 10. Frontier Boys in Frisco. 
 
 11. Frontier Boys in the South Seas 
 
 Illustrated, 12mo, Cloth 
 Price per Volume^ 50 Cents 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY 
 THE PLATT & PECK Co.
 
 STACK 
 ANNEX 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. CAPTAIN BILL BROOM 9 
 
 II. THE COVE AND THE CAVE 16 
 
 III. THE BARBED WIRE 23 
 
 IV. PETE'S YARN 30 
 
 V. THE FOUR BOYS 37 
 
 VI. THE HUNCHBACK 45 
 
 VII. FARMER BROOM 53 
 
 VIII. THE CAMP IN THE POCKET 60 
 
 IX. THE ATTACK 68 
 
 X. "HAUL IN" 76 
 
 XI. MISSOURI'S MANOEUVRE 82 
 
 XII. THE RANCHERO 90 
 
 XIII. A NEW FRIEND 100 
 
 XIV. THE PURSUIT 109 
 
 XV. JIM AND THE SEA EAGLE 118 
 
 XVI. THE BOYS PUT ON STYLE 127 
 
 XVII. ON BOARD THE SEA EAGLE 135 
 
 XVIII. A DAY AT SEA 144 
 
 XIX. THE PASSENGER 152 
 
 XX. To THE RESCUE 161 
 
 XXI. THE BANDITS 169 
 
 XXII. RACE WITH THE TIDE 177 
 
 XXIII. THE ENCHANTED ISLE 184 
 
 XXIV. IN THE WHITE BOAT 191 
 
 XXV. IN PERIL 198 
 
 XXVI. Two LASSOES 206 
 
 XXVII. ANOTHER FRIEND 214 
 
 XXVIII. A TALE OF YORE 220 
 
 XXIX. A WONDERFUL LEAP 232 
 
 XXX. IN THE STRAIT 239 
 
 XXXI. CONCLUSION 246
 
 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE 
 COAST 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 CAPTAIN BILL BROOM 
 
 "What devilment has old Bill got on for tonight, 
 Pete?" 
 
 The speaker was seated on an old scarred sea 
 chest in a dimly lighted forecastle. 
 
 "I dunno," replied Pete, "maybe he's lookin' fer a 
 wreck." 
 
 "I hearn the mate say somethin' about a passel of 
 four boys," put in a third man who was laying back 
 in his bunk, "that the skipper was a-lookin' for." 
 
 "Kidnapping, eh?" said Cales, the first speaker. 
 "Hold 'em for ransom, I suppose. Well, the old 
 man has been in worse games than that. I reckon 
 the kids' parents are rich and are willin' to pay a 
 high price for their darlings." 
 
 "You're on the wrong tack, matey," said the man 
 9
 
 io FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 in the bunk. "Cap'n Brinks, who landed in San 
 Diego from a Mexican port put the old man wise. 
 He told him that those fellars had considerable 
 money and a raft of jewels with 'em that they 
 picked up in Mexico." 
 
 "Ho, Ho, that's the game, is it," cried Cales, 
 thumping his knee with a gnarled fist, "that ought to 
 be easy then." 
 
 "Looks so, but it ain't," replied the other, "those 
 four boys have got somethin' of a reputation in the 
 southwest. Hard fighters and good shots and their 
 leader is a husky lad and about as crafty as a red 
 Injun." 
 
 "He ain't met the Old Man yet," said Cales sig- 
 nificantly. 
 
 "I don't see where you get all your news from, 
 Jake," growled Pete from his seat on the chest, 
 "you ought to be a reporter." 
 
 "I keep my eyes open and my mouth shet," re- 
 plied Jake, "any man can get larned if he will do 
 that." 
 
 "I'd like to have a picter of you with your mouth 
 shet," remarked Pete. "It's open even when you 
 are asleep." He dodged just in time to avoid a 
 heavy shoe flung from Jake's ready hand that 
 crashed against the wall. 
 
 "Don't do that agin," he warned, a red light
 
 CAPTAIN BILL BROOM 11 
 
 showing in his eyes. "I'll lam you boys that I 
 ain't as old as I looks to be." 
 
 Jake laughed harshly. 
 
 "You mustn't keep your own mouth open so wide, 
 Pop, cause you'll have to swallow your own words 
 if you do." 
 
 "I guess I'll never git choked," replied Pete, 
 truculently. "Kin you tell me what the skipper 
 means snooping down this coast with no lights 
 showing when it's plumb dark? We are liable to 
 sink ourselves or Californey all of a suddint." 
 
 "Why don't you ask the Cap'n what he is up to?" 
 inquired Cales, "that is, if you want some real use- 
 ful information, Pop." 
 
 Pop raised himself up and glared at the speaker. 
 
 "I ain't done living," he replied. 
 
 "We are navigating pretty careful," remarked 
 Jake. "You can hardly feel the Sea Eagle moving." 
 
 "Running for the cove, I reckon," suggested 
 Cales, "I'm mighty pleased not to be the man at the 
 wheel. Well, I'm goin' to turn in for a snooze." 
 
 In a brief time the two men were snoring loudly, 
 while old Pete sat smoking his pipe, as stolid as a 
 wooden Indian and the forecastle was fogged with 
 the smoke, through which the swinging lantern 
 shone dimly. The air is stifling so let us go up on 
 deck where we can breathe the salt ozone and inci-
 
 12 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST. 
 
 dentally get acquainted with Captain Bill Broom, 
 who is to occupy such a prominent place in this 
 narrative. 
 
 He is well worth meeting, not only as the opponent 
 of our old friend, Jim Darlington, but because of 
 his own unworthy but interesting character. In 
 those days Skipper Bill Broom was known all up 
 and down the coast and beyond. His fame, such 
 as it was, comes down even to this recent day. 
 
 On deck it is muffling dark, with the stars 
 obscured in some dim way by mist or fog. There 
 is a breeze blowing steadily from the broad wastes 
 of the ocean. The bulk of the California coast 
 looms dimly on the port bow. Not more than a 
 half mile distant can be seen the white rushing 
 forward of the breakers towards the rocky coast. 
 
 Dangerous work this, navigating the Sea Eagle 
 through the thick gloom of the night but the old 
 man knew his business. He was on the bridge 
 pacing back and forth like some strange animal and 
 giving hoarse directions to the man at the wheel. 
 He knew every inch of that coast, the sunken reefs 
 and dangerous rocks. 
 
 "Starboard your helm," he growled. 
 
 The sailor spun the wheel obediently. And the 
 captain resumed his pacing back and forth upon the 
 bridge. Not much could be seen of him, except
 
 CAPTAIN BILL BROOM 13 
 
 that he was a powerful man, with a peculiar crouch- 
 ing stoop, as if he and the sea were engaged in a 
 mysterious game. One striving to get a dangerous 
 death-hold upon the other, both wary and using 
 unceasing watchfulness. 
 
 There was a strange softness in Captain Broom's 
 tread like that of a padding panther, but his arms 
 had the loose forward powerful swing of a go- 
 rilla's. Once he stepped into the chart house to 
 look at something and the light of the lamp will 
 give us a square look at him. 
 
 "That man a pirate!" you exclaim at the first 
 glance; one who carried the blackest name along 
 the coast as a smuggler and wrecker, who had 
 brought cargoes of wretched slaves from Africa in 
 the days before the Civil War and who had had 
 more marvelous escapes than any man in the his- 
 tory of piracy with the exception of Black Jack 
 Morgan ! Impossible ! 
 
 "Why that man is nothing but an old farmer," 
 you exclaim in disappointment, when you see him. 
 "He ought to be peddling vegetables on market 
 day." But just wait. 
 
 True, Skipper Broom had come from a long line 
 of New England farmers, hard, close-fisted, close- 
 mouthed men. Young Broom had broken away from 
 the farm and followed his bent for sea-faring, but
 
 14 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 to the end of his days, he kept his farmerlike ap- 
 pearance and he affected many of the traits of the 
 yeoman which he found to be on more than one oc- 
 casion a most useful disguise. 
 
 Let's look at him. That heavy winter cap pulkd 
 down on his grizzled head gives him a most "Reu- 
 ben" like appearance. Jeans pants are thrust into 
 heavy cowhide boots. The deadly gray eyes soft 
 as granite have become red rimmed from fits of 
 fury and hard through many scenes of coldly cal- 
 culated cruelty. A most dangerous customer and 
 I for one, and I ought to know, consider that he 
 will have the better of Jim Darlington in their ap- 
 proaching encounter and yet Jim is never beaten 
 until the last shot is fired and so it is impossible for 
 me to foretell how this contest of wit and daring 
 will come out. 
 
 After examining his chart closely, Captain Broom 
 crouched out through the door and on to the deck. 
 He took one keen look towards the shore, then he 
 approached the helmsman. "Git below, Bill. I'll 
 fetch her in." 
 
 The helmsman relinquished the wheel gladly 
 enough and under the Captain's masterful hand the 
 Sea Eagle swung slowly around and pointed 
 in towards the curving shore. 
 
 The dark form of the mate could be seen on the
 
 CAPTAIN BILL BROOM 15 
 
 deck below waiting for the order that he knew must 
 come soon. The crew of the Sea Eagle though 
 subordinate enough were necessarily partners in 
 Captain Broom's wicked enterprises so that the 
 discipline was somewhat different, than in ordinary 
 vessels. 
 
 "Call 'em up, Mr. Haffen," roared the skipper to 
 the mate. "It's chore time." 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir," replied Mr. Haffen. 
 
 The watch was called on deck and the dark forms 
 of the men could be seen in the bow. The pulsing 
 of the Sea Eagle had stopped and with scarcely a 
 sound the anchor was dropped into the water.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 THE COVE AND CAVE 
 
 The starboard boat was lowered into the water, 
 First the mate, then Captain Broom and two men 
 got in. The latter were Cales and Pete who pulled 
 noiselessly at the oars. The boat glided quietly 
 through the silent darkness towards the shore. 
 The Captain was seated in the stern, his great bulk 
 crouched forward, but there was nothing inert in 
 his posture. His big hands clasped either side of 
 the craft. 
 
 In a few minutes the boat grounded softly on 
 the sand of the beach and all hands got ashore. 
 Scarcely a word was spoken, though the cove was 
 so hidden that there seemed to be no possible chance 
 that the landing of the free-booters would be ob- 
 served. However, Captain Bill Broom took no 
 risk of being discovered. He had many enemies 
 upon the coast and inland as well. Besides, the 
 State of California had set a price upon his head. 
 
 Two thousand dollars was the reward for his 
 16
 
 THE COVE AND THE CAVE 17 
 
 capture, and so profitable an investment was apt to 
 be realized on sooner or later by some enterprising 
 citizen. So Captain Broom took due care when- 
 ever he went abroad not to attract undue attention. 
 
 This cove was a favorite lurking place of his 
 when close pressed, where he would take refuge 
 after some daring adventure upon the high seas, un- 
 til such a time as the hubbub along the coast had 
 died down. Sometimes he lay in hiding there, with 
 the Sea Eagle screened behind the encircling cliffs, 
 waiting like a black spider to rush out and capture 
 some unsuspecting craft. 
 
 "Pick her up, boys," said the Captain, "y u know 
 where she belongs," pointing to the boat. 
 
 Aye, aye, sir," they replied, and putting it on 
 their shoulders they carried the boat along a narrow 
 path that divided the thick undergrowth ; until, after 
 going several hundred yards, they reached a thick 
 screen of brush through which they shoved, and 
 came to a cave. 
 
 Although so well hidden, the entrance to the 
 cavern was quite high, so that the men gained ad- 
 mission without stooping, and going a short dis- 
 tance into the dark interior, they placed the boat 
 gently down against the wall. There was a constant
 
 i8 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 and heavy drip of water, so that there was no 
 chance for the boat to warp, as it would have surely 
 done if placed outside in the dry California air. 
 
 "I don't like this yere .cave," remarked Pete, 
 when left alone with Cales. 
 
 "What's the matter with it? It's dark and damp, 
 but that is the nature of caves." 
 
 "It makes me feel creepy, that's all," replied Pete, 
 "and it takes considerable to do that." 
 
 "Whatever happened?" inquired Cales, grinning, 
 something terrible, I reckon, to make your thick 
 hide chilly." 
 
 "It were before your time," replied Pete some- 
 what reluctantly, "we raided a ranch back thar 
 agin the mountings. Senor Sebastian owned it 
 and it was said that he could ride all day and never 
 git off his place, and that he had more sheep and 
 cattle than thar is folks in Frisco." 
 
 "The Captain shanghied him, I reckon," cut in 
 Cales. 
 
 "You hold your windlass," commanded the old 
 man in a querulous tone, "I'm telling this yarn." 
 
 " All right, Pop," said Cales in a conciliating 
 manner, "have it yer own way." He was really 
 anxious to hear the story the old man had referred 
 to. 
 
 "Young fry is always flapping," the older speaker
 
 THE COVE AND THE CAVE 19 
 
 mumbled, then he took up the course of his narra- 
 tive. "Waal, as I was telling ye, this Senor had 
 lots of money and the Cap'n being short of funds 
 thought that he could use some of it. So one night 
 we ran into the cove, it was blacker even than this. 
 I don't see how the old man ever got the craft past 
 the sharks' teeth at the entrance but he did." 
 
 He could have brought her in with his eyes 
 shut," declared Cales. "I never have seen his equal 
 for navigating." 
 
 "Waal, we made camp here that night, and the 
 next day, the Cap'n with some of the gang, left for 
 the ranch and I stayed to look after things. Noth- 
 ing happened that day, and I was dozing by the fire 
 about midnight when I heard them coming back. 
 They had the Senor, a fine-looking old man with a 
 gray mustache and as cold and proud-looking as 
 they make them. 
 
 "The Cap'n was furious because he had not been 
 able to lay his hand on the coin, and he swore that 
 he would make the old Senor tell where his money 
 was or there would be trouble. He took him into 
 this cave and I don't know what happened there, 
 and I don't want to know. All I'm sure of is that 
 I never saw him come out. 
 
 "The Cap'n sent me to the ship to get some 
 chains on the second day and he took 'em into the
 
 20 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 cave. We sailed a couple of days later, but not a 
 sign did I see of the Senor. That's why this cave 
 makes me creepy, Cales." 
 
 They, were standing near the entrance, when there 
 came a distinct low moan from the interior. It 
 was not a ghostly sound, either. There was no 
 mistaking it. 
 
 "Did you hear that, Cales?" asked old Pete in a 
 quavering voice. 
 
 "Yes," replied Cales, "I heard it all right. It 
 can't be the Senor ?" 
 
 "No," replied Pete. "He has been dead these 
 years." 
 
 "Let's find out," said his comrade. 
 
 "There's nothing in this world could make me go 
 in thar," declared Pete solemnly, "besides, it's agin 
 the Captain's orders. 
 
 "Well, I'm going," said Cales either more brave 
 or less experienced than the other. "It sounds to 
 me like a woman's voice." 
 
 "And I'm goin' to git," declared old Pete, totter- 
 ing towards the path. 
 
 "You're a brave old pirate," said Cales contempt- 
 uously, and with that he went slowly back into the 
 cave. He had to go cautiously, for beyond a cer- 
 tain point he was not acquainted with the in- 
 terior. He could feel the moist ground under foot
 
 THE COVE AND THE CAVE 21 
 
 and he kept 'his hand stretched out, not knowing 
 what he might run against in the dense damp dark- 
 ness. 
 
 Then, suddenly, his hand struck a stone wall. 
 Groping his way, he turned a sharp corner and fol- 
 lowed along a low narrow passageway that obliged 
 him to stoop. Then came the sound of the moan- 
 ing just ahead. Jack Cales was a brave man but 
 it was all that he could do, to keep from turning 
 and running in panic for the mouth of the cave. 
 But though his determination had received a severe 
 shock, it did not turn to flight. 
 
 He saw a faint light ahead, spreading a glow at 
 the end of the passage as he came nearer. Then he 
 saw something that held him stone still with a 
 clutch of weird fear. He had reached the end of 
 the narrow passage, and dimly made out a domed 
 room in the rock, white with translucent encrusta- 
 tion. 
 
 He struck a match. About him, before, to the 
 right and to the left he could see forms all of 
 ghostly white, some crouching, others standing. 
 Hardly had the light flared up than it sizzled out. 
 Some drops of water falling from the roof had ex- 
 tinguished the blaze. Then was repeated that 
 awful sound of distress. 
 
 Cales groped around almost in a frenzy of terror.
 
 Where was the exit from that awful room ? Round 
 and round he went, and all the time there were 
 strange whisperings in his ears, and unseen hands 
 seemed to clutch his clothes. Once he slipped and 
 was trembling so that he was hardly able to get to 
 his feet. Just as he did so, something swept past 
 him like a breath of wind. Rendered desperate he 
 made another dash, and this time if he had not 
 found a passageway, he felt that he could have 
 knocked a hole through the wall. Then he stood 
 at the mouth of the cave.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 THE BARBED WIRE 
 
 Just at that moment was heard the hoarse voice 
 of Captain Broom booming through the darkness 
 outside. 
 
 As Cales turned about, some furry animal sprang 
 past him dashing between his legs and nearly up- 
 setting him. 
 
 "On deck, you scoundrel, come out of there," 
 called the Captain. 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir," came the reply of Cales in a 
 strangely weak tone, though he was now more con- 
 cerned by the possible penalty to be meted out by 
 the Captain for disobedience of orders, than by 
 thought of the undetermined occupants of the cave. 
 If it were a cat it was certainly a good joke on old 
 Pete. This was, had they but known it, the swift 
 solution of the mystery. 
 
 Oddly enough the Captain said not another word, 
 
 a fact suggestive to Cales that there was something 
 
 amiss in the cave and the little company at once 
 
 took up their line of march. Captain Broom was 
 
 23
 
 24 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 in the lead, followed by the mate, then Cales, with 
 old Pete bringing up the rear. Just as they started 
 Captain Broom extinguished the lantern and they 
 took up the trail in total darkness. Every precau- 
 tion would now be necessary for they would soon 
 be in a region where the very name of Broom was 
 execrated with bitter hatred, and every bush would 
 grow a poniard if his whereabouts were known. 
 
 It was evident that the skipper was as good a 
 guide on land as he was a pilot at sea, for he led 
 his little party at a steady gait by a winding cow- 
 path through the thick undergrowth. He doubtless 
 knew this region thoroughly, for he had made 
 more than one raid in this locality. 
 
 It was soon to be determined, however, that they 
 were not the only ones abroad that night. 
 
 They had walked in silence for some time, well 
 on to two hours, when they came to an open space, 
 with the irregular form of a live oak on the south- 
 east corner. Then Captain Broom stopped sud- 
 denly, his keen eyesight which no darkness could 
 baffle had discerned some object moving out from 
 the shelter of the oak tree. 
 
 It came slowly with uplifted black arms and 
 white hair falling around its face. There was a 
 terrible intensity in its advance across the open
 
 THE BARBED WIRE 25 
 
 space, withal that it moved so slowly. The figure 
 stopped directly in front of Captain Broom. 
 
 "Get out of my way, you hag," he roared, but for 
 the first time in his life a certain tremor crept into 
 his voice. Perhaps he was growing old. He drew 
 back his arm as though to strike the woman in his 
 path. 
 
 As he did so Jack Cales stooped and picked up a 
 round rock at his feet, intending to hurl it, not at 
 the woman but at the skipper, for he alone of the 
 party divined the possible cause of this poor 
 woman's dementia. But his interference was not 
 necessary for it seemed as though the Captain's 
 arm was paralyzed. He declared afterwards that 
 some invisible hand had seized his arm. 
 
 Then, in a loud, wailing voice the woman put a 
 curse upon the slayer of her husband, for this spec- 
 tre was none other than the Senora Sebastian. It 
 was terrible to hear her and it must have sent a 
 shiver into the soul of the hardy skipper. 
 
 When she had finished, the woman moved past 
 them and vanished in the direction of the ranch. 
 For a full minute the line of men stood without 
 moving a step and in absolute silence, Captain 
 Broom with his arm upraised as he had lifted it to 
 strike. 
 
 Then, without saying a word, he took the first
 
 26 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 forward step and the others followed him through 
 the darkness. 
 
 "Say, Cales," growled Pete in a low voice, "what 
 was it you found in that cave ? My old timbers are 
 shaking yet." 
 
 "Keep your old jaws shut," yelled the Captain, 
 who had wonderfully keen hearing, when anything 
 was spoken that concerned him. 
 
 "How do you suppose the old man heard me?" 
 mumbled Pete to himself. He dropped back a pace 
 or two, then whispered, "The old man must be crazy. 
 He is making direct for the Sebastian ranch." 
 
 "Do you reckon that these four boys he is look- 
 ing after, are located there ?" asked Jack. 
 
 "I dunno," replied Pete, "you can calkerlate on 
 one thing though and that is that the skipper knows 
 pretty nigh where those lads are. One of his mes- 
 sengers, a one-eyed, twisted greaser, came aboard 
 the other day, and was gabbling in the Captain's 
 cabin. Then the next thing I knew we was under 
 sail, and came kiting down to the cove." 
 
 Just then the party halted at the confines of a four 
 strand barbed wire fence. This was the first indica- 
 tion that they were entering the great ranch prop- 
 erty that formerly belonged to the Senor Sebas- 
 tian, the elderly man the Captain had made captive, 
 and which was now the property of his only son.
 
 THE BARBED WIRE 27 
 
 "Now, lads," said the leader of the expedition, 
 "Here's a chance to make yourself small. This yere 
 barb is like a devil fish if it once gits a holt of your 
 panties it won't let go." 
 
 "That's so, Captain," said the mate, a generally 
 silent and saturnine man. 
 
 "I reckon you know, mate," said the Captain. 
 "The last time we was through these parts, and that 
 some considerable years ago, this same fence got 
 a holt of yer pants and wouldn't let go. I never 
 heard you talk so much and so earnestly in my life 
 before. You want to be more keerful this time." 
 
 The mate simply grunted by way of reply and, 
 lying close to the ground, he very gingerly and 
 carefully worked his way under the wire and thus 
 escaped his mentioned former unpleasant detention. 
 He then held the lower wire up as high as he 
 could until his chief had wiggled under. 
 
 Pete was the only one of the party who was seri- 
 ously detained, for Jack Cales had slid under as 
 slick as an eel. But Pete's joints were old and 
 rusty and the venomous wire got a clutch on his 
 coat and his pants. 
 
 "What's keeping you back?" inquired the Cap- 
 tain, gruffly, as Cales and his comrade did not put 
 in an immediate appearance. 
 
 "Pete has got caught, sir," said Jack.
 
 28 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 "What are you doing there, you old barnacle?" 
 inquired the Captain as he came back to the fence. 
 
 There was a certain odd comradeship between the 
 skipper and the old salt who had been with him 
 sine* his African days. Both were New Eng- 
 landers and had come from neighboring homesteads. 
 
 "Just resting, sir," replied the captive. 
 
 It certainly did have something of that appear- 
 ance, for Pete had kept a decisive grip on his old 
 black pipe with his stubby teeth and was puffing at 
 it in apparent peace and resignation. 
 
 "Want me to git you a piller?" inquired the 
 skipper, sarcastically. 
 
 "Thank ye, sir," replied Pete imperturbably. 
 
 Meanwhile the mate had been at work with deft 
 fingers and he finally succeeded in extricating the 
 old man and putting him upon his pins. 
 
 "Now if ye are sufficiently rested," proposed the 
 skipper, "we will hike along." 
 
 This they did. Their way now lay between two 
 stretches of fence that enclosed a road not much 
 traveled for there were only faint traces of wheels 
 in the turf. It was probably not a public highway 
 but belonged to the great ranch. 
 
 Everything seemed smooth sailing now, as there 
 was no more barbed wire to be immediately met but 
 Pete soon made himself prominent again. He was
 
 THE BARBED WIRE 29 
 
 rolling along with that gait peculiar to a sailor when 
 aboard land, when he gave a sudden spring and 
 clutched Cales convulsively in the back, giving that 
 individual a big scare. 
 
 "Dad burn it, boys. I've stepped on a rattler." 
 An investigation was made very carefully and Cap- 
 tain Broom quickly picked up a short piece of rope. 
 
 "I'll rattle you," he cried, touching up the old 
 man with the rope's end.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 PETE'S YARN 
 
 They went along steadily through the darkness 
 in an almost directly easterly direction. Being now 
 clear of the brush they could make good time on the 
 springy turf. 
 
 "How far are we now from the ranch, Pete ?" in- 
 quired Jack. 
 
 "Too durn close to suit me," replied Pete. "I 
 can't tell exactly for these ranches are as big as all 
 outside creation, but I guess we must be as close as 
 a mile to the buildings." 
 
 "I reckon the Captain is going to walk up to the 
 front door and ask for accommodations." 
 
 "Wouldn't s'prise me a bit, if he done that," re- 
 plied Pete querulously. "The old man ain't lacking 
 in nerve. Back thar was the first time I ever seen 
 him hang back in my long experience with him." 
 
 "When the old lady was speaking her piece? 
 Suppose I ask him how much he made when he 
 captured the Senor," suggested Cales, who had re- 
 covered his flippant humor. 
 30
 
 PETE'S YARN 31 
 
 "I wouldn't git gay, lad," said old Pete, warn- 
 ingly. "She is just as liable to haunt you in your 
 black spells." 
 
 "Don't have 'em, uncle," replied Cales. 
 
 "You collect the material for 'em when you are 
 young," said the old man wisely, "and they come 
 out of your bones like rheumatiz when you git old." 
 
 "Somebody is coming back of us," suddenly whis- 
 pered Cales. 
 
 "Take to cover, lads," ordered the skipper, who 
 was as quick to hear as the younger man. The only 
 cover was a high and thick growth of wild mustard 
 growing alongside the fences. 
 
 Quickly they stepped from the open road into the 
 shelter of the tall mustard. They had not long to 
 wait. There was the jingle of spurs and the thud 
 of horses' feet walking slowly along. Next came 
 the voices of men talking. 
 
 "It is useless, Senor, to try and find her, I fear," 
 replied one man to the other. 
 
 "It seems so," replied the other sadly. "My 
 mother always seems to be worse when the time of 
 the year approaches that my father disappeared. 
 In spite of all our care she will escape." 
 
 They had now arrived at a point opposite where 
 the free-booters were hidden. The man who had 
 last spoken struck a light and lit a cigarette; the
 
 32 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 instantaneous glare showed the dark handsome face 
 of the Spanish type. There was the high-peaked 
 sombrero, the striking clothes, the intent face and 
 then the light died suddenly out. 
 
 "Ah, Manuel," said the young man to his com- 
 panion, "if I could only once lay hands on that 
 cursed Gringo," and he ground his teeth in fury, 
 unable to express himself. 
 
 "Humph, Gringo," grunted the Captain, disdain- 
 fully. 
 
 "Did you hear anything, Senor?" asked Manuel. 
 
 "Nothing." 
 
 "I was sure I heard something," asserted his 
 companion. They had reined in their horses and 
 sat listening quietly for a few seconds. 
 
 "It was probably nothing but a calf by the road- 
 side," said the Senor. 
 
 The other shook his head doubtfully, then they 
 turned and rode on towards the rancho. 
 
 When they were safely out of range, the party 
 of pirates took up their line of march once more. 
 
 "So the greaser took me for a calf," remarked 
 Captain Broom. "If it had been you, Jack Cales, 
 there might be some excuse fer such a mistake." 
 
 "Aye, sir," replied Cales, glumly. 
 
 "Getting kind of close to the ranch, ain't you, 
 Cap'n ?" ventured old Pete.
 
 PETE'S YARN 33 
 
 "I thought of leaving you there, Pete, while the 
 rest of us corralled those kids. You are getting too 
 old for these long tramps." 
 
 No more remarks were heard coming from the 
 direction of Pete, for he was not at all sure but 
 that the Captain might, in a moment of irre- 
 sponsible humor, do just as he threatened without 
 regard to the consequences. 
 
 After they had gone on for a mile from the 
 point where the two men had overtaken them, Cap- 
 tain Broom led his party away from the road in a 
 southerly direction, once more undergoing the har- 
 rowing experience of getting through the barbed 
 wire fence. But this time Jack Cales was especially 
 detailed by the Captain to get old Pete through so 
 there would not be any unnecessary delay. 
 
 It was evident that they were getting into a differ- 
 ent section, a short time after they left the road, for 
 they began going up and winding among little 
 rocky hills. At last they came to a stopping place. 
 They climbed up an elevation and sat on some rocks 
 among a group of dark trees. 
 
 "Now, lads, take it easy," said the Captain, "ye 
 have had quite a footin' and when morning comes, 
 there will be some more ahead and at a faster gait." 
 
 "Gosh, Cap'n," declared old Pete, "It's the most 
 walking we've done together since the time we cor-
 
 34 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 railed the last bunch of niggers on the west coast of 
 Africa." 
 
 "We certainly made money that trip when we sold 
 that cargo of coons to the traders on that Palmetto 
 Island below Charleston. But we will clean up 
 about as much money when we round up those four 
 boys and twice as easy. Tell the two lads about 
 that trip, Pete." 
 
 The old sailor sat on a rock, and taking out his 
 bag of tobacco filled his short black pipe with one 
 thorny thumb, then he commenced his narrative, 
 with the glow of his pipe lighting up his weather- 
 beaten face. 
 
 "Well, orders is orders, and the Cap'n wants me 
 to tell this yarn. I might just as well begin it, 
 lads. I never knew any good to come to sailormen 
 cruising around on dry land any more than on this 
 trip." He cast a wary eye at Captain Broom, but 
 that worthy merely grunted and Pete resumed his 
 story. 
 
 "Our clipper lay at anchor in a wide bay with 
 only a couple of men on board and the Captain, 
 myself and six men trailing inland for to find a 
 village of naygurs that our guides had told us of. 
 
 "It certainly was hot and steamy going through 
 the jungles and every once in a while a big snake as 
 large as my leg would crawl across our path and
 
 PETE'S YARN 35 
 
 rustle away into the undergrowth. Once I felt one 
 of 'em a-twistirig and rolling under my foot like a 
 big log that had came to life. I guess I must have 
 jumped twice as high as my own head and I lit on 
 the back of one of the naygurs that was guiding us. 
 
 "He didn't know what struck him; probably 
 thought it was a tiger for I sunk my hooks into his 
 hide. He let out a yell and went ripping and snort- 
 ing through that jungle and me not having sense 
 enough to let go, until a grape vine about as thick 
 as a manilla rope chucked me under the chin and I 
 fell flat on my back and I guess that naygur is still 
 running." 
 
 Here the captain who was evidently enjoying the 
 narrative hugely, burst into a volcanic roar of 
 laughter. 
 
 "I can see yer yet, Pete, on that bounding buck 
 of a nigger, and him a-hiking through the jungle 
 and a-yelling like a wild Injun." 
 
 "I remember you got out of the way mighty 
 quick," said Pete, "when you heard us a-coming be- 
 hind you." 
 
 "It certainly was a curious spectacle," said the 
 Captain, "but go on with your yarn, Pete." 
 
 "The further we went into the jungle the worse 
 it got. The mosquitoes fairly ate us alive and they 
 wern't the only cannibals in those woods by any
 
 36 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 means. There was a tribe of man-eaters beyond the 
 Big River and we didn't try to capture any of them. 
 They wern't our stripe of bacon. 
 
 "We went on for six days, with the monkeys chat- 
 tering over our heads all day and the mosquitoes 
 serenading us at night. Talk about birds, there 
 was a whole menagerie of them and their colors 
 beat the handkerchiefs that these greasers wear 
 around their throats and you can't get ahead of that 
 for color. 
 
 "One night we got in range of the village we 
 were after and there was a great pow-wow going 
 on. There was a big fire in the circle of the grass 
 huts and some big black bucks were doing a dance 
 around it. Just then I saw " 
 
 "Hold on, Pete," said the Captain in a low, gruff 
 voice, "somebody is coming our way."
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 THE FOUR BOYS 
 
 "Hey, Jim, where are we going to make camp?" 
 It was his brother Jo's genial voice. 
 
 "Not until we can strike water," replied Jim. 
 "No more dry camps for me." 
 
 "I don't think much of the coast range, or the 
 Sierras, either." It was Juarez Hoskins' well-re- 
 membered voice, with its rather low, deep tones. 
 
 "Give me the Rockies every time." 
 
 Juarez was nothing if not loyal to his mountains. 
 
 "I don't think any of the mountains are much to 
 brag of." 
 
 It is hardly necessary to say that it is Tom Dar- 
 lington who is now speaking, for the discerning 
 reader is pretty well acquainted with his style by 
 this time. 
 
 "There's always something to look out for," con- 
 tinued Tom, "if it isn't Indians it's rattlesnakes, 
 and you have got to choose between a cloudburst or 
 no water at all. Give me the East every time." 
 
 "You make me exhausted talking about the 
 37
 
 38 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 East," said Jim. "Why didn't you stay there when 
 you were there? I had just as soon take a chance 
 with a rattlesnake as with an ice cream soda." 
 
 "Tom would like to play Indian," cut in Jo, 
 "with turkey feathers sticking up from a red flannel 
 band around his head. And creeping upon a flock 
 of sheep pretending that they are antelope and that 
 cows are real live bears." 
 
 "Yes," said Jim, "you have lined it out all right, 
 Jo. Then when they were tired of playing Injun, 
 Tom and his little playmates could pretend that 
 they were Daniel Boone's men with wildskin panties 
 on." 
 
 "Shut up, boys," said Juarez, coming to Tom's 
 rescue. "What's the use in rubbing it in? The 
 East is all right for some folks and if the boys back 
 there can't have real adventures they have to do the 
 best they can. After all, Jim, you are an Eastern 
 boy. You can't get away from that." Jim writhed 
 under the implication but replied good humoredly. 
 
 "You're right, Juarez, old chap, but I can't help 
 stirring up Tom once in a while. It is good for him 
 too. It keeps his liver active, so he won't get 
 bilious." 
 
 "Juarez has got more sense than you two put to- 
 gether," said Tom. 
 
 "Forget all about it now, Tommy," urged Juarez
 
 THE FOUR BOYS 39 
 
 good-naturedly, getting the aforesaid Tommy by 
 the nape of the neck with one vigorous brown hand 
 and giving him a shake. 
 
 Thus under Juarez's straightforward manage- 
 ment the family quarrel was abated. 
 
 "We might just as well ride now, boys," said 
 Jim. "The horses are good and rested and we will 
 soon be going down grade instead of up." 
 
 The horses had been following in single file back 
 of the four boys. They were to be trusted not to 
 cut up any shindigs or to wander from the narrow 
 mountain trail. The boys had had them a long time 
 and together they had gone through the numerous 
 hardships and adventures. They were as perfectly 
 trained as Uncle Sam's cavalry horses. 
 
 The horses halted as the boys dropped back to 
 their sides, and they swung into the saddle simul- 
 taneously. Jim rode in the lead on a splendid gray, 
 with a powerful arching neck, strong shoulders and 
 hindquarters made for speed. Him, he called 
 Caliente. Next rode Tom on a pretty bay. Then 
 Jo on a black of medium size but finely built for 
 speed and endurance. Juarez brought up the rear 
 on his roan, a sinewy animal with a broncho strain 
 in him which was liable to crop out at unexpected 
 moments. 
 
 It is to be noticed that there was a certain forma-
 
 40 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 tion in the way the column rode. Jim, the strong and 
 resourceful in front, and Tom, the less experienced 
 and capable, following, forming the first division. 
 The second division was composed of Jo and Juarez. 
 
 Juarez having an equally important position with 
 the leader, for he was rear guard, a more trying 
 position sometimes than being in front for in their 
 travels through dangerous regions, it was the man 
 in the rear who was more apt to be cut off by the 
 wily Indians. But the cool and crafty Juarez was 
 not likely to be caught napping. 
 
 Even now you notice as they ride along through 
 the comparatively safe region of the coast range 
 that Jim and Juarez are ever on the alert, glancing 
 this way and that, halting to examine some peculiar 
 mark on the trail, and not a motion of tree or 
 bush upon either mountain slope escapes their 
 attention. They had lived too long in the midst 
 of treacherous enemies, Indians and outlaws, to be 
 taken off their guard. They had been in Mexico 
 on a venture the outcome of which was all their 
 fondest dreams could wish for. Their expedition 
 over, Tom was for going home, to at least deposit 
 the treasure they had gained, but the others had 
 outvoted him, and now the long pleasure trip to 
 Hawaii was their object. 
 
 Now, if they but had known it, they were riding
 
 THE FOUR BOYS 41 
 
 to meet the most deadly danger that they had yet 
 encountered. For as you know, Captain Broom 
 and his party were advancing to meet them. In an 
 open or running fight, we know perfectly well that 
 the boys could take care of themselves, but in the 
 skipper of the Sea Eagle, they were to meet a far 
 more dangerous opponent than in Eagle Feather, 
 described in "The Frontier Boys in Colorado" or 
 Cal Jenkins in Kansas and in Mexico as detailed in 
 "Overland Trail" and in "Mexico." In compliance 
 with a determined plan, they were now on their way 
 to Hawaii. 
 
 Not only had Captain Broom the craftiness and 
 cruelty of the Indian, but the cool, hard judgment 
 of the New England Yankee, coupled with a knowl- 
 edge of their possessions, supposedly limited to 
 themselves alone. The Mexican spy, who had re- 
 ported the route the boys were going to take, had 
 given the game into his master's hands. 
 
 "I wonder what has become of our one-eyed 
 greaser friend," said Jim, "we haven't seen any 
 sign of him since he gave us the shake a week ago 
 at the hunting camp. I kind of thought we might 
 run across him again." 
 
 "It's good riddance to bad rubbish," said Juarez 
 in a surly tone. "If I had my way I'd hang him to 
 the first oak tree on general principles and on ac-
 
 42 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 count of his personal appearance. I bet he is a 
 treacherous little rat." 
 
 "He isn't very pretty, that's a fact," admitted Jim, 
 "but he is a useful little beast about the camp and 
 can do a lot of chores." 
 
 "I kind of like to hear him play his guitar," put 
 in Jo, "and sing those Mexican tunes. They cer- 
 tainly sound pretty." 
 
 "He's a picturesque beggar too," remarked Tom. 
 "Just the kind that in the old days would have been 
 made a king's jester. They dressed 'em up in a 
 blazing bright style then. That hump would have 
 made his fortune." 
 
 Tom, as you remember, was an authority on 
 Romance, and as pertaining to which he always 
 carried two favorite volumes, much worn by hard 
 travel and frequent usage, but which no amount of 
 ridicule by his brothers could make him give up. 
 
 "Have it your own way," acceded Juarez, "but 
 he is not the sort of animal that I would recommend 
 for a household pet." 
 
 "Well, he is gone," said Jim, "so we don't need 
 to worry about him." 
 
 "I don't know but that I would a little rather have 
 him in sight," said Juarez. "Then you know where 
 he is." 
 
 Jim laughed good-naturedly at the prejudice that
 
 THE FOUR BOYS 43 
 
 Juarez showed against the little greaser and put it 
 down to his darkly suspicious nature acquired by his 
 life among the Indians. It would have been better 
 if Jim had taken more stock in his comrade's sus- 
 picions. Now, Jim was not to be caught napping 
 when once an enemy had declared himself, but it 
 was his nature to be open-minded and unsuspicious. 
 
 The four Frontier Boys were riding up a winding 
 trail through a narrow mountain valley, having 
 reached a point almost level with the summits, 
 which rose several thousand feet above the eastern 
 plain. It had been a hard, all day climb, and the 
 horses were tired and the gray dust was caked upon 
 their sweaty riders. 
 
 Let us take a look at our old acquaintances, Jim, 
 Tom, Jo and Juarez, to see if they have changed 
 any since we saw them last. They are dressed 
 about as we have always known them. In gray 
 flannel shirts and pants of the same color, moccasins 
 on their feet and on their heads battered sombreros 
 with the flaps turned back. 
 
 Their coats are tied back of the saddles, and their 
 shirts open at the throat for the air is hot and dry 
 in that California mountain valley. Their rifles are 
 swung across their shoulders held by straps, re- 
 volvers in the holsters at their hips. 
 
 Jim sits in the saddle tall and sinewy, grown
 
 44 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 somewhat thinner by constant exercise and by the 
 drying effect of the desert air. His skin is baked 
 to an absolute brown. Juarez, too, is black as an 
 Indian and he rather looks like one with his hair 
 quite long and of a coarse black fibre. The boys 
 look a little fine-drawn but sinewy and strong and 
 #s for any adventure.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 THE HUNCHBACK 
 
 The shadows were already falling on that side of 
 the range as the boys rode slowly into a narrow 
 pass. The shade was a decided relief from the 
 glare of the California sun that they had encoun- 
 tered all day. 
 
 "Gosh, but I should like to have a cool breath 
 from the Rockies," declared Juarez with emphasis, 
 "This sort of a climate makes me tired. Nothing 
 but the sun staring at you all the time. It goes 
 down clear and comes up with the same kind of a 
 grin on its face." 
 
 "It will be cooler when we get on the other side," 
 said Jim, encouragingly, "and it won't be long 
 now." 
 
 "I hope we will strike water on the other side," 
 remarked Jo. "I'm tired of looking at that bald- 
 headed stream down there," indicating the dry 
 blistered bed of a former water-course. 
 
 Nothing more was said until of a sudden they 
 45
 
 46 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 rode to the top of the Pass, and saw a new land- 
 scape spread out before them. 
 
 It was a broad and beautiful view, with the sun, 
 striking the wide Pacific, with a blazing glare of 
 silver and below the wooded slope of the mountains, 
 stretched an apparently level plain, where roamed 
 countless cattle, and innumerable sheep. It had all 
 the breadth characteristic of the Californian land- 
 scape. 
 
 "That's a pretty good looking view," remarked 
 Jim admiringly. He would have been still more in- 
 terested if he could have seen a trim-looking black 
 vessel in a small cove directly west but a good many 
 miles distant. 
 
 "I wonder if it isn't going to rain," said Tom. 
 "See those clouds rolling in over the ocean." 
 
 "Rain!" ejaculated Jim with superior wisdom, 
 a wisdom that appertains particularly to older 
 brothers, "I guess not. Those are fog clouds. 
 That's a sure sign in this country that it won't 
 rain." 
 
 "Well, I'm glad to see them, anyway," said 
 Juarez. "It looks sort of stormy even if it isn't." 
 
 It was restful, there was no question about that, 
 the change from the constant glare of a white sun 
 in a blue sky, to the soft damp grayness of the fog. 
 It was already rolling over the level plain towards
 
 THE HUNCHBACK 47 
 
 the mountains and, in a short time, a high fog was 
 spread over the whole sky. 
 
 The boys had ridden down the western side of 
 the range for a distance of a half mile, when Jim 
 suddenly waved his hand backward in a sign of cau- 
 tion for the column to halt. He leaned forward, 
 looking intently in a northwesterly direction to a 
 point on the opposite side of the mountain valley. 
 Juarez followed the direction of the leader's look 
 with a keen gaze. 
 
 "I was sure that I saw some one slipping through 
 the undergrowth on the opposite side over there," 
 Jim finally said, "but I could not make sure whether 
 it was a man or some sort of animal." 
 
 "I noticed the bushes shaking," said Juarez, "but 
 I did not see anything." 
 
 "Might have been a brown bear," hazarded Jo. 
 
 "They do have them in this range," put in Tom. 
 
 "Perhaps it is the bear that we hunted for two 
 days on the other slope," said Juarez, "and he has 
 come to give himself up," 
 
 "We had better keep our eyes open," advised 
 Jim, though he did not take the trouble to unsling 
 his rifle. "Jo, you and Tom watch the upper side, 
 Juarez will take care of the trail in front." 
 
 "All right, boss," said Juarez, cheerfully.
 
 48 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 "How much reward, captain, for the first glimpse 
 of the lost child ?" inquired Jo. 
 
 Jim paid no attention to this sally, but kept his 
 eye on the trail ahead. The trees were quite thick 
 on either side of the trail and as dusk was coming 
 on, it was difficult to make out any object clearly. 
 
 Just as Jim rode around a turn in the trail, 
 Caliente reared and leaped to one side and a less 
 skillful rider would have been thrown. 
 
 "Easy, old boy," said the rider, patting his horse's 
 neck. Caliente stood trembling and snorting and 
 watching a curious object that was struggling up 
 the bank towards the trail. 
 
 It was hard to tell what it was, whether man or 
 beast and the dusk only served to make it more ob- 
 scure. Then the object scrambled up on to the 
 trail and Jim at once recognized the dwarf Mexi- 
 can with his high-crowned sombrero and his velvet 
 suit richly slashed. With his crooked back and one 
 eye, he was anything but a prepossessing-looking 
 creature. Caliente, when he, too, recognized who 
 it was, put back his ears and rushed with bared 
 teeth for the Mexican. 
 
 Spitting out a curse, the greaser jumped to one 
 side with a marked agility, and Jim succeeded after 
 a struggle in bringing his furious steed to terms,
 
 THE HUNCHBACK 49 
 
 but he had his hands full and there were not very 
 many men who could manage Caliente when he got 
 into one of his rages. 
 
 "Hi! Manuel," (every Mexican was Manuel to 
 the boys), cried Jim, "look out for my Tiger, he 
 wants to eat that velvet suit of yours." 
 
 "Si, Senor," called Manuel from a safe station 
 on a granite rock. "He is a tiger as your Honor 
 says." 
 
 One would have expected to hear the crooked 
 little greaser speak in a harsh croaking voice, but 
 instead it had a rich sonorous quality. 
 
 "Do you know where there is any water in this 
 country?" asked Jo. "We are as dry as a desert." 
 
 "Certainly, Senor, I will show you," replied 
 Manuel. (It was true that Manuel spoke in Span- 
 ish of which language the boys had a working 
 knowledge, due to their sojouin in the southwest. 
 But I shall put his words in English.) "Where is. 
 Senor Juarez ?" inquired the dwarf. "I do not see 
 him." 
 
 The Senor is still with us," replied Jim, gravely, 
 "but you cannot see him on account of the dusk, 
 but you might hear him," he added in a lower 
 tone. 
 
 It was true that Juarez was growling to hims^LP 
 about me greaser lor wnom you Know nc naa a cor-
 
 50 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 dial antipathy, a feeling which was reciprocated by 
 the Mexican. 
 
 "Lead on, Manuel," urged Jim, "we want to 
 make camp before morning." 
 
 "But, Senor, the tiger will eat me up," objected 
 the Mexican. 
 
 "I will take care of Caliente. He won't bite you. 
 Go ahead." 
 
 "Si, Senor," assented Manuel. 
 
 Then he jumped down from the rock and took 
 the trail at a discreet distance ahead of Jim's 
 horse, who was held in check by his rider though his 
 temper seemed in no wise abated. There was 
 something sinister in the figure of the Mexican as 
 he led the way down the trail. 
 
 All in black, except the gray of his hat with its 
 golden cord and the tinsel of his clothes. There 
 was something malignant in his make-up and even 
 the unimaginative Jim was affected by the presence 
 of the Mexican, while Juarez was very uneasy, and 
 asked Jo and Tom to allow him to move up next 
 to the Captain. This they did, though it left Jo as 
 rear guard on that rocky trail. 
 
 He seemed quite isolated but he had become suffi- 
 ciently enured to danger and though he kept a 
 wary eye, he was not nervous. The boys had un- 
 holstered their pistols and Juarez kept a straight
 
 THE HUNCHBACK 51 
 
 eye on the moving shadow in the darkness ahead. 
 At the first sign of attack or treachery, he was 
 going to get that particular Manuel. 
 
 "I've got my eye on the little varmint," said 
 Juarez in a low voice to Jim. "He may be leading 
 us into an ambush." 
 
 "Oh, I guess not," said Jim, with a note of hesita- 
 tion in his voice. "We have got to find water any- 
 way. The horses are suffering for it, and this 
 beggar can show us where we can locate it." 
 
 Just then Manuel threw up his hand with a shrill 
 whistle that had every malignant intention in it. 
 Juarez raised his pistol just ready to fire, when 
 the Mexican laughed shrilly. 
 
 "Senor Juarez very nervous. I just stretch and 
 whistle a little and he want to shoot." 
 
 A peculiar srtiile came over Juarez's face, but he 
 said nothing. All the stolid Indian in his nature 
 came to the surface. He merely grunted con- 
 temptuously at the Mexican's remark and this made 
 the volatile Manuel uneasy in his turn, for he 
 wanted to realize that his malice had struck home, 
 but Juarez did not give him that satisfaction. 
 There was a sort of hidden duel between these two, 
 the subtle Mexican and the crafty Indian nature of 
 Juarez. It remained to be seen who would win. 
 
 The four Frontier Boys went silently along down
 
 52 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 the dark canyon, each one occupied with his own 
 thoughts and the ill-omened Mexican guide in the 
 lead. Juarez kept a sharp lookout on either side 
 of the trail expecting an ambush. His horse seemed 
 to feel something of the strain his rider was under, 
 as a horse will. Once he shied at something he saw 
 in a clump of bushes, and nearly went off the trail. 
 It was only with the aid of Juarez's horsemanship 
 that he clawed his way back to safety. The Mexi- 
 can was much amused at this incident, and Jim 
 gave him a sharp call down.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 FARMER BROOM 
 
 We must now return to Captain Broom and his 
 escort, whom we left sitting on a hill covered with 
 trees near the Sebastian rancho. Old Pete's story 
 had been interrupted by the skipper's warning, 
 "Somebody is coming our way." 
 
 There was no question about that, they could 
 hear the someone coming towards the hill whistling 
 cheerfully. Then the form of a man could be seen, 
 coming up the slope of the elevation. 
 
 "I wonder where those altogether blessed cows 
 are," he was heard saying in Spanish, but of course, 
 this is a free and not a literal translation. 
 
 "They are generally hiding under these trees," 
 he continued. The sailors kept absolutely still and 
 old Pete covered the bowl of his pipe with his hand 
 so that its light might not discover them. 
 
 "Carambe!" cried the Mexican as he stopped 
 about three feet from the recumbent Captain, "I 
 fear my good master's cows have been smoking, 
 53
 
 54 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 not like nice Mexican cows, a cigarette, but a pipe 
 like a vile gringo. Come, get up, you black 
 brute," noticing the big bulk of the Captain for the 
 first time, and he hauled off and gave the skipper a 
 hearty kick on the haunch. 
 
 Never was there a more surprised greaser in the 
 whole ungainly length of California for this appar- 
 ently gentle cow that he kicked, (not for the first 
 time either) suddenly turned and grabbed him with 
 a powerful hand before he could yell, though he 
 was so frightened that he probably could not utter 
 a squeak. Another hand got him by the throat. 
 
 "Take me for a cow, did you, you bespangled 
 Manuello?" roared the Captain, and he waved the 
 aforesaid Manueilo about in his great grip as 
 though he had been a rag. 
 
 "No use killing the beggar, Captain," said the 
 mate. "Maybe he can tell us something." The 
 Captain let the Mexican drop and he lay on the 
 ground perfectly inert. 
 
 "He won't be able to say much right away," said 
 the Skipper. 
 
 It was now getting light, the first signs of dawn 
 showing above the mountains. As the darkness 
 was drawn away, they could see their position more 
 clearly and there came the sounds of the morning 
 from the direction of the ranch houses. The bark-
 
 FARMER BROOM 55 
 
 ing of dogs, the crowing of roosters, and the call 
 of human voices. 
 
 "I guess, lads, it's about time for us to have 
 something to eat," said the Captain, "because we 
 have got to do some tall climbing today and I want 
 to get an early start." 
 
 An expression of disgust showed itself on old 
 Pete's face at the idea of more walking, which the 
 Captain was quick to note. 
 
 "How would you like to stay here, Old Bones, 
 and look after Manuello?" said the skipper. But 
 Pete shook his head. 
 
 "I'll stay by the ship, Cap'n," said the old fellow 
 stoutly. 
 
 "Durn my buttons," said the Captain, whose 
 oaths were as mild as his actions were vicious, 
 "if you ain't a good old barnacle, Pete. I 
 wouldn't think of leaving you in such company as 
 this," and he gave the prostrate Mexican a shove 
 with his foot. Manuello looked up at the Captain 
 with an evil eye and a muttered curse. 
 
 This roused the fury of Captain Broom and he 
 held him off from the ground as if he had been 
 a rat, his jaws working ominously and a look in his 
 eyes that made the Mexican shrivel. 
 
 Nothing was said, not even by the Skipper, and 
 the others watched him fascinated as he glared at
 
 56 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 his victim, and even the iron composure of the 
 saturnine mate seemed to be moved partially aside. 
 The Mexican began to whimper and moan as his 
 eyes shifted to avoid the terrible ones of the Cap- 
 tain. He was not suffering any special violence, 
 but a strange tremor filled the soul of the Mexican, 
 in the grip of the grizzled giant. 
 
 As the greaser began to cry, the Captain gave a 
 roar of laughter and threw him aside upon the 
 ground, about all the humanity he had shriveled 
 out of him. He lay there absolutely without any 
 power of motion in his body. 
 
 Just then the crew of the Sea Eagle became 
 aware of the fact that a horned animal with big 
 brown eyes was looking at them. All the farmer 
 in the nature of Captain Broom came to the sur- 
 face. 
 
 "By Gum," he exclaimed, "if here ain't a bovine 
 cow looking at us. I ain't milked one for forty 
 years, but I'm not afeard to try. 'Member, Pete, 
 when we used to milk the cows back in old Connec- 
 ticut on the farm. After working in the hay all 
 day, I'd go down in the side hill pasture, that was 
 so steep that you had to hold on with your toes and 
 your teeth to keep from sliding down to the 
 brook." 
 
 "You bring it back to me just like it was a liv-
 
 FARMER BROOM 57 
 
 ing picture," said Pete, his hard face softening un- 
 der the gentle showers of memory. 
 
 "Then I'd drive the black and white one that 
 was breechy, and the red mooley, the yaller and 
 white that gave the richest milk. I'd drive them 
 into the stanchions in the old barn, with the ground 
 floor stoned up on the side, where it was sunk into 
 the hill." 
 
 "But it was winter, Cap'n," said Pete, "that it was 
 interesting doing the chores," and he blew remi- 
 niscently on his fingers, "snow two feet on the level 
 and the sun a piece of blue ice in the sky. A con- 
 demned sight better place than Californey, where 
 you don't feel no more alive than a enbalmed 
 corpse." 
 
 The Captain began now a series of manoeuvres to 
 get within range of one of the cows so that they 
 might have fresh milk for breakfast. He managed 
 it finally, and he certainly looked like a peaceful 
 old farmer as with his gray head against a fat red 
 cow's flank, he milked into a large tin cup. Pete se- 
 lected a black mooley and soothed by the man's 
 persuasive manner, she consented finally to give 
 down a thin blue stream. But the saturnine mate 
 was less successful as he knew much more about 
 navigating a ship than he did about cows. 
 
 Finally after much awkward manoeuvring, he got
 
 58 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 a cow cornered and began operations upon the left 
 side with the result that the cow landed upon him 
 with her hoof and sent him sprawling on his back 
 to the great delight of the Captain. 
 
 "Hurt bad, Bill?" inquired the Skipper with mock 
 sympathy, "I'm afeard that you will never make a 
 farmer." 
 
 "I never calkerlated to," replied the mate. "It 
 ain't my line of business." 
 
 "Don't tell me that," said the Captain, "I can see 
 that for myself. Come up here and I'll give you a 
 drink." 
 
 They had scarcely finished their simple breakfast 
 when Jack Cales gave a sudden alarm. 
 
 "Cap'n," he cried, "I see two men legging it our 
 way. They are making straight for the hill." 
 
 "I guess they are coming to see why Manuello 
 doesn't show up with the cows," remarked the Cap- 
 tain, "we don't want to stir up this hen roost as 
 we've got other chicken to fry. So we'll git." 
 
 "Take the greaser?" inquired Jack. 
 
 "You and the mate fetch him," said the Captain. 
 
 Just as the two men were mounting the hill, the 
 Captain and his crew made a swift sneak down the 
 opposite slope, and were soon making their way 
 through the bush towards the foot-hills. In a min- 
 ute they heard the cries of the two men as they
 
 FARMER BROOM 59 
 
 drove the herd of cows towards the home ranch for 
 the morning milking. The sun had now risen 
 above the eastern range just in front of them and 
 was blazing down upon the plain and the sea 
 beyond. There was something exhilarating in the 
 air in spite of the heat. 
 
 "We don't need the company of that greaser any 
 further," said Captain Broom, after they had made 
 some headway up a canyon back of the ranch build- 
 ings. So they took some rope grass, tough as 
 manilla, and tied him firmly, and, after having 
 gagged him, they left him to be found later by 
 some of his countrymen. 
 
 Then they toiled steadily up the trail of the 
 canyon, until about noon they reached a pocket in 
 the canyon where there was a pool of clear water 
 fed by an invisible spring. Coming to meet them 
 were four boys riding up the trail on the other 
 side of the range.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 THE CAMP IN THE POCKET 
 
 Under the guidance of the Mexican dwarf, the 
 four boys came at last to a halt. It seemed as if 
 the canyon down which they had been riding had 
 come to an end for there was a wall of rock directly 
 in front of them. 
 
 "Down there, Senor, is a pool of clear water," 
 announced the Mexican. 
 
 "Glad to hear it, Manuel," said Jim heartily. 
 
 "Did you ever see a picture, Jim," put in Juarez 
 significantly, "of a pool where the thirsty animals 
 have to come to drink and before they get their 
 noses in the water the hunter shoots them?" 
 
 But nothing of this dire nature happened and in 
 a few minutes the famished animals were pump- 
 ing the delicious water down their long, baked 
 throats. 
 
 "My Gracious, but that tastes good !" cried Tom, 
 drawing in a long, gasping breath, after he had 
 been drinking steadily for about a minute. "It 
 
 makes my head swim." 
 
 60
 
 THE CAMP IN THE POCKET 61 
 
 "I should think it would," said Jo, sarcastically, 
 "considering the amount you have drunk." 
 
 "You weren't far behind," grumbled Tom. "I 
 thought that you were not going to leave enough 
 for the horses." 
 
 "I don't especially like this place to camp in," 
 said Jim. "We are not accustomed to get in a 
 pocket like this. But it is too late to pull out to- 
 night and the horses need a rest, so we will keep 
 guard." 
 
 "Better drown the brown rat first," remarked 
 Juarez to Jim. But the latter only shook his head 
 and laughed. 
 
 The camp was made about twenty feet east of 
 the spring in a small grove of slender trees backed 
 by a high wall of steep granite, down which poured 
 a waterfall in the rainy season. 
 
 The fire was built upon a flat rock in the centre 
 of the grove where there was no danger of it catch- 
 ing in the grass and bushes which were dry as tin- 
 der. If once a mountain fire was started at the end 
 of the dry season there would be no stopping it 
 until it had devastated the whole country. 
 
 The light of the fire showed the usual cheery and 
 active scene that goes with making camp. How 
 many times the Frontier Boys had gone through 
 these preparations it is impossible to say. They
 
 62 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 had camped on the plains of Kansas, in the moun- 
 tains of Colorado, on the Mesas of New Mexico, 
 the banks of the Colorado river, and the Pampas 
 of Mexico. Now we find them in the coast range 
 of California. 
 
 It was not an especially dangerous country in 
 which they were camped, nothing to compare with 
 parts of Colorado and Mexico, but never were they 
 in greater danger than at the present moment and 
 this camp promised to be their last together, except 
 they had unusual luck. 
 
 There was a traitor in the company, and even 
 now four pairs of hostile eyes were watching them 
 as they moved in the light of the fire. The Captain 
 of the Sea Eagle and his three trusty men were 
 hidden in some bushes at the top of the pocket on 
 the western side. 
 
 Juarez and Jim busied themselves first in looking 
 after their horses. Removing the saddles they 
 rubbed down each animal thoroughly, clear to the 
 fetlocks and then gave them a good feed of grain. 
 Jo and Tom were on the supper committee and busy- 
 ing themselves making preparations for a square 
 meal. Manuello, who had been with the boys on 
 the other side of the range and was accustomed to. 
 help in odd chores about camp, now offered to aid 
 in getting the supper.
 
 THE CAMP IN THE POCKET 63 
 
 "I will make the coffee with your permission, 
 Senor Jo," he proposed. 
 
 "Do you savvy it all right, Manuello?" inquired 
 Jo. 
 
 "Ah, yes, Senor. I can make such coffee as the 
 Holy Father would be pleased to drink," he re- 
 plied with fervor. 
 
 "Not too strong because it keeps me awake," pro- 
 tested Tom. 
 
 "No, no, Senor Thomas," replied Manuello 
 with a sweeping bow, "the coffee I make is very 
 soothing. It will give you a long, soft sleep." 
 There was an undertone of subtle irony that was 
 entirely lost upon the two straightforward boys. 
 
 "That's a good fellow, Manuello," said Jo, cor- 
 dially, and he handed the coffee pot filled with 
 water to the Mexican, who went about the prepara- 
 tion of it with a deftness that showed that he knew 
 what he was about. Not one of the boys saw him 
 slip a white powder into the coffee pot. It quickly 
 dissolved and the coffee began to bubble innocently 
 enough under the eyes of the hunchback Manuello. 
 
 Juarez and Jim just then came back from looking 
 after the horses which were fastened near the wall 
 of rock. As soon as Juarez saw the Mexican 
 watching over the coffee pot, his eyes narrowed 
 with suspicion.
 
 64 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 "Who made the coffee?" he asked Jo, bluntly. 
 
 "Manuello," replied Jo. 
 
 "The Senor will find the coffee truly delicious," 
 said the hunchback with a bow, "only the Mexican 
 knows how to keep its aroma when boiling it." 
 
 "Humph," grunted Juarez, and he went deliber- 
 ately to the fire and lifted the coffee pot off and 
 poured its contents on the ground. 
 
 "The American does not care for the aroma of 
 your Mexican coffee," he said coolly. 
 
 The Mexican merely gave a peculiar hitch to his 
 shoulder, spat on the ground and turned away ap- 
 parently mortally offended as he, no doubt, was. 
 That part of his scheme had been blocked by the 
 craftiness of Juarez, but the Captain might make 
 good where his spy had failed. 
 
 The Mexican sat back in the shadow on a rock 
 smoking a cigarette, while the boys ate their 
 supper of beans, meat, bread and coffee. He was 
 the skeleton at the feast as it were, not only his 
 malignant humor made itself felt, but there was a 
 sense of depression that they could not shake off, 
 try as they would. 
 
 This was so unusual that they could not account 
 for it. As a rule, they were jolly and even when 
 danger was impending, they felt a certain confi- 
 dence and assurance, but not so tonight.
 
 THE CAMP IN THE POCKET 65 
 
 "What makes us feel so on the bum tonight, do 
 you suppose?" asked Tom. 
 
 "Maybe this canyon is haunted," proposed Jo, 
 who had an imaginative streak in him. 
 
 "I tell you the way I figure it," said Jim. "We 
 are not used to camping in a hollow like this, for 
 before this we have always selected a place that 
 we could defend, and though there is no particular 
 danger from outlaws or Indians in these mountains, 
 we can't shake off our old habits." 
 
 "I believe there is something in that," acquiesced 
 Jo- 
 
 "It's that rat over there," said Juarez loudly. 
 
 The Mexican laughed coolly and insolently, and 
 lighted another cigarette. This would have mad- 
 dened an excitable person, but Juarez was in a 
 stoical mood and he contented himself with fling- 
 ing a bone that he had been gnawing at, carelessly 
 over his shoulder, almost striking the Mexican in 
 the face. 
 
 This set that peppery individual wild and he tore 
 around considerably, tearing his hair, stamping his 
 feet and sputtering with maledictions at the insult 
 that had been offered him. 
 
 "I am no dog that you can throw a bone to." 
 and he sizzled off into a string of unpleasant re- 
 marks.
 
 66 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 "Here you, Manuello," roared Jim, rising to his 
 feet and standing over the Mexican, "not another 
 yelp out of you." 
 
 Manuello had a respect for this big American 
 lad much as he despised his simplicity and he 
 sobered down. Besides he had not finished his 
 work for the night. He had failed to get the sleep- 
 ing drug to the boys in the coffee and now he must 
 be ready to help his master, Captain Broom of the 
 Sea Eagle, in some other way. 
 
 There was a person whom he feared and admired 
 absolutely and he had been a most useful spy and 
 agent for the Skipper in certain nefarious plots. 
 It was well for the little hunchback that no one 
 knew of his share in the betraying of old Juan Se- 
 bastian some years before. 
 
 "You will have the first watch, Jo," ordered Jim. 
 "It is now nine o'clock. I will relieve you at 
 eleven and stand guard until two. Juarez from 
 two until five and Tom can have the short watch." 
 
 According to this arrangement, Jim and Juarez 
 would be on guard during the danger hours. 
 
 How many times in the past had the boys stood 
 guard over their camp. Was this to be the last 
 guard? There were the old Kansas days, when 
 they had to be on the watch against horse fhieves. 
 Then came the dangerous crisis in their Colorado
 
 67 
 
 experiences, when they had to guard against the 
 wiles of the Indians. And most exciting of all, 
 perhaps, the night in old Mexico when they camped 
 on the trail of the outlaws. I wonder if Jo, the 
 first on duty, thought of these old times that night. 
 Probably not, his mind being fully occupied with 
 the business in hand.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 THE ATTACK 
 
 So the three boys rolled into their blankets with 
 the saddles for pillows and dropped immediately to 
 sleep as they were very tired from the long, hard 
 ride. They lay at different points around the fire, 
 which was allowed to die down as the fog seemed 
 like a warm gray blanket over the whole landscape. 
 
 Jo sat on a log by the slowly dying fire, with his 
 rifle on his knees looking into the darkness and not 
 far from him lay the Mexican a mere dark lump 
 on the ground, apparently asleep, but keeping a 
 wary eye on all around. Imperceptibly he crept 
 nearer to where Jo was sitting, but he did not have 
 the weapon he would have preferred in his hand, 
 the stiletto, which was as natural to him as the 
 fangs to a rattlesnake. 
 
 But it did not suit the long-headed Captain 
 Broom to have the boys killed. He wanted their 
 life as well as their money, but in a different sense 
 than the adage has it. From what he had heard of 
 them, they were boys of unusual mettle and varied 
 68
 
 THE ATTACK 69 
 
 acquirements. If caught young, he could train 
 them to good purpose. If they proved worthless, 
 he would hold them for ransom. 
 
 So Captain Broom had told Manuello briefly and 
 to the point that there was to be no rib-sticking and 
 the Mexican would have thought as soon of dis- 
 obeying the commands of the Evil One as of going 
 contrary to the instructions of the Captain. So as 
 he crept towards Jo, he held not a poniard in his 
 clenched hand, but a heavy weapon like a black- 
 jack, made of leather with a weight at the end. 
 
 Jo, however, spoiled his first attempt, for when 
 the greaser had got within striking distance, Jo got 
 up and went down to the pool to get a drink. If it 
 had not been so dark, when they arrived, the boys 
 would have seen tracks around the pool that would 
 have aroused their suspicions. But everything 
 seemed to work against them this time. 
 
 Jo stooped down at the brink and scarcely put 
 his thirsty lips to the water when some instinct of 
 warning made him look quickly around and he saw 
 a small dark object directly back of him. 
 
 "Pardon, Senor, for startling you;" it was the 
 voice of the dwarf, "but I, too, was very thirsty. It 
 is in the air." 
 
 "You needn't have been so quiet about it," said 
 Jo, crossly. This little rat always had a way of
 
 ;o FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 baffling and irritating him, because he did not have 
 Jim's force, which could beat down the dwarf when 
 occasion demanded it, or the stoicism of Juarez, 
 which blocked the hunchback. 
 
 "I came softly, Senor," said the Mexican, im- 
 perturbably, "because I did not wish to disturb the 
 slumbers of the Senors who are resting." 
 
 "Get down and drink, then," said Jo, who, 
 though he realized that the Mexican was up to 
 some hidden deviltry, did not know how to meet 
 him. Jim and Juarez would have knocked him out 
 of the camp if they had discovered him trailing 
 them, with a warning that he would be shot if he 
 put in an appearance again. 
 
 While the Mexican was pretending to drink, Jo 
 satisfied his thirst at a point of the pool where he 
 would be safe from a sudden attack by the hunch- 
 back. For Jo was not a fool by any means. Then 
 he got to his feet and with the Mexican ahead of 
 him, he saw to that, he made his way back to the 
 camp. 
 
 Scarcely had Jo seated himself upon the rock 
 again than he heard a stick snap upon the mountain 
 side above the horses, so he got to his feet to inves- 
 tigate. 
 
 "You can stay where you are, Manuello," said
 
 THE ATTACK 71 
 
 Jo. "I don't need your company this time." The 
 Mexican laughed softly to himself. 
 
 "I hope the Senor Americano will not get lone- 
 some," he said. 
 
 Jo made a careful search in the direction of the 
 sound but found no sign of a human being lurking 
 among the trees. Though he felt exceedingly 
 nervous, he was unable to account therefor or give 
 a reason. 
 
 Very quietly he went the rounds, so as not to 
 awake the boys, who, however, were sleeping heav- 
 ily. He found the horses all right standing with 
 drooping heads as though dozing, Jo's black with 
 his neck over Tom's bay, as these horses were 
 great chums. But Caliente and Juarez's roan were 
 not sociable and kept strictly to themselves. 
 
 Then Jo returned to the rock where he had been 
 sitting. He stirred the dying fire so that it sent up 
 a feeble spurt of flame by the aid of which he 
 looked at his watch. It lacked a few minutes of 
 ten. The Mexican had -taken up his old place on 
 the ground watching for his chance. He was 
 anxious that the attack should take place during 
 Jo's watch for he had his doubts in regard to 
 Juarez or the redoubtable Jim proving easy victims. 
 
 All this time, Captain Bill Broom and his crew 
 had been keeping watch upon their intended victims
 
 72 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 from the top of the cliff above the pool. They 
 could see every move from the time the Frontier 
 Boys had arrived until they lay down near the 
 smouldering fire. 
 
 "They are a husky lot," was the Captain's first 
 comment. "That tall fellar, I guess, is a horse 
 tamer and Injun fighter." 
 
 Some time later when the altercation occurred 
 about the coffee and Juarez expressed his opinion 
 about the Mexican, the Captain could scarcely keep 
 from haw-hawing right out. 
 
 "Them fellars have got some dis'pline," com- 
 mented the saturnine mate. 
 
 "You're right they hev," said the Captain. 
 
 "That lad don't know how to handle my pet 
 rattlesnake," was the Captain's comment when the 
 Mexican trailed Jo to the drinking pool. After 
 Jo had returned from making his rounds and had 
 resumed his guard again, the Captain decided that 
 the time had come for action. 
 
 "Now, lads," he ordered, "pull off your shoes 
 and the first man that makes a sound will get his 
 neck cracked. Knock 'em out, if necessary, but 
 no killing this time." 
 
 Then they started, the Captain in the lead, and 
 old Pete bringing up the rear. They had had a 
 good many hours in that vicinity and had made a
 
 THE ATTACK 73 
 
 path from their hiding place to the soft dust trail. 
 So they moved in their sock feet without a sound. 
 There ,/as an oppressive stillness in that dark can- 
 yon under the heavy blanket of fog. 
 
 Already it had began to lower and as the sailors 
 advanced with snail-like slowness the heavy white 
 fog settled down, filling the canyon with its white 
 opaqueness. You could not see five feet in front, 
 and the moisture beaded itself upon the eyebrows 
 and mustaches of the men. 
 
 This dense fog was a great help to the attack- 
 ing party. They had now crawled half way down 
 the main trail, when Pete came near putting all the 
 fat in the fire, for his eyesight was not overly keen, 
 and the fog made it more difficult for him. He did 
 not see a round stone poised on the edge of the 
 trail until it rolled down towards the pool. 
 
 Although every sound was deadened by the fog, 
 still the watchful Jo heard it distinctly. He got 
 quickly to his feet and, with soft moccasined tread 
 he went in the direction of the sound, his pistol in 
 his hand. 
 
 No sooner had the stone fallen than the Captain 
 motioned the mate to halt. This signal was re- 
 peated to Jack Cales, who was so hidden by the 
 fog that he could not see the Captain. He stopped
 
 74 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 suddenly so that old Pete tumbled over him, mak- 
 ing some noise. 
 
 The Captain almost had a fit of apoplexy because 
 he did not dare express himself at this interesting 
 juncture. Jo had heard the noise on the trail and 
 his suspicions centered in that direction. Noise- 
 lessly he went up with slight footprints in the 
 damp dust of the trail. The Captain waited his 
 coming, crouched behind a bend in the trail. 
 
 Then Jo saw a huge figure rising suddenly out 
 of the fog in front of him and, before he could fire, 
 a great hand gripped for his throat, but if he could 
 not shoot in defense, at least he could give his com- 
 rades warning. He fired one shot, and then he was 
 overpowered. 
 
 Jim and Juarez heard it instantly. Then Man- 
 uello got in some of his work. Before Juarez 
 could rise, he struck him a vicious blow upon the 
 head that stunned him, rendering him unconscious. 
 Cold with fury, Jim picked up the rat of a Mexi- 
 can before he could land a blow upon him, whirled 
 him over his head and dashed him upon the ground. 
 
 Then he sprang through the fog in the direction 
 of the shot. He heard Jo groan as the ruffians 
 overpowered him and he leaped up the trail blind 
 with a fighting rage. The Captain had just got up
 
 THE 'ATTACK 75 
 
 from the struggle with Jo, who lay as good as dead 
 in the trail. 
 
 Then Jim hurled himself upon him. Powerful 
 though he was, the Captain could not withstand the 
 sinewy lurch of that sudden attack and together 
 boy and man crashed from the trail over rocks 
 and through brush until with a fearful impact they 
 struck the trunk of a pine tree. 
 
 The mate sprang swiftly down to the rescue of 
 his fallen master. He was a strong, sinewy man 
 and knew how to act in an emergency.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 "HAUL IN" 
 
 The jar of the fall had knocked out the Captain 
 partially and Jim had risen to give him the coup 
 de grace, when he heard the rush of the mate com- 
 ing down, through the fog. It was a strange sen- 
 sation hearing your enemy but not able to see him. 
 
 Then the mate plunged into view, a dark ball 
 through the opaqueness. He could not have 
 stopped if he had so desired and it was evident that 
 he did not wish to. For, with lowered head, he 
 came for Jim as he would for an ugly sailor. 
 
 Jim stopped him with his shoulder and ripped in 
 a right uppercut with his keen hard fist that would 
 have stopped the heart action of an ordinary man, 
 and it sent the seasoned mate back upon his 
 haunches, partially dazed. Feeling the Captain 
 squirming back to life, he planted a back blow with 
 his heel in the latter's stomach that took the wind 
 out of the Captain's sails for the time being. The 
 mate, a really hardy individual, had made good use 
 76
 
 "HAUL IN" 77 
 
 of the brief respite and, picking up a heavy stick, 
 came for Jim with it. 
 
 The latter dodged the blow aimed at his head 
 and it glanced or! his shoulder. Then he closed 
 with the sailor, struggling to put him out. Three 
 seconds more and Jim would have landed the 
 proper blow, had not Jack Cales arrived upon the 
 scene under cover of the melee. Before Jim could 
 turn to meet this new assailant, a stone crashed 
 against his head and the frontier boys had lost 
 
 The Captain had now recovered sufficiently to 
 get on his feet, and the fallen Jim was kicked until 
 the Captain himself called a halt. 
 
 "Wait till we get him on board ship, lads," he 
 said, "and we will finish this job." 
 
 "Better get the other two, Cap'n," advised the 
 mate. 
 
 So they dragged the prostrate Jim to the foot of 
 the trail near where the drinking pool was and went 
 to look for Juarez and Tom. They saw a small 
 black object crawling towards them through the 
 fog. 
 
 "What's this a coming?" asked Jack Cales. 
 
 "Why, it's my Mexican ferret," said the Captain. 
 "What's the matter, Manuello?" he asked as he 
 turned him over none too gently with his foot. 
 
 "The big Senor throw me over his head and on
 
 78 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 the ground. I think I crack the world open," he 
 explained. The Captain roared with laughter. 
 
 "Where is the rest of this dangerous gang?" he 
 asked. 
 
 "I will show you," he said, struggling to his feet. 
 The presence of his master gave him strength and 
 confidence. "This way, Senor Captain." 
 
 He brought them to where Juarez lay upon the 
 ground, partially held up by Tom, who had been 
 crying and endeavoring to bring his comrade back 
 to consciousness from the ugly blow that the Mexi- 
 can had given him. I am sure that none could 
 blame Tom for tears upon this occasion for it was 
 calculated to try the heart of the stoutest. 
 
 "Why, this boy looks like an Indian," said the 
 Captain regarding Juarez closely. 
 
 "He lived with the Indians when a boy, Senor 
 Captain," volunteered the dwarf, who by subtle 
 means of his own had become possessed of the 
 history of the four boys. 
 
 "He don't seem to be much more than a boy, 
 now," said the Captain. They had not paid much 
 attention to Tom because he seemed a mere kid, 
 but the hunchback was not to be caught napping, 
 for he had worked around back of Tom, and as 
 the latter aimed his revolver at the Captain, having 
 worked it cautiously out of his holster, the dwarf
 
 "HAUL IN" 79 
 
 grabbed him in the nick of time else the expedition 
 would have lost its head. 
 
 Instead of being infuriated as one might have 
 expected, the Captain was decidedly amused at the 
 temerity of the youngster, for that is all Tom 
 appeared to him, and, therefore, he did not hand 
 him a beating. 
 
 "The nerve of the little rooster," guffawed the 
 Captain. "I'll make a real pirate out of you." 
 
 Tom struggled wildly, but it was no use, as 
 Jack Cales and the mate disarmed him. Just then 
 there came a loud yell from up the trail. 
 
 "Haul in, Cap'n !" It was Old Pete's well known 
 and melodious voice. 
 
 "Jack, go and see what the old cuss wants," or- 
 dered the Captain. "I expect that the lad up there 
 is trying to kidnap Pete." 
 
 When Jack arrived on the scene, he found that 
 the Skipper had guessed right. For Jo had been 
 playing possum and was not nearly so badly hurt 
 as he had appeared to be. 
 
 He came near escaping from his keeper and it 
 was only by a quick forward lunge that Pete had 
 grabbed him and then occurred a short struggle 
 in which Pete had called for help and just as Jo 
 had wrestled himself loose, Cales appeared and
 
 80 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 grabbed him. It took both Pete and Cales quite a 
 while to subdue him. 
 
 Finally it was accomplished and they made him. 
 go down the trail, one on either side. At the foot 
 of the incline he saw the bruised and battered form 
 of Jim lying on the ground and a big lump came 
 into his throat. 
 
 "You fellows will pay for this," he said, rendered 
 desperate by the sight of Jim. But his captors 
 only laughed, not realizing that the Frontier Boys 
 were apt to keep their word. 
 
 Then they joined the main gang and Jo saw to 
 his dismay that Tom and Juarez were in the coils 
 as well as himself and that Juarez, too, had been 
 laid out and appeared dazed and only partially 
 conscious of what was going on. Thus there was 
 little hope of escape with the two leaders, Jim and 
 Juarez, done for. 
 
 "Better search these beggars for their money, 
 Captain," suggested the mate. 
 
 "It hadn't slipped my mind," replied the Skipper. 
 
 Now the money and the jewels that the boys 
 had found in Mexico were in leather belts around 
 their bodies. These were soon in the possession 
 of the Captain, but the crew knew full well that 
 they would receive their share and thus it was that
 
 "HAUL IN" 81 
 
 the Skipper gave promise of living to a ripe old 
 age instead of being murdered for his money. 
 
 "It's about time to make a start, Cap'n," an- 
 nounced the mate, and the Captain consulted his 
 watch by the light of a lantern. He found that 
 it was half -past eleven. 
 
 "We won't be so long going back," he said. 
 "We will use their horses." 
 
 This was easier said than done, for when any of 
 the crew approached Caliente, that noble animal 
 became transformed into a tiger and as he came 
 for them with bared teeth or whirled and kicked 
 out with his heels, they decided that discretion 
 was the better part of valor and they left him alone. 
 Sailors at best are not very clever horsemen. 
 
 "Let me have a chance and I'll quiet him for 
 you," volunteered Jim gruffly. "I don't want to 
 see you poor fellows eaten alive." 
 
 "My lad," said the Skipper solemnly, "I'm no 
 spring chicken and you can't catch me with any 
 such chaff."
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 MISSOURI'S MANOEUVRE 
 
 The other three horses proved more tractable than 
 Caliente, and after some skirmishing they managed 
 to get their new ships rigged up with the saddles 
 and other tackle. Now as soon as they got their 
 cargo aboard, they would be prepared to set sail 
 and to cruise over the plains. (I must use this 
 nautical language out of respect for Captain 
 Broom and his crew.) 
 
 As I have said before, sailors are poor horsemen 
 and when it came to making fast the double 
 cinches, they were quite at sea, where sailors should 
 be, perhaps. Old Pete came near getting his head 
 kicked off by pulling the back cinch too tight, but 
 he and Captain Broom profited by their youthful 
 experience on a New England farm, so the horses 
 were finally all saddled and bridled and ready for a 
 flight except Caliente. He was to be left ma- 
 rooned in the lonely canyon. 
 
 It was surprising to Jim and his comrades how 
 quietly Juarez's roan took matters, but there is no 
 relying on a broncho, because he always does the 
 82
 
 MISSOURI'S MAN(EUVRE 83 
 
 unexpected, and the Captain was so pleased with 
 his behavior that he decided to ride the animal 
 himself. 
 
 "Now, that's what I call a well broken hoss," 
 he said. "I ain't so sure of the black so I will let 
 you cruise on him, Jack, being the most active. 
 I don't know what I shall do for Pete, unless I 
 can find him a rocking-horse." 
 
 "What are you going to do with the boys?" 
 inquired the mate. "Have 'em walk?" 
 
 "They can ride their pack mule," said the Cap- 
 tain grimly. 
 
 So Jo, Juarez and Jim were securely fastened 
 on the patient mule, while Tom rode behind the 
 mate upon his own horse, but no longer as master. 
 Then the queer procession started up the trail 
 through the dense fog. The Captain was in the lead, 
 followed by the mate with Tom, then the mule with 
 Pete and the Mexican dwarf guarding the animal 
 and its cargo, while the active Jack Cales was the 
 rear guard. It was exactly twelve o'clock when 
 they weighed anchor and sailed from the harbor 
 or cove in the mountain canyon. 
 
 The three boys said little to each other. They 
 did not waste their breath with threats of what 
 they would do to their captors later on, but accepted 
 the situation with true western stoicism. But you
 
 84 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 may be sure that their minds were active even if 
 their tongues said little. 
 
 They were so securely tied that there was no 
 chance for them to make a move as their arms 
 were corded tight to their bodies and their feet 
 were tied under the belly of the mule. Unless they 
 had been experienced riders they would have had 
 a difficult time of it. But it was terribly humiliat- 
 ing, especially under the insolence of the malignant 
 Mexican. But he did not dare do them any actual 
 injury, because the Skipper had given him a warn- 
 ing which he did not dare to disregard. Finally, 
 old Pete put an end to his slurring remarks to the 
 prisoners, so he had to content himself with ugly 
 looks and frequent expectoration wherewith to 
 express his disgust. 
 
 Before they reached the foot of the trail, Jack 
 Cales changed with Pete, though the latter de- 
 murred at first, at boarding the strange black craft 
 with four legs, but finally consented under the urg- 
 ing of Jack and the warm recommendation of the 
 boys, who had taken somewhat of a fancy to the 
 old sailor, since 'he had shut up the Mexican in 
 their behalf. 
 
 "He won't hurt you, Pop," said Jim, "he is a 
 good horse. Any lady could ride him." 
 
 "I ain't no lady," replied the old fellow suspi-
 
 MISSOURI'S MANCEUVRE 85 
 
 ciously, as he slowly and stiffly mounted, while 
 Jack held his head, that is to say, the horse's 
 head, not Pete's. 
 
 "What did he do that for?" inquired Pete, 
 anxiously, preparing to dismount. 
 
 "Stay on, you old Barnacle," roared the Captain 
 from the head of the procession, for though he 
 could not see anything in the rear, still he seerried 
 able to keep an instinctive tab on his old comrade 
 Pete. 
 
 "That horse is all right, Pop," said Jo, "and I 
 ought to know. I've ridden him a good many 
 hundred miles. Don't tickle him with your heels, 
 that's all." 
 
 "I guess, that's what I've done," admitted Pete. 
 
 Then the procession resumed its march with 
 Pete as rear guard, riding with due caution and 
 circumspection as though his craft was loaded with 
 dynamite and liable to explode at any time. Jack 
 Cales tried to quiz the prisoners on the mule in a 
 friendly way, but they would not relax in their 
 attitude of grim, if not sullen, defiance towards 
 their captors. 
 
 Captain Broom need not think that his prisoners 
 would ever accept any conditions from him. 
 Doubtless, he thought that these boys might be 
 trained to help him in his business for he appre-
 
 86 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 elated their courage and fighting ability, but he did 
 not fully understand what stuff the frontier boys 
 were made of. 
 
 The procession of pirates and their prisoners had 
 now reached the foot of the range and were in close 
 proximity to the ranch, but everything favored the 
 plans of the Skipper of the Sea Eagle. The fog 
 became denser when they reached the level plain 
 so that it was scarcely possible for the rider to see 
 the ears of his horse. 
 
 Every sound was deadened, so that they could 
 have gone directly past the ranch houses and not 
 even the dogs would have heard them. But the 
 Captain was determined to take no chances, and 
 as soon as the party were free of the canyon, he 
 bore off toward the south, making quite a circuit. 
 
 Anybody but an experienced navigator would 
 have been lost in the fog upon the plain, but you 
 could not lose Captain Broom either on the high 
 seas or the low plains. They passed between two 
 wooded hills, which the reader will have to take 
 on faith as he cannot see them. Then across a 
 gully, on the other side of which they came to a 
 barb wire fence. 
 
 This did not stop them long, as the Captain cut 
 it and they rode through. From the footing which 
 was about all that could be observed, they appeared
 
 MISSOURI'S MANOEUVRE 87 
 
 to be in a pasture land with a gentle slope towards 
 the sea. The fog did not diminish in thickness and 
 the boys determined to escape. Here was their 
 chance, if they could be said to have one. 
 
 "Here's where we make a break," said Jim to 
 Juarez. "Guide the mule alongside of Tom. Then 
 we will run for it." Jim did not say this in so many 
 words, but he had ways and means of indicating to 
 Juarez, who was tied directly back of him, by a sign 
 and poke language which Juarez was quick to seize. 
 
 It seemed at every turn that his experience with 
 the Indians was a help to him. The mule was a 
 protege of Juarez and with a word he could guide 
 it in any direction that he wished it to go. The 
 fog was one thing that favored them. The Mexi- 
 can could scarcely be seen and Jack Cales stalked 
 along looking like a giant through the mist. 
 
 He had grown somewhat lax through the long 
 march. This was the time, if ever. Jim gave 
 Juarez the signal that all was ready. A quick word 
 to the mule and he trotted out from his place in 
 the column, knocking over the Mexican and before 
 Cales was fairly awake to the situation, he was 
 obscured by the fog. 
 
 In about two seconds he had hove alongside of 
 the horse that the mate was on. Tom was foot- 
 loose, and no sooner did he see Missouri's long
 
 88 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 ears through the fog, than he was ready for action. 
 
 "Jump, Tom," urged Jim. It took only about 
 two seconds for Tom to execute the manoeuvre. 
 
 "Halt!" roared the Captain, and he tried to turn 
 the roan to capture the runaways, but right here, 
 the broncho strain in the animal showed itself. 
 
 He began to buck and never in all his experience 
 had the redoubtable Captain Broom ever been on 
 so choppy a sea. It was hard to distinguish fog 
 from whiskers. At the second hunch upward, the 
 Captain shot into space. The boys did not tarry to 
 watch for his descent. A word from Juarez to the 
 mule, and Missouri turned directly south just as 
 Jack Cales came rushing up. 
 
 "Touch him with your foot, Tom," said Juarez, 
 meaning the mule, not Cales. Tom's heel reached 
 the right spot and up flew the mule's hind feet with 
 the rapidity of a rapid fire-gun. 
 
 One foot struck Cales on the shoulder with a 
 sufficient impact to send him down and out. The 
 mate had been involved in the cyclone of which 
 Captain Broom was the centre. Tom's horse, con- 
 sidered the gentlest of the four, had become in- 
 fected with the roan's example and he started in 
 to do a little bucking on his own account. Never 
 since the mate had rounded Cape Horn, had he 
 known so much action in so short a time.
 
 MISSOURI'S MANOEUVRE 89 
 
 The only one left was Old Pete and he came on 
 right gallantly, but by dodging and turning they 
 got away in the fog. After putting what they con- 
 sidered a safe distance between themselves and 
 their former captors, Juarez persuaded Missouri 
 to halt, and Tom went to work and with great 
 difficulty first untied, then lifted, them to the 
 ground for the boys were as stiff as boards from 
 being tied hard and fast for so long a time. 
 
 "My, but it certainly hurts," said Jo, stamping 
 around in an endeavor to get the blood to circulat- 
 ing again. "It's just like it used to be back home 
 in the winter when we would go skating and get 
 our hands numb." 
 
 "What is the matter, Juarez?" asked Jim in 
 alarm. 
 
 "Oh, I'm all right, I guess," he said in a voice 
 that sounded faint to the boys and far away to him- 
 self. Then, without warning, he fell over on the 
 ground and stiffened out. 
 
 "It's from the blow that the greaser gave him," 
 said Tom. "It would have killed him if it had 
 struck him fair." 
 
 "Wait until I get my hands on him," cried Jim, 
 significantly. 
 
 What should they do now? It was not an easy 
 question to decide.
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 THE RANCHERO 
 
 They could not desert Juarez and they could not 
 get far with him. It was enough to stagger them 
 and it seemed that they had reached the end of their 
 resources. 
 
 "If it wasn't such an open country," said Jo, 
 "we might hide until they had got out of range and 
 then get to the nearest ranch." 
 
 "If they overtake us we can stand them off," 
 saying this Jim reached for his revolver. To his 
 astonishment it was gone. Then he remembered 
 he had been disarmed by Captain Broom, and they 
 were absolutely defenseless unless they could de- 
 pend on Missouri's heels which had furnished them 
 such active protection. 
 
 Finally they brought Juarez around so that he 
 was able to sit up. 
 
 "Where am I ?" he asked in a sort of daze. 
 
 "You will be all right in a minute, old chap," en- 
 couraged Jim, speaking cheerfully, but he did not 
 
 feel so. 
 
 90
 
 THE RANCHERO 91 
 
 "You bet I will," he assented feebly, but with 
 invincible determination. "What are you holding 
 me for, Jim? Let's get at those fellows." It was 
 evident that his mind was not exactly clear yet. 
 They got him on his feet and he seemed better, 
 though still very wabbly. 
 
 "There come those fellows," cried Jim, sud- 
 denly, with more of despair in his tone than he had 
 ever spoken before, no matter how hard pressed 
 they had been. But before there had always been 
 something to do, but now they were helpless. Jim 
 looked hastily around for some weapon. All he 
 found was a small round stone. 
 
 With a yell of exultation, Jack Cales and the 
 mate dashed down upon them, followed by the Cap- 
 tain and old Pete. They had been able to follow 
 the distinctive mark of the mule's shoes in the soft 
 earth until they came in hearing of the boys' voices. 
 Then they jumped upon them. They were out for 
 blood this time, for they had the boys' revolvers in 
 their hands, probably because they were better than 
 their own. 
 
 Missouri, finding himself free, made off. Tom 
 halted when covered by one of the sailor's revol- 
 vers, but Jim dodged as the mate fired at him. The 
 lug of lead spattered the mud between his feet, the
 
 92 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 next second he was off full speed through the fog, 
 followed by fleet Jo. 
 
 The sailors soon gave up the useless chase, for 
 there was no trail to guide them, so they had to 
 content themselves with half of their original cap- 
 ture and they started for the cove where the Sea 
 Eagle was anchored as fast as they could go, 
 though they were hampered by Juarez. 
 
 "Better leave him, Captain," urged old Pete. 
 "He is nothing but a nuisance." 
 
 "I'll have use for that fellow yet," said the Cap- 
 tain. "As for the other lad, he won't feel so lively 
 after a few days on shipboard." 
 
 This did not have a very cheerful sound for Tom 
 and he was in anything but a happy frame of mind. 
 Still he had great confidence in Jim and did not 
 give up hope of being rescued before the coast was 
 reached. It was now getting towards daybreak, 
 and the fog began to lift somewhat so that they 
 could see a distance of thirty or forty yards. 
 
 Captain Broom's gang had now left the region 
 of the level pasture and were coming to the brush 
 section, fringing the coast, and beyond that they 
 reached the sand dunes. The nearer they came to 
 the sea the more depressed Tom became. The only 
 thing that encouraged him was the fact that Juarez 
 began to seem like himself.
 
 THE RANCHERO 93 
 
 Let us now return to Jo and Jim, who had been 
 so fortunate as to make their escape. As soon as 
 they were sure that the pursuit was at an end, they 
 slowed down to a walk. 
 
 "Well, they didn't give us much of a chase," 
 remarked Jim. 
 
 "Plenty to suit me. What are we going to do 
 now ?" 
 
 "This fog is beginning to lift," said Jim, "and 
 then we can take our bearings. I want to locate 
 this ranch the first thing, and then we can get 
 help." 
 
 "Here's a wire fence," announced Jo, "I reckon 
 it's the one the old geser cut." 
 
 "It surely is and a straight course north is our 
 direction," remarked Jim. 
 
 "Here are hills that look like those we rode 
 through," said Jo. 
 
 "We will soon be there now," was Jim's cheer- 
 ful comment "What's that? It sounds like a dog 
 barking." They stopped, listening intently, as the 
 sound came faint, but there was no mistaking it. 
 
 "I suppose it's some big hound, that they usually 
 keep on these ranches," said Jo, who was beginning 
 to feel depressed from hunger and fatigue, "and 
 he will jump at us because we haven't any 
 weapons."
 
 94 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 But in spite of Jo's fear they hurried on in the 
 direction of the sound. In a short time, they came 
 to a road between two barb wire fences, which the 
 reader will remember that the Captain and his crew 
 took when they were coming through the Sebastian 
 ranch. But the boys struck it higher up, and were 
 soon in the pasture that sloped down from the ranch 
 houses toward the road. 
 
 Jim and Jo now heard the voices of men as well 
 as the baying of the dogs. The men were talking 
 excitedly about the finding of one of their number 
 in the canyon tied and gagged, and it was evi- 
 dent that it was not a good time for strangers to 
 visit the ranch of the Sebastians. 
 
 But Jim and Jo were dulled to danger and did 
 not care what risk they ran and so they called to the 
 men in a friendly Spanish greeting. There was 
 instantly a great hubbub, and two men charged 
 down upon them, preceded by a couple of fierce- 
 looking mongrels. These came dashing for them 
 with red, gaping mouths. The boys defended 
 themselves gallantly with two stout sticks that they 
 had picked up. Then the two Mexicans took a 
 hand. 
 
 "Look out, Jo," cried Jim, who was ever on the 
 alert. "That fellow is going to throw his lasso." 
 Jo dodged just in the nick of time, but this gave
 
 THE RANCHERO 95 
 
 one of the dogs a chance, and if Jim had not 
 stunned him by a resounding crack on the head it 
 would have gone hard with his brother. 
 
 Just then another man appeared on the scene, at- 
 tracted from the vicinity of the house by the noise 
 of the encounter. He came full speed on a splen- 
 did sorrel. It was Juan Sebastian, a dark, hand- 
 some young man, a true son of Spain. 
 
 What's all this ?" he cried as he rode up. "Here, 
 Sancho, Jan, you brutes, come off." The dogs 
 slunk obediently to heel. 
 
 "We found those insolent Gringoes," said one of 
 the men, "coming straight for the Senor's house. 
 We undertook to stop them." 
 
 "Senor," said Jim, bowing low and speaking in 
 his best Spanish, "we are sorry, my brother and I, 
 to have caused this disturbance. We are stran- 
 gers and unfortunate, and we have heard of your 
 hospitality, Senor" Jim bowed again. He was 
 not so simple, after all. 
 
 The Senor Sebastian returned the bow with 
 more grace than Jim could command. 
 
 "I regret, Senor " he hesitated. 
 
 "Darlington," added Jim. 
 
 "Senor Darlington, that you have been at- 
 tacked in this manner, but there has been a party 
 of desperadoes that have been overrunning this
 
 96 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 part of the country for the past two days, and 
 they took one of my men and bound and gagged 
 him and so you see, Senors," a smile and bow 
 completed the Spanish gentleman's apology per- 
 fectly. 
 
 "We have just escaped, not more than an hour 
 ago, from these same desperadoes," said Jim. 
 "They have taken my brother and friend with 
 them towards the coast." 
 
 "We will saddle and overtake them," promised 
 the Senor, "after we have had breakfast." 
 
 Jim was stunned by this gentle sort of procrasti- 
 nation. 
 
 "But, Senor," he said gravely, "we will not be 
 able to overtake them if we do not start immedi- 
 ately. Pardon my abruptness, but I cannot rest 
 while there are two of my party prisoners in the 
 hands of this gang of cut-throats." 
 
 "It is to be perfectly understood," replied the 
 Spaniard with no less gravity, "we will make 
 haste, but first we will eat while the servants are 
 getting two of the horses ready for you and your 
 brother." 
 
 This was not Jim's idea of making haste by a 
 long shot, but he was enough of a traveler to 
 recognize that the ways of men and nations differed 
 and that nothing was to be gained by going
 
 THE RANCHERO 97 
 
 against the grain of a national characteristic. So 
 while fuming inwardly, he was outwardly quiet 
 and composed. He argued, too, that it was not 
 likely the pirate gang would retain the captured 
 prisoners. Later, when they were themselves at 
 a safe distance they would set free the others. 
 
 As they went towards the house, the Spaniard 
 dismounted and walked with them, giving his 
 horse into the charge of one of the men, with di- 
 rections to bring two other horses to the house. 
 There was an unmistakable courtesy in doing this 
 and the boys appreciated it. They could not help 
 but contrast their appearance with that of the 
 Spaniard. He was not gaudily dressed like a 
 vaquero, but everything he wore was possessed 
 of a certain richness and was not lacking in color. 
 He truly was a Prince of the South in appearance 
 as well as in courtesy. 
 
 Jim and Jo were disreputable beyond words. 
 Their clothes were muddy, torn and disheveled, 
 their faces so grimed that it was hard to tell their 
 original color, and there were blotches of blood 
 upon their clothes as well as faces and hands. 
 But, though they looked worse than tramps, there 
 was something straightforward in their manner 
 and their way of speech that the Spaniard was 
 quick to recognize.
 
 98 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 As they walked along the Spaniard explained 
 that his household had been unusually disturbed 
 that morning. His mother, he said, was an in- 
 valid, and had escaped from her attendant. Some 
 mental trouble, he briefly mentioned as the cause 
 of the elderly lady's worriment. Evidently, he did 
 not connect the tragedy in his own life, in which 
 his father's life was sacrificed, with the boys' an- 
 tagonist. His mother, he assured them, had been 
 found and was returned to her home. 
 
 The boys now had a good view of the house, 
 as they approached it. The fog having lifted, 
 they could take in the whole situation. The struc- 
 ture itself was of adobe, of the early California 
 type, low, with broad verandas, and built on four 
 sides around a court with a fountain in the cen- 
 tre, with fish in the basin, and grass around it. 
 There were beautiful rose-tree bushes with gold 
 and red clusters growing over the corners of the 
 house. 
 
 From the verandah there was a beautiful view 
 looking off over the surrounding country. The 
 house itself stood on a rise of ground that sloped 
 gently from the plain below. Back of it rose the 
 mountains of the coast range, while in the distance 
 glittered the broad breadths of the Pacific, shining
 
 THE RANCHERO 99 
 
 like an azure floor. As far as eye could see was 
 the domain of this great ranch. It was, indeed, a 
 princely estate, and one of which the Senor Se- 
 bastian might well be proud. Those were the days 
 of romance and of charm in the land of Southern 
 California.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 A NEW FRIEND 
 
 The servants eyed the two boys curiously as 
 they stepped upon the verandah and the brothers 
 were not reassured by any looks of friendliness, 
 though they were outwardly courteous. A with- 
 ered looking old woman, who looked to Jim as 
 though she had Indian blood showed the boys to 
 a room, where they could wash up. 
 
 "Jove! Doesn't it dazzle your eyes, Jo?" ex- 
 claimed Jim, "to see a real room, with a bed and 
 a white spread, with those starched things where 
 the pillows ought to be." 
 
 "This room would certainly please Aunt 
 Maria," remarked Jo. "That four poster bed 
 with the canopy over it, is an old timer, I'll war- 
 rant you." 
 
 "If I slept in this room," said Jim, "I would 
 make a low bow to the bed and then roll up in my 
 blanket and go to sleep on the floor." 
 ."How do I look?" asked Jo, after he had 
 100
 
 A NEW FRIEND 101 
 
 rubbed and scrubbed his face for a long time. 
 
 "You have got off the first layer," replied Jim, 
 "and look about the color of a half-breed. Let 
 me try my hand at polishing up." 
 
 "It will take you a week," remarked Jo discour- 
 agingly. 
 
 It cannot be truly said that they looked orna- 
 mental even when they were clean, for Jim's face 
 was badly torn, one side of it being scraped raw. 
 He got this memento when he tackled the Captain 
 and fell down into the canyon with him. One 
 eye was blackened and the other cheek bruised. 
 These disadvantages were not to be overcome in 
 a short time. 
 
 Jo was somewhat more presentable, but he, too, 
 showed signs of the rough time that they had had 
 with the Captain and his "merry" crew. But in 
 spite of all this, there was something in their bear- 
 ing, an honest hardihood and manliness that could 
 not be discounted by torn clothes and bruised 
 faces. 
 
 "This room looks dirty, now," said Jo, "I'm 
 ashamed to leave it like this." 
 
 "We will go outside to brush off our clothes," 
 proposed Jim, "and I'm going to empty this dirty 
 water myself." He started out with it when he 
 met one of the servants in the hall. With many
 
 explanations, numerous gestures and much ex- 
 citement, she took the pail from Jim and disap- 
 peared with it. 
 
 "They won't let you do anything for yourself 
 here, Jo," reported Jim, returning to the room. 
 
 This was correct and the boys noticed after- 
 wards that the servants regarded them with odd 
 expressions of amusement and it was evident to 
 the sensitive Jo that they were being "guyed" by 
 them, to use a modern expression. The boys 
 being American lads, were self-reliant, and were 
 accustomed to do everything for themselves, and, 
 unknowingly they had gone counter to a custom 
 of constant service of the Spaniards. It was to 
 demean oneself, according to their code, to do any 
 menial work. 
 
 "Might as well start for the dining room," pro- 
 posed Jo. "I hate leaving Tom and Juarez to 
 their fate this way." 
 
 "I more than hate it," protested Jim, "but as 
 you can't hurry these people, we will make the 
 best time by falling in with their way of doing 
 business." 
 
 Then they went out into a passageway and, tak- 
 ing the wrong turn, which was quite easy in the 
 rambling old house, they came to a door that en- 
 tered into the courtyard.
 
 A NEW FRIEND 103 
 
 "My, but this is beautiful/'exclaimed Jo. "It 
 makes you appreciate California better when you 
 see a place like this." 
 
 "That hammock looks good to me," said Jim. 
 "I would like to stretch out in it right now." 
 
 Just then the door opened on the verandah and a 
 really beautiful young girl stepped out. She was 
 probably seventeen years of age, dressed in white, 
 with a black mantilla over her equally black hair 
 and her dark cheeks glowed with color. A very 
 romantic meeting, Messieurs, the gallant young 
 Americans at one end of the verandah and the 
 Senorita at the other. Then she saw Jim and 
 Jo with their scarred and bruised faces. With a 
 little shriek, and clasping her hand to her eyes, 
 she retreated quickly to her room. 
 
 "What did you do to scare that girl, Jo?" in- 
 quired Jim severely of his brother. 
 
 "Nothing," declared Jo, stoutly. "It was the 
 sight of your face. It would give a wooden Injun 
 a chill." Jim felt of the said face reflectively. 
 
 "I guess you are right, Jo," he admitted, "but 
 you ain't so charming in appearance that you 
 would do any damage." 
 
 "Let's walk along this side," proposed Jo. 
 "Perhaps we will locate the breakfast." 
 
 "All right," agreed Jim.
 
 104 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 So they stalked along, more or less conscious! 
 that a pair of dark blue eyes were regarding them, 
 and they thought they heard a trill of 
 laughter, but it might have been one of the maids. 
 They need not have felt embarrassed for there 
 was the grace in their movements that goes with 
 strength and youth and suppleness. 
 
 They were walking under a perfect bower of 
 flowers anyway. For this side was beautifully lat- 
 ticed and over the lattice work grew vines with 
 purple and golden flowers, that would give a 
 grateful shade when the California sun would 
 drive the fog away. 
 
 Under foot there was a double flagging of 
 stone with trodden dirt on either side. 
 
 "I don't see a broom anywhere," said Jo. 
 
 Just then they heard the voice of Senor Sebas- 
 tian behind them and they turned quickly. 
 
 "I had begun to fear, Senors, that you had be- 
 come lost again." 
 
 "We were, partially, Senor." 
 
 "Our simple breakfast is ready now if you are," 
 he said. 
 
 "We will have to brush the dirt off before we 
 can go in," protested Jim. 
 
 "Antonio bring a brush," called the Senor. In 
 a moment a gray-haired, bent Mexican came with
 
 A NEW FRIEND 105 
 
 a big kitchen broom. Instantly the Senor flushed 
 with anger. 
 
 "Stupid one, my guests are not my horses. 
 Have a care." 
 
 A suspicion flashed through Jim's mind that 
 the ancient servitor had brought the broom on 
 purpose. It was clear that the servants did not 
 have a very high opinion of their American vis- 
 itors. The next time he returned he had gotten 
 the right brush, and made a point of sneezing as 
 the dust flew from their mud-dried clothes. This 
 made Jim laugh in spite of himself. 
 
 "More dust than the Sirocco brings," said Jim. 
 The old servitor regarded him with a cunning eye. 
 
 "Si, Senor," he said, then he was seized with a 
 perfect convulsion of sneezing. This aroused his 
 master's ire. 
 
 "No more of that, Antonio," he commanded, 
 "or it will be the lash." Antonio's cold was cured 
 from that moment. Jim's mouth twitched at the 
 corners with the humor of it but he did not laugh 
 now for that would be discourteous to his host. 
 
 Finally the brushing was finished to the regret 
 of the servants, who had kept an amused eye on 
 Antonio's performance, while pretending to be 
 busy on some trivial tasks near the Patio or 
 court. In her own room, the Senorita was faint
 
 io6 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 with laughter as she watched Antonio dusting the 
 two American lads. 
 
 It was a simple breakfast that the boys found 
 prepared for them in a long, low dining-room, 
 with its dark beams and white plastered walls^ 
 The coffee was excellent, with a delicate aroma, 
 and was probably the best that Mexico could 
 afford. There was a large plate of meat gar- 
 nished with peppers, and a mixed dish of vege- 
 tables that looked odd, but that tasted deliciously. 
 You may be sure that Jim and Jo appreciated their 
 meal, and they felt invigorated when it was fin- 
 ished, wishing all the while, however, that they 
 were on the trail of their captured comrades. 
 
 "Now, Senors, the horses are at the door. They 
 are spirited, but I am sure that you ride well." 
 
 This was a mere expression of courtesy on his 
 part, for he did not expect any such thing and 
 thought to see his guests fall off if the horses 
 should rise on their hind legs, as they no doubt 
 would, for there was not a horse on the big rancho 
 but what was peppery and spirited. No sooner 
 had the Senor spoke than Jim jumped to his feet, 
 putting his hand to his head. 
 
 "I have forgotten about Caliente !" he exclaimed. 
 "It is my horse, Senor," he explained to his host
 
 A NEW FRIEND 107 
 
 "He is up the canyon because the gang that at- 
 tacked us last night were afraid of him." 
 
 "I will send for him," said the Senor. 
 
 "By the pool in the pocket," said Jim. "But I 
 think I ought to get him myself, though I appre- 
 ciate your offer, but one's horse, you know " 
 
 "I understand perfectly." 
 
 "I cannot leave him without food and water," 
 said Jim. 
 
 "I will attend to that. I will send a trustworthy 
 man," and he spoke to the servant who was wait- 
 ing on the table. In a short time he returned 
 with a tall, sinewy man, with straight black hair 
 and dark skin. He gave this man the necessary 
 instructions and with a "Si, Senor," the man went 
 out. 
 
 "A good reliable fellow," remarked Jim. "He 
 looks like an Indian." 
 
 "He is an Indian," replied their host, "but of 
 the right kind. Your horse is in good hands." 
 
 "Tell him to bring him down to the ranch," said 
 Jim. "I'll trust Caliente with him." The Indian 
 was called 'back and under his stolid demeanor 
 was an appreciation of Jim's confidence. 
 
 Breakfast over they went out on the verandah, 
 where they could see the horses. They were spir- 
 ited looking beasts all right. One was a bay, the
 
 io8 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 two front legs white stockinged, very trimly built, 
 with a flashing eye, that he kept rolling around. 
 The boy who was holding him had his hands full, 
 as the bay would rise on his hind legs and strike 
 out viciously with his forefeet. 
 
 The other animal was much heavier than the 
 bay. A brilliant black, whose coat fairly shone 
 with careful grooming. He had been standing 
 comparatively quiet until the three appeared upon 
 the verandah of the house, then, with a sudden 
 surge backward, he dragged the Mexican boy off 
 his feet, shaking his head viciously.. 
 
 "We ought to be armed, Senor," advised Jim. 
 "If we should overtake those men, they will put 
 up a desperate fight." 
 
 "Certainly, Senor," he answered. "Come into 
 this room and select your weapon." 
 
 After both Jim and Jo were armed, they went 
 out to the horses.
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 THE PURSUIT 
 
 All the servants seemed just now to find duties 
 of importance in front of the house or near it. 
 They had no idea of missing the chance of seeing 
 these Gringoes, whom they held in contempt, 
 thrown from their horses. 
 
 Jim took the black and Jo was left the red, the 
 easiest to manage even if he seemed the liveliest. 
 Jo was too quick for his horse and before he 
 could whirl to one side, he was in the saddle. 
 Then his animal reared and plunged but Jo sat 
 on him as easily as a cowboy does his steed. There 
 was no mistaking his horsemanship. The serv- 
 ants were duly and deeply disappointed. 
 
 But their hopes revived when they saw Jim 
 tackle the black. He began that steady sideways 
 movement which Jim knew so well, whenever he 
 tried to put his foot in the stirrup. The servants 
 began to smile, here would be some fun. The 
 "Black Devil," as they called the horse, had been 
 
 known to kill men, so they had pleasant anticipa- 
 109
 
 I io FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 tions. When Jim found that he could not mount 
 by the stirrup, he made a quick, powerful leap 
 and was in the saddle. 
 
 "Bravo!" cried the Senor Sebastian, but he 
 knew that the fight had just begun. 
 
 Jo looked on with interest and perfect confi- 
 dence in brother Jim's ability. The black stood 
 perfectly stunned for a moment or two at being 
 so suddenly mounted, then he sprang into action. 
 With his back in a hump he shot into the air and 
 came down stiff-legged. 
 
 Without loss of a second he went into the air 
 again, higher than before. From the corral the 
 Mexican cowboys were looking at the duel between 
 the horse and the boy with lively interest. 
 
 "The Diablo will kill him," said one nonchal- 
 antly, blowing a puff of smoke from his cigarette. 
 
 "Five dollars that the Gringo stays on," said a 
 second. The wager was made and others fol- 
 lowed, for the Mexicans are inveterate gamblers. 
 The third time the horse pitched into the air, 
 Jim swaying with the animal's every motion as the 
 trained cowboy does. Finding that he could not 
 dislodge his rider that way, the black rose on his 
 hind legs to a perpendicular position. 
 
 Jim knew the trick of old, and was prepared for 
 it. As the horse started to fall backwards, Jim
 
 THE PURSUIT in 
 
 who had been sticking like a leech, leaped lightly 
 to the ground and with all his strength, pulling 
 upon the bridle, slammed him to the ground. No 
 sooner was the horse upon his feet again than Jim 
 was in the saddle. 
 
 Once more he tried that falling back trick and 
 this time Jim brought him down upon the damp 
 earth with a thud that jarred things. The black 
 devil had had enough. He stood quivering and 
 sweating, but for the time being subdued. 
 
 "Bravo!" cried the Senor Sebastian again, and 
 he shook his guest by the hand warmly. "You 
 are a true horseman. Now we shall go. We 
 shall eat up the miles." 
 
 The crowd of cowboys swung their hats in a 
 salute to the Gringo, who could conquer the black 
 devil, while the house servants, disappointed at 
 the stranger's triumph, went back to their differ- 
 ent tasks. 
 
 The three horsemen galloped away down the 
 sloping pasture, the Spaniard in advance as he 
 knew the country and the most direct way to the 
 coast. His horse was a splendid sorrel, somewhat 
 taller than the horse that Jim rode. And he was 
 a gallant figure in his leather riding suit and 
 peaked sombrero with a brilliant colored band 
 around it.
 
 H2 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 Jim and Jo rode a few yards behind the Span- 
 iard and side by side. Jim felt a certain exulta- 
 tion in his victory over the Black before people 
 who would have liked to have seen him defeated. 
 It was exhilarating, too, this plunging gallop 
 ahead with a chance to rescue Tom and Juarez 
 and to get even with Captain Broom and his gang, 
 who had taken away their valuables and had given 
 the boys such a cruel defeat. 
 
 "This is a fine horse," said Jim, "though he 
 hasn't the stride of Caliente." 
 
 "He is a beauty, when it comes to bucking,*' 
 Jo commented. "There is nothing the matter 
 with this bay but my black can beat him for 
 speed." 
 
 So they flew on, the speed of their steeds blowing 
 back their horses' manes, and the fresh air from 
 the sea bringing a feeling of hope to their 
 hearts, that they would yet be able to overtake 
 the prates, and rescue their comrades in dis- 
 tress. Their horses' feet were devouring the 
 miles. 
 
 "We stand a chance to get 'em at this rate," 
 shouted Jim. 
 
 "Won't it be fine if we can all sit down to 
 dinner tonight?" replied Jo. "I bet that Tom and 
 Juarez would enjoy a square meal with the Senor
 
 THE PURSUIT 113 
 
 at the ranch house. It's kind of nice to be civ- 
 ilized once in a while." 
 
 "You're right, it is," declared Jim emphatically. 
 
 "I wonder if there isn't a store around here 
 where we could buy some clothes," inquired Jo, 
 anxiously. "We look too disreputable to appear 
 in oolite society." 
 
 "Thinking about that girl, I suppose?" re- 
 marked Jim with brotherly intuition. 
 
 "I wouldn't be so sure if I were you," replied 
 Jo evasively. "How about the Senorita down 
 in Mexico who threw you the rose at the castfe?" 
 This reference to the Senorita Cordova whom 
 the Frontier Boys had rescued in Mexico, checked 
 Jim from getting too gay for he still had a tender 
 place in his memory for her. 
 
 The fog by this time was entirety dissipated, 
 and they could see by certain white or rather light 
 spots in the clouds where the sun was going to 
 break through and an absolutely clear day would 
 result. The three riders had now reached die 
 brush region that began a few miles from the 
 coast and they were compelled to go more 
 slowly. 
 
 But if they had only known what was going on 
 not more than two miles away from where they 
 were, they would not have slackened speed no
 
 H4 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 matter what risk they ran. For Captain Broom 
 and his crew with the two captives had arrived at 
 the cove and old Pete and Jack Cales were going 
 into the cave for the boat. 
 
 There was a chance, but the Senor and his com- 
 panions must hurry. Some mishap to the pirates' 
 expedition just at this point and the frontier boys 
 would win. Tom and Juarez might have sung the 
 tune that they had often sung before in camp. 
 
 "Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching, 
 Cheer up, comrades, they will come, 
 
 And beneath the starry flag 
 
 We will breathe the air again 
 
 Of freedom in our own beloved home." 
 
 But they did not know and they sat miserable 
 and dejected upon the damp sand of the beach, 
 not knowing that Jim and Jo were coming nearer 
 every second. Then there came an accident, 
 though a slight one, that gave the pursuers a 
 chance. 
 
 Old Pete was carrying one end of the boat. He 
 was nervous, anyway, in regard to the cave and 
 its grewsome contents, thought he saw some dark 
 spectre coming for him out of the blackness of the 
 cave and he dropped his end of the boat and 
 scudded for the beach.
 
 THE PURSUIT 115 
 
 The Captain was furious, giving him a blow 
 that sent him spinning half way down to the 
 water, and he and the mate rushed back to see 
 what damage the boat had suffered. It was only 
 slightly stove in, but every second was precious. 
 The pursuers were only a mile away. 
 
 Jim began to grow restless as they neared the 
 coast. He seemed to feel that they were nearing 
 the enemy, and at his urging, the Spaniard, who 
 had an increased respect and liking for Jim ever 
 since he had conquered Black Diablo, put his horse 
 to the gallop, and away they went along the nar- 
 row winding path through the bushes. 
 
 The branches whipt them, but they paid no at- 
 tention, but on they went; it was evident that they 
 made considerable racket and Captain Broom, 
 with a fierce burst of energy for which he was 
 famous, got the boat launched, the two prisoners 
 in, and with himself and the mate at the oars, 
 made the boat leap forward over the lazy rolling 
 swell towards the graceful Sea Eagle. 
 
 When they had reached a point half-way to the 
 vessel, the horsemen came tearing through the 
 last screen of brush onto the yellow sand. The 
 enemy had escaped by the skin of its teeth and it 
 was heart-rending to see Tom and Juarez being
 
 ii6 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 carried away from them at every stroke of the 
 oars towards their black prison. Jim put up his 
 hands to his mouth and yelled: 
 
 "We will rescue you, boys. Don't give up. 
 We'll get 'em yet." 
 
 A derisive yell greeted this challenge and one of 
 the men in the boat fired at the group on the 
 shore, but the bullet fell harmlessly short. They 
 did not dare to fire in return lest they hit either 
 Tom or Juarez. 
 
 "They have steam up on board," observed Jim. 
 "But I see one chance to do some execution." 
 
 It was this. The Sea Eagle was anchored close 
 under a cliff on the northern side of the cove. So 
 Jim slipped off his horse, for the way on that side 
 was impracticable except on foot. It was hard 
 going at that, especially as there were a good 
 many cacti with their wretched thorns. 
 
 Jim stepped gingerly along over the rocks, glid- 
 ing through the bushes until at last he reached 
 a point above the vessel where he could almost 
 look down upon her decks. The boat from the 
 shore had just come alongside and the prisoners 
 were hustled into the cabin and the door locked. 
 Tom and Juarez were a dejected-looking pair and 
 it made Jim's heart ache to see them. 
 
 The Captain went upon the quarter-deck and
 
 THE PURSUIT 117 
 
 gave an order to the man at the wheel. The 
 anchor had already been weighed. Slowly and 
 gracefully the Sea Eagle turned, and there stood 
 Captain Broom, as big as life upon the bridge. 
 Why did not Jim fire? Because he had come to 
 a certain wise conclusion.
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 JIM AND THE SEA EAGLE 
 
 As Jim had raised his revolver to fire, a sudden 
 idea came to him. In the first place he rebelled 
 instinctively from shooting a man down in cold 
 blood from ambush, even if he was as desperate 
 and crime-stained a character as Captain Bill 
 Broom, besides it would not save Tom and Juarez 
 and only make their captivity harder to endure, 
 if any injury was done the Captain. 
 
 Another thing, Jim was sure that if he began 
 the attack that his two comrades would be used 
 as shields to protect the man at the wheel, so that 
 the Sea Eagle could be navigated safely out of the 
 cove. He saw with interest the narrow place be- 
 tween two lines of foam above hidden ledges 
 where the boat must pass in order to reach the 
 open sea. He marvelled at the temerity of Cap- 
 tain Broom in daring to bring his ship through 
 such a place. 
 
 Then a brilliant thought came to him, a sudden 
 
 stroke that might turn defeat into victory. The 
 118
 
 JIM : AND THE SEA EAGLE 119 
 
 Sea Eagle was now making straight for the nar- 
 row channel. Jim slipped back for a short dis- 
 tance an ran as rapidly as he could to a point 
 a little to the west of where he had first hidden. 
 He did not have long to wait. The Sea Eagle 
 was almost directly opposite his place of ambush, 
 and was just sticking her nose into the narrow 
 passage. 
 
 Jim raised his revolver and took careful aim 
 and fired. The man at the wheel gave a yell and 
 clapped his hand to the shoulder, letting go the 
 wheel and the nose of the little steamer swung 
 toward the rock. A swell lifted her bow clear 
 by a few inches, and the Captain caught the 
 steamer by the wheel and brought her to a course. 
 
 "Bring those boys up on deck and shoot them 
 if that black-haired devil," (meaning Jim) "fires 
 another shot," he called to the mate. 
 
 That worthy was not slow to obey the order, 
 he had them on deck in full sight in a jiffy and 
 held a pistol at Tom's head. Jim had raised his 
 arm to fire at the Captain when he heard his order 
 and it was as if he had been paralyzed. He knew 
 that Tom and Juarez would have been killed to a 
 certainty if he fired another shot. 
 
 Luck had broken against him again, for that 
 was all that had kept the Sea Eagle from going on
 
 120 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 the reef, where if she had not been wrecked, she 
 and her crew would have been at the mercy of the 
 men on shore. Just the lifting of the wave had 
 saved the vessel by a few inches, that, and Captain 
 Broom's quick and skillful action. 
 
 The second round of the contest had gone in 
 favor of the pirate and his crew, but only by a 
 shade as it were. But it would not surprise me a 
 bit if Jim evened up matters in the third and final 
 round. Let us hope so, at least, for that will give 
 a silver lining to the black cloud that had rolled 
 over the boys' fortunes at this particular time. 
 
 Jim made his way slowly back to where Jo and 
 the Senor were waiting for him on the beach. He 
 was despondent over the failure of his plans by so 
 close a margin, and the sight of Tom and Juarez 
 helpless on the deck in the hands of these sea- 
 coast pirates, was always before his eyes. 
 
 "What were you trying to do, Jim?" inquired 
 Jo, "Sink the ship?" Before Jim could reply, the 
 Spaniard gave a cry of warning. 
 
 "Look out, they are going to shoot." 
 
 Glancing toward the Sea Eagle, which was now 
 a half mile from shore, they saw a puff of smoke, 
 and then a shell struck into the beach below them 
 and exploding, sent a shower of sand over them 
 and the horses. The latter, frightened, reared and
 
 JIM AND THE SEA EAGLE 121 
 
 plunged, but the boys soon got their animals under 
 control, as they quickly tired of acting up in the 
 heavy sand. Jim shook his fist in the direction of 
 the Sea Eagle. 
 
 "Curse your insolence!" he yelled. "I'll make 
 every one of you eat crow, you miserable 
 hounds!" 
 
 Jim looked ugly, his eyes glared with concen- 
 trated fury and the veins on his temple were swollen 
 and throbbing. Unthinkingly, he pulled back 
 hard upon the bit, sending his horse up in the air. 
 
 "Easy, boy," he said, soothingly. "Easy. It 
 was my fault for yanking you." 
 
 When the horse was quieted, Jim was cooled 
 down to his normal temperature, and he told his 
 comrades of his attack upon the Sea Eagle and 
 how it had turned out. 
 
 "Senor Darlington," said the Spaniard impress- 
 ively, "I will take off my hat to you. You are a 
 natural General. Take my advice, my friend, 
 and go to Spain. There you might head a revo- 
 lution and in time rise to high mark." 
 
 "I appreciate your praise deeply, Senor Sebas- 
 tian," responded Jim, "but my own country, 
 Senor, I could not leave it for another." 
 
 "Right, Senor," replied the Spaniard, "you have 
 the true spirit."
 
 122 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 "Which way will she turn, do you suppose?" 
 asked Jo, pointing to the vessel that was moving 
 steadily out on the Pacific in a straight line from 
 the shore. 
 
 "To the North, doubtless," replied the Spaniard. 
 
 "Wherever she goes we must find her out," 
 said Jim, with grim determination. 
 
 "I wish we could follow them," sighed Jo. "If 
 we could only hire a boat." 
 
 "They have our money," replied Jim, briefly. 
 
 "I had forgotten that," said Jo, and his face 
 showed his disappointment. 
 
 "Permit me to help you," said the Spaniard, "I 
 am to blame for detaining you at breakfast." 
 
 "That is generous of you, Senor," replied Jim, 
 "but I do not favor going to the expense of char- 
 tering a steamer. Even if it were possible, my 
 plan would be to follow along the coast on horse- 
 back and see what can be done when they make a 
 landing." 
 
 "As you are the General," replied the Spaniard, 
 "we will allow you to make the plans." 
 
 "Look!" exclaimed Jo, "they are turning South 
 instead of North." 
 
 "Impossible!" cried the Spaniard. "There is 
 only one port within two hundred miles. I do
 
 JIM AND THE SEA EAGLE 123 
 
 not understand. Yes, they are surely going 
 South." 
 
 "Perhaps they have a secret landing place," 
 hazarded Jim. 
 
 "Not so," replied the Spaniard. "Not a harbor 
 where they could land save one and there they 
 would not dare to go." 
 
 The three watchers on horseback gazed until 
 there was little to be seen other than a smudge of 
 smoke upon the horizon. It was no use, the Sea 
 Eagle was holding to her southerly course to some 
 mysterious port. The sun had now come out and 
 was shining with sheer brilliance upon the spark- 
 ling ocean. 
 
 "We must return now," said the Spaniard. 
 "There is nothing more for us to do at present." 
 
 "I think that my brother and I will start this 
 afternoon and take the trail to the south," an- 
 nounced Jim, "wherever those fellows set foot, I 
 want to be waiting for them." 
 
 "I fear it is impossible to start so soon," replied 
 the Spaniard, "I must go with you as I know the 
 country to the South, every foot of it." 
 
 "The Senor is right, Jim," put in Jo, quickly, 
 as he saw a frown on Jim's face and was afraid 
 that he was going to say something abruptly. 
 "You will want to give Caliente a good rest, so
 
 124 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 that when we start, we will make the distance 
 without delay. Then we have to make some prep- 
 arations ourselves." 
 
 Jim looked at his brother with a moment's dark 
 suspicion, but it was evident that Jo was perfectly 
 sincere in what he said. 
 
 "I will promise, Senor," said the Spaniard with 
 a peculiar smile, "that when we start which will 
 be early tomorrow morning, that we will travel 
 far and fast enough to suit you and your horse." 
 There was a challenge in his voice that Jim met 
 smilingly. 
 
 "So be it, Senor," he said, "I will try to be in 
 sight at the finish." 
 
 "My horse is a remarkable animal for speed 
 and endurance, I must tell you frankly," said the 
 Senor gravely. "He has no equal in this country 
 of California. He has proved it more than once 
 and against all comers." 
 
 "He is certainly a fine horse," admitted Jim, 
 looking at the sorrel with admiring eyes. "He 
 has a splendid stride." 
 
 "Ah, no, Senor," laughed the Spaniard with a 
 gleam of his white teeth, "I did not mean him," 
 patting the horse on the neck, "a good animal, in- 
 deed, but more for my little sister to ride than for
 
 JIM AND THE SEA EAGLE 125 
 
 me. Wait, my friend, until I introduce you to 
 Don Fernando and then you will see a horse for 
 the first time." 
 
 "I should be very much pleased to see him," 
 said Jim, frankly curious and interested. 
 
 "Tomorrow," said the Spaniard. 
 
 They had now turned into the narrow trail 
 among the bushes and had only ridden a few steps 
 when Jo called a sudden halt. 
 
 "What do you think, Jim, there's my horse and 
 Tom's tied in that thicket." 
 
 Sure enough there they were, utterly worn out, 
 but with spirit enough to recognize their old com- 
 rades Jim and Jo, and if ever horses expressed a 
 welcome these two did when they first caught 
 sight of their two friends. 
 
 "They have cut the saddles to pieces, the 
 brutes," exclaimed Jo. 
 
 "I'm glad to get the horses," said Jim, "I am 
 surprised that they didn't cut their throats." 
 
 "They will follow us all right," said Jo, in reply 
 to the Spaniard's suggestion that they would have 
 to be led, and they trotted along behind Jo, who 
 was the last one in line. 
 
 "Do you know of any place where we could buy 
 things?" asked Jim. "We need a new outfit." 
 
 "But we have no money," put in Jo quickly.
 
 "I will get the money or its equivalent today," 
 said Jim. "If there is a store where the Senor can 
 get me credit." 
 
 "Yes, there is a store where a Portugee sells 
 about everything that we need in this country," 
 replied the Spaniard. "It is some distance to the 
 north. We will ride there before we return to 
 the ranch. There will be no difficulty about the 
 credit," he concluded, with a bow to Jim.
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 THE BOYS PUT ON STYLE 
 
 "You do not know my ability to spend," said Jim, 
 "I may have to plunge to the extent of several hun- 
 dred dollars. You see my brother has very expen- 
 sive tastes. It will cost quite a small fortune when 
 I buy him a complete trousseau including dia- 
 monds." 
 
 "I will pledge my lands if necessary to get the 
 young Senor diamonds," said the Spaniard laugh- 
 ingly. 
 
 In about an hour's time they came to a large one 
 story frame building painted a rather light blue, 
 which color had weathered a good deal. It had a 
 square, false front with a sign on it that read, "Mr. 
 Gonsalves, General Trader." 
 
 They hitched their horses to some well graveled 
 posts, and went inside leaving Jo's and Tom's horses 
 free to graze at will around, or to stand under 
 the shelter of some drooping pepper tree across the 
 road. The proprietor, a short, thick-set Portugee 
 with a close trimmed black beard, and a gray slouch 
 127
 
 128 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 hat which he always wore, apparently, received them 
 graciously. The contents of the store were en- 
 tirely at their service, if they paid for them. 
 
 "We will miss poor Tom here," said Jo, "he was 
 always our purchasing agent." 
 
 "And a mighty good one," added Jim. "Not even 
 a Connecticut Yankee could get the best of him in a 
 bargain." 
 
 The Spaniard sat in a round armed wooden chair, 
 gracefully smoking a cigarette, while his guests 
 busied themselves making purchases. First the boys 
 bought some new clothes, which they retired behind 
 a counter to put on, and emerged in proper apparel 
 for the plains. 
 
 Blue flannel shirts, and pants of the same color, 
 held up by leather belts, with much glitter of silver 
 on them, then they bought a sombrero apiece, 
 not after the Mexican style, but of the American 
 type. Jim had a red band around his and Jo had a 
 blue. 
 
 "Now we want some handkerchiefs to tie around 
 our necks," said Jo. 
 
 "Of course," remarked Jim with a wink, "some- 
 thing that will catch the eyes of the ladies." 
 
 So M. Gonsalves brought out a brilliant assort- 
 ment of handkerchiefs. 
 
 "Here's a very fine article, gents," he said hold-
 
 THE BOYS PUT ON STYLE 129 
 
 ing out a red silk handkerchief, clustered with white 
 horseshoes. 
 
 "Nothing the matter with that," admitted Jim ad- 
 miringly, with a droll look at Jo. "But this plain red 
 one will suit me. My brother would probably like 
 the horseshoe one." But Jo also declined. 
 
 "I will take the dark blue one," he said, "it 
 matches my costume better." 
 
 "Gee! but you will look like a color scheme," 
 laughed Jim, "blue eyes, blue pants, shirt, tie and 
 socks, and hat band, you ought to be a sailor on the 
 blue Pacific." 
 
 "The next things are boots," remarked Jo. 
 
 "Not for me," said Jim briefly, "I want mocca- 
 sins. Worn 'em all my life, and I am not going to 
 change to boots now." 
 
 "Fine line of moccasins," said the accommodating 
 Mr. Gonsalves in his best trade manner. You see he 
 had been in business in San Francisco and knew 
 something of the ways of customers. 
 
 "But it gives us more style to wear boots. You 
 notice that all the inhabitants wear them, we can 
 buy moccasins too. You wear them all the time and 
 they will set you down for an Indian." 
 
 "When a fellow once gets the idea of style in his 
 head," said Jim resignedly, "nothing this side of 
 matrimony is going to stop him. So lay on Mac-
 
 130 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 Duff and cursed be he who first cries hold, enough." 
 
 "I feel like I was anchored," commented Jim, 
 stepping across the floor with heavy tread. "I 
 should like to stalk a deer or an Indian in these 
 things. He could tell you were arriving before you 
 got above the horizon." 
 
 "But you look fine in 'em," said Jo. 
 
 It was true that he made a striking figure in his 
 blue togs. The lithe powerful physique, and the 
 strong, resolute face. 
 
 "Better look out, Jo," grinned Jim. "No Senor- 
 ita would look at you, when they see me dashing 
 over the landscape." 
 
 "I'm a pretty stylish looking guy myself," re- 
 sponded Jo, confidently. He did make a good ap- 
 pearance, there was no doubt of that. Though 
 slighter than his brother he was well set up, and his 
 frame was well muscled. He was handsomer than 
 Jim. But there was no nonsense about either of 
 the two boys and they never gave an unnecessary 
 thought to their appearance. 
 
 "Now, Mr. Gonsalves," said Jim, "we would like 
 to look at some of your man-killers." 
 
 "Revolvers?" he questioned, "just step this way. 
 I can fit you out all right." 
 
 He did have a fine collection and Jim examined
 
 THE BOYS PUT ON STYLE 131 
 
 the different ones carefully, noting their action and 
 how easily they worked. 
 
 "I see you are no tenderfoot/' complimented the 
 proprietor. "You have handled shooting irons be- 
 fore." 
 
 "I'll be a tenderfoot before long, if I wear these 
 condemned boots you sold me," said Jim gruffly 
 ignoring the compliment. He did not care especially 
 for M. Gonsalves' style. "Now let's have a look at 
 your rifles." The proprietor actually took off his 
 hat and bowed. 
 
 It was evident that the distinguished gentlemen 
 from nowhere in particular were going to buy out 
 his entire stock. 
 
 "Would you be so gracious as to step this way?" 
 he said, "I have the rifles in the back of the store." 
 
 They were so gracious, and after due examination 
 they selected a couple of well balanced guns and 
 purchased enough ammunition to stand off a few 
 Indian raids. All the stuff besides what they had 
 on their backs they packed upon Tom's horse, as 
 Tom was not present to resent the indignity. 
 
 "Now the last things are some saddles," said 
 Jim, "seeing that our kind friends, the pirates, cut 
 up those we owned." 
 
 "Senor Darlington," said the Spaniard coming 
 forward and touching Jim lightly on the arm, "Do
 
 132 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 not speak of buying saddles. I will see to that." 
 Jim did not know exactly what their host meant but 
 he thanked him and deferred to his request. 
 
 Now behold the frontier boys in complete cos- 
 tume, with glittering revolvers at their hips and 
 rifles swung across their backs, upon their hands 
 were fringed buckskin gloves. They had gone the 
 whole hog as Jim said. 
 
 "I'll take the shine off this costume in about one 
 day," said Jim grimly, "when I get in the open, I 
 would rather break a broncho, than a new suit of 
 clothes." There was no doubt about his impressive 
 appearance, as the sun flashed on the metal of the ac- 
 coutrements and he swung himself into the saddle. 
 Even their host seemed to hold them in higher re- 
 gard. Different people, different manners. 
 
 When they reached the house ranch the first thing 
 Jim did was to find Caliente. He was in the long 
 adobe stable that was a half-mile from the house, at 
 the beginning of a wide mountain valley, where the 
 air drew through from the sea. 
 
 "How are you, Caliente old fellow," cried Jim, as 
 he opened the box stall and went in to shake hands 
 with his old comrade. But the horse leaped to one 
 side, and then reared up as if to strike Jim. 
 
 "He don't know you," cried Jo who was on the 
 outside of the stall. "Take off your hat."
 
 THE BOYS PUT ON STYLE 133 
 
 Jim whirled it out of the stall, and a change came 
 over Caliente. He recognized his master, and nick- 
 ering in recognition he rubbed his head against 
 Jim's shoulder, and took playful nips at his fine new 
 shirt, while Jim fairly hugged him, and gave him 
 resounding whacks with his open hand upon his 
 splendid sides and shoulders. 
 
 "A magnificent animal, Senor Darlington," said 
 Senor Sebastian to Jim, "I congratulate you." 
 
 It was a true word. Caliente with his proud neck, 
 small but shapely head, powerful but not too heavy 
 frame, and color of mottled gray was magnificent. 
 
 All that afternoon Jim busied himself grooming 
 his horse until his coat fairly glistened. He looked 
 carefully to his feed, and saw to his watering. For 
 Jim was determined that his horse should not be 
 beaten by the Spaniard's. He knew that the latter's 
 horse must be an unusual animal. It was not a short 
 race, instead, one of two hundred miles that lay be- 
 fore them on the morrow. 
 
 That evening the American boys presented a bet- 
 ter appearance than they did at breakfast. It was a 
 pretty scene that evening in the long dining room. 
 The snowy table lit by light of candles and set with 
 ancient silver brought from Spain. The young 
 Senorita was seated itt her brother's right, and on 
 the other side were James Darlington and his
 
 134 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 brother Joseph. As to the impression she made 
 upon them, we will say nothing, as this is not a ro- 
 mance, but they had a merry and delightful evening. 
 Their host and the young Senorita were much 
 interested in hearing of the adventures of the boys 
 in Mexico, especially that part that referred to 
 the rescue of the Senorita Cordova from the hands 
 of Cal Jenkins and his gang. I do not know that 
 The Frontier Boys told it with any less fervor 
 because the eyes of the young girl, seated op- 
 posite, were fixed intently upon them. It appeared 
 that their host knew of the Senor Cordova, who was 
 a man of prominence in his country, though he had 
 not actually met him. So there was one more 
 bond of sympathy between the Senor Sebastian 
 and James and Jo Darlington.
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 ON BOARD THE SEA EAGLE 
 
 Let us now turn our interest and attention for 
 a time to the cruise of the Sea Eagle, under the 
 guidance of that redoubtable free-booter, Captain 
 Broom. It was a mystery to the three who 
 watched the ship turn to the South, what her port 
 could be. We will soon be in a position to solve 
 that problem. 
 
 No sooner had the Sea Eagle cleared the cove 
 than Captain Broom went to his cabin to go over 
 his spoils which he had taken from the frontier 
 boys. He placed all the belts upon the table, took 
 up one, and with a keen knife slit the first pouch. 
 A large heavy Spanish coin rolled out and then 
 clinked down upon the table. 
 
 The Captain's eyes glistened. "By Gosh !" he ex- 
 claimed, "it was worth while rounding up those 
 fellows. They must have struck it rich down in 
 Mexico. I bet the boys will be tickled to death 
 to get their share." For whatever crimes and 
 shortcomings Captain Broom could be charged 
 135
 
 136 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 with, at least he always divided fairly with his crew. 
 Thereby he held their loyalty. It was not all 
 policy, either, for there was a sterling streak in 
 the bad old fellow. 
 
 Out of the next pouch there glittered upon the 
 table several diamonds and a small palm full of 
 rubies, with their rich color and radiance. "The 
 boys will have enough to start a jewelry store," 
 commented the Captain. "But I am not surprised 
 at this haul. I know something about the hidden 
 treasures myself, and they do say Mexico is the 
 the place for them." 
 
 Out of another belt he got some ingots of gold 
 and a girdle that caused the Captain to open his 
 eyes. At first he did not know what to make of 
 it. When he held it up he saw that it was formed 
 of golden disks linked with strings of rubies and 
 sapphires. In the third belt was a necklace that 
 might have been worn by some Princess of the 
 Incas. It was oddly, almost wierdly beautiful. 
 
 The fourth belt that he picked up chanced to be- 
 long to Jim. 
 
 "This seems lighter than the others," remarked 
 the Captain. "Three of the pouches are empty." 
 His face got black with rage. For instantly his 
 mind leaped to the suspicion that one of his men 
 had rifled it. If such had been the case, the guilty
 
 ON BOARD THE SEA EAGLE 137 
 
 party would have got short shift at the end of a 
 rope from the yard arm. 
 
 But the second examination showed that the 
 cut was an old one. 
 
 "So !" he cried, "one of the boys has cached part 
 of his share. I bet it was that long-legged, black- 
 haired guy. That fellow would give the best of 
 us trouble. I wish I had him to train. Maybe, 
 I can make something of the Injun boy," meaning 
 Juarez. 
 
 As to the belts, the shrewd old fellow, to make 
 sure, measured them to see where the worn holes 
 of the leather came, and the partially empty belt 
 had been worn two inches longer than any of the 
 others. 
 
 "It was the big fellow's," said the Captain. 
 
 Then he went upon deck and called the crew 
 forward. 
 
 "Now, lads, choose your man to get your share 
 of the goods," he said. 
 
 "It's Jack Cales, sir," they said, knowing that 
 they would be called upon to select a man to take 
 their share. 
 
 "All right! Come, lad," said the Captain, and 
 led the way to his cabin. When Jack Cales saw 
 the treasures on the table, he opened his eyes and 
 mouth in astonishment.
 
 138 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 "Why, Sir," he exclaimed, "we haven't seen 
 anything like this since the day two years ago 
 when " he stopped suddenly, seeing from a look 
 in the Captain's eyes that no reminiscences were 
 desired. 
 
 "This is your share, lad," said the Captain, 
 gruffly. 
 
 "Thank you, sir," responded Cales, as he swept 
 the small pile of gold and jewels into the palm of 
 his big hands. 
 
 "And mind ye, lad," warned the Captain, "I 
 don't want any quarreling among yourselves or 
 ye will hear from me." 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir," replied the sailor and backed 
 out of the cabin. 
 
 There was an interesting gathering in the fore- 
 castle when Jack Cales deposited his handful of 
 treasures on the top of a sea chest that had been 
 hauled out for the purpose. 
 
 For once it was not necessary to have the Ian-' 
 tern lit, for a broad band of sunshine shone down 
 the steep ladder and cut a golden swath through 
 the dingy gloom and fell athwart the chest and il- 
 luminated the group: the tall and swaggering 
 Cales, the rugged, grizzled Pete, and the other 
 sailormen; a typical group and not to be matched 
 for picturesqueness anywhere; with their faces
 
 ON BOARD THE SEA EAGLE 139 
 
 intent upon the center of the old black sea chest, 
 where glowed and glittered the gold and jewels in 
 the band of light that shone upon some of the 
 faces of the intent group, while others were in the 
 shadow. It was a scene such as Rembrandt 
 pardon, kind reader, I forgot for a moment, this 
 is a simple narrative of Adventure. 
 
 "Pete," said Cales, "how the ladies will love you 
 when they see a chain of glittering diamonds 
 around your throat." 
 
 "One thing is certain, lad," replied the grizzled 
 Pete, "I won't be givin' none of my diamonds 
 away to the ladies. I'll keep the stones safe in my 
 jeans." 
 
 "You'll have to be keerful, Pete," rallied an- 
 other, "they'll be marrying you for your ill-gotten 
 wealth, when they find out that you are an heiress. 
 You can't help yourself, Pete. It won't make any 
 difference because you are a pirate, that won't 
 scare 'em. Not when they see them jewels." 
 
 "What's the use of you boys a talkin' to me," 
 he said with a wise wink, "you're only kittens. I'm 
 sixty year old and I'm a free man yit." 
 
 "Here's a pill for you, Pop," said Cales, 
 dropping a diamond into his horny hand. 
 
 "Gee! I'm just as well pleased to get this as I 
 was to get a bunch of popcorn when I was a kid
 
 140 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 back in New England, off the Christmas tree." 
 
 "Better have it sot in one of your front teeth, 
 Pop," said Jack. This produced a roar of laugh- 
 ter, for Pete's front teeth were conspicuous by 
 their absence. 
 
 So the distribution went on without any bicker- 
 ing at first, only jovial jokes, but at last there 
 came a bone of contention over the last diamond. 
 And in a jiffy Jack Cales and a short, stocky sailor 
 were all tangled up in a fierce encounter. Their 
 comrades, none too gently, hoisted them up on 
 deck. There they continued their fight. 
 
 No sooner did Captain Broom see them than he 
 cluttered down from the bridge at a furious rate. 
 The two combatants ought to have taken warning 
 but they were deaf to everything except their own 
 struggle. He was livid with anger, and his 
 wrath was in a large measure justified. 
 
 "I'll larn you!", he yelled, grabbing each by the 
 back of the neck. "You won't fight any more this 
 trip." 
 
 They were like children in his hands. He had 
 not only the arms of a gorilla, but the strength of 
 one when he was aroused and it was a caution the 
 way he slammed them around, flaying the deck 
 with them, and dashing their heads together. It 
 seemed as if every bone in fneir bodies, woul& be
 
 ON BOARD THE SEA EAGLE 141 
 
 broken. Finally he flung them unconscious on the 
 deck. 
 
 "Put them in the Sagenette," he ordered the 
 mate. 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir," he replied, and with the aid of 
 one of the sailors, they were chained in a narrow 
 cell. 
 
 Here was where Juarez and Tom came in. As 
 the two fighters were knocked out and locked up, 
 it made the crew short and they were ordered out 
 on deck from the cabin where they had been kept. 
 Almost famished though they were, they had to 
 jump in and work like nailers, not to say, sailors. 
 
 Fortunately for them, they had experienced a 
 hard schooling in many different ways since they 
 came west and were practical masters of several 
 lines of industry, but this was their first experi- 
 ence sailoring. It was a hard school, but they 
 learned more in a few days, than they would have 
 under months of more gentle tuition. This was 
 to stand them in good stead when they started on 
 their cruise to Hawaii. 
 
 "I'll get even with those fellows," growled Tom 
 as he passed near Juarez who was busy polishing 
 some brass work. "Y<?s, if it takes the rest of my. 
 lifp "
 
 142 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 "What do you mean, stopping and gabbing, you 
 little shrimp?" roared the mate who chanced to see 
 Tom stop. 
 
 And he rushed up and grabbing Tom by the 
 back of the neck, shook him ferociously, landing 
 him a couple of kicks at the same time. This was 
 too much for Juarez, who poised a stone that he 
 was using and was about to brain the mate with it 
 when the Captain's iron grip fell on his arm. He 
 didn't throw that brick. 
 
 "Easy, lad," said the Captain. "No more fight- 
 ing on board this ship, or I'll take a hand again 
 and don't you two lads pass the time of day either. 
 You won't be killed if you work hard and keep 
 cheerful." Then he gave the mate a look, which 
 that worthy understood and Tom was allowed to 
 go about his work without further molestation. 
 
 But this was a new and hard doctrine that the 
 Captain had laid down that the boys had to take 
 hard usage and unceasing work and keep cheerful 
 about it. They soon found that the Skipper 
 meant what he said. It was a bitter lesson, but 
 perhaps they were the manlier for learning it so 
 young. For it's something that life hands out to 
 everyone sooner or later. 
 
 Often the boys looked longingly over ' the rail 
 towards the faint, far outline of the California
 
 ON BOARD THE SEA EAGLE 143 
 
 coast. The Skipper was keeping his ship far out 
 from the land for reasons best known to himself. 
 One thing was favorable in that the sea air had 
 braced up Juarez so that he felt more like himself 
 though his head was queer at times. And no 
 wonder for that blow the Mexican dwarf had 
 given him was sufficient to have stunned an ox.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 A DAY AT SEA 
 
 The Sea Eagle was steaming steadily South to her 
 mysterious harbor. The day was a brilliant one and 
 as the afternoon wore on the wind from the North- 
 west began to blow with fresher force and the white 
 caps began to jump, here, there and everywhere 
 over the broad surface of the ocean, and then slide 
 down on the back of the waves. 
 
 There was a good deal of motion on the part of 
 the Sea Eagle now, as she plunged into the waves 
 and threw the spray back over her decks. Both 
 Juarez and Tom proved themselves good sailors, 
 which was just as well for if they had been sea sick 
 together with their other miseries they might have 
 succumbed. 
 
 Finally the long afternoon wore away and the 
 time came for supper. The boys being neither 
 flesh, fish or fowl, were not allowed to eat with the 
 crew, and they did not mind in the least. When 
 their rations did arrive, or rather when they went 
 144
 
 A DAY AT SEA 145 
 
 to the ship's galley and got their share, they 
 found the fare not lacking in quality and abundance. 
 There was a heaping plate of Mexican beans, a big 
 hunk of bread and a bowl of hot tea. After the 
 boys had stowed this below in their hatches they felt 
 a hundred per cent better and more fit to meet any 
 fate that might await them. 
 
 An hour before sunset a heavy bank of fog be- 
 gan to roll up from the West, soon covering the 
 whole sky with its gracious softness, and decided 
 restfulness, after the glittering blue-diamond beauty 
 of the day. 
 
 It is the fogs alone that make the climate of Cali- 
 fornia, especially in the Southern part endurable. 
 Too much sunshine becomes as unbearable as too 
 much cloudiness. 
 
 The sea went down, when the fog came up and the 
 waters took on a steely color under their blanket of 
 gray, rolling on, in that monotonous meditation 
 that holds the mystery of forgotten ages in its 
 brooding. 
 
 "Here's where you will sleep, boys," said Old Pete, 
 who had been appointed by the Captain to have 
 special charge over their education. "The men won't 
 have you in the fo'castle, and it's pretty crowded 
 there anyway." 
 
 "This will suit us, sir," replied Juarez. He did
 
 146 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 not call him Pop, as he would have on the land. This 
 was the sea and had its own rules and customs, 
 therefore Old Pete received his due of respect. But 
 in his rough way he was not unfriendly towards the 
 boys, for he remembered that they had given him 
 friendly advice, when he was aboard that strange 
 craft, a horse, the night before. 
 
 The place where the boys were to sleep was a sort 
 of cubby hole in the bow of the boat, that was roofed 
 over and where anchor chains and other junk was 
 sometimes kept. It was not over four feet high, 
 five in width at the broadest and narrowing to the 
 bow. 
 
 A rude place to sleep in, but what did the Frontier 
 Boys care for that ? They could scarcely count the 
 nights that they had slept out on the ground, and in 
 bad weather too. They had a blanket apiece, and a 
 tarpaulin to pull over them. 
 
 The blankets they had spread out on the floor of 
 the cubby hole and they found that the tar- 
 paulin made a mighty warm protective covering, 
 keeping out the damp sea air in fine style. 
 
 "Where do you suppose we are heading for, 
 Juarez?" inquired Tom. 
 
 "Maybe a port in Mexico or South America and 
 then again we may head for Hawaii before we in- 
 tend to."
 
 'A DAY AT SEA 147 
 
 "We are going South now, though," said Tom. 
 
 "If we run in close to the coast, we'll jump over- 
 board, and swim for it," said Juarez. 
 
 "We could do it if we get within a mile," said 
 Tom, "if it is not too rough." 
 
 Just then Juarez put his hand over Tom's mouth, 
 he felt sure that someone was listening or was pre- 
 paring to. Juarez ran his fingers carefully over the 
 boards until he found where a hole had been bored 
 through the planking a little back of their heads. It 
 was just as he had suspected, someone was listen- 
 ing to hear what plans they would make. 
 
 With the noiselessness characteristic of him when 
 scouting, Juarez crept out partially and cautiously 
 raised his head until he caught sight of the sole of 
 a man's boot. Then he crept back to his place and 
 gave Tom a nudge. Forthwith they began talking in 
 rather loud tones. 
 
 "Say Tom, do you know I rather like this ship. 
 These fellows are rough in their way but that is to 
 be expected." 
 
 "Of course," said Tom, in an equally loud voice, 
 "but we might as well make the best of it. There is 
 no chance for the boys to find us." 
 
 "You're right there, Tom." 
 
 Then in a short time they appeared to fall into a 
 deep and sonorous sleep. This was no fake on the
 
 148 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 part of Tom who was actually and thoroughly 
 tired. But Juarez was more of a veteran and he 
 kept his eyes open and he was rewarded in a few 
 minutes by seeing a man's feet hanging ever the 
 edge of their bunk house and then he saw the figure 
 of the mate slouch aft. 
 
 "You sly old rascal, you," remarked Juarez. "We 
 will 'larn' you to try and be too smart with the 
 Frontier Boys. We may be young but we are not 
 fools." 
 
 Nothing happened for a while and the gentle 
 plunge of the Sea Eagle into the long rolling swell 
 soon lulled the tired Juarez into a sound sleep, so 
 that neither he nor Tom were aware that the ship 
 had suddenly changed her course. 
 
 By and by however, Juarez waked with a start. 
 Something had happened, he knew not what. He sat 
 up and struck his head upon the planking overhead. 
 Fortunately however he did not hit the place where 
 the Mexican had struck him but at the best his head 
 was a tender place with him and the blow stunned 
 him, but as he was now more his rugged self, he 
 soon recovered. 
 
 He found what had wakened him was the stop- 
 ping of the ship. He saw several dark forms moving 
 aft and he crept out to see what was afoot. He 
 had to move very carefully but managed to reach the
 
 A DAY AT SEA 149 
 
 hood of the forecastle, where he crouched looking 
 and listening. 
 
 He saw that they were lying to, close in to shore 
 and could see the white splash of the breakers as 
 they rolled towards the shore and could hear their 
 monotonous thunder upon the beach. Here per- 
 haps was their chance. Just then he heard the heavy 
 voice of the Captain from the bridge. 
 
 "Lower away there." Then the starboard boat 
 slid noiselessly down from the davits into the 
 water. 
 
 Juarez got up and glided back into the cubby hole 
 to tell Tom the good news. It was their opportunity 
 to escape and seemingly a good one. The sea was 
 smooth and the night was dark. They could slip 
 over the side of the vessel and pull for the shore, 
 and not a soul on the Sea Eagle would be the wiser 
 until they looked into their nest in the morning to 
 find it empty. 
 
 Once they got to the shore it would be an easy 
 matter to make their way North until they met Jim 
 and Jo. 
 
 The anticipation of the escape had already thrilled 
 through every nerve in Juarez's body. But he had 
 just started to wake Tom, when something made 
 him look down the deck. There was the tall figure
 
 ISO FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 of one of the sailors coming directly towards the 
 bow. 
 
 Juarez lay down quickly as though asleep. Then 
 the man reached down and caught hold of Tom's 
 foot and Juarez's and gave them a rough yank. "So 
 you are here, you young brats. You had better 
 make a move or the Cap'n will finish you." 
 
 Juarez was fairly sizzling with rage especially as 
 Tom was really frightened by being wakened in such 
 rough fashion and after all Tom was but a boy and 
 it pained Juarez to see him so scared, but he was 
 helpless, and all he could do was to add one more 
 black mark to the score he was charging up to the 
 free-booters. 
 
 Instead of moving away, the man sat on a capstan 
 a few feet distant from the boys' den, watching for 
 the slightest move on their part, a marlin spike dang- 
 ling playfully in his hands. Juarez had not taken 
 the crafty and keen sighted Captain Broom into ac- 
 count 
 
 From the Bridge, that worthy, although he was 
 watching the launching of the boat, had chanced to 
 catch sight out of the tail of his eye of a dark 
 shadow flitting back to the forecastle. He was not 
 sure it was one of the boys, but he was taking no 
 chances, for he had a real respect for their prowess 
 and audacity as he might well have.
 
 A DAY AT SEA 151 
 
 So he had sent one of his crew to guard this 
 young lions' den, while the ship was so close in 
 shore. He did not intend to stay longer than was 
 necessary right at this point, and he waited with 
 some anxiety for the return of the mate and Pete 
 in the boat. 
 
 It was now two o'clock in the morning and Cap- 
 tain Broom wanted to be out at sea a good safe 
 distance before the light broke. The mate's boat 
 had now been gone over a half-hour, and the Cap- 
 tain stood at the end of the Bridge looking towards 
 the shore. There was not a light upon the vessel to 
 show her position. She lay silent and black upon the 
 dark waters. 
 
 Then the Captain straightened up. He saw a 
 moving body approaching the ship and heard the 
 slight dip of oars. Then the boat was alongside and 
 instead of two men, there were three in the boat. 
 The Captain went down to the main deck to meet 
 them.
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 THE PASSENGER 
 
 They met without any formality. The new 
 passenger was a tall, slightly stooped man, with 
 long hair falling down to his shoulders. Juarez 
 was exceedingly anxious to see him, but could 
 make out only a dark form moving along the deck. 
 
 "Come to the cabin, Jeems," called the Captain. 
 "I've got something to tell ye." 
 
 They were soon seated in the Captain's cabin. 
 This was a good-sized room, panelled in light 
 wood and very neatly kept. There was quite a 
 broad table of the same wood as the walls and a 
 swivel chair in front of it. The Captain seated 
 himself in this chair and whirled to talk to the 
 visitor from the shore. 
 
 It was evident that he was not a temporary vis- 
 itor for scarcely had they seated themselves in the 
 cabin than the Sea Eagle slowly and gently turned 
 and they felt the pulsation of her engines as she 
 headed once more for sea. The man was seated 
 on a sea chest opposite the Captain. 
 152
 
 THE PASSENGER 153 
 
 He wore long cowhide boots, with jeans pants 
 thrust into their tops, flannel shirt of a nonde- 
 script color and a corduroy jacket. His hat was 
 of a battered gray. The face was smooth-shaven, 
 deeply lined and burnt to a dull brown. The hair 
 which came down to his shoulders had that pe- 
 culiar sun-burnt weathered tinge that comes from 
 continual exposure to the weather. He was not 
 an old man, probably on the sunny side of forty. 
 
 "Well, Jeems, what is your news?" inquired the 
 Captain. 
 
 "The government boat is in the harbor, that's 
 all." The Captain gave a low, peculiar whistle. 
 
 "When did she show up?" he asked. 
 
 "Two days ago, Cap'n," he replied. 
 
 "Come from the South?" 
 
 "Yes," replied the man. "Put in for coal, I 
 reckon." 
 
 "Then put out for us," said the Captain briefly. 
 
 "Any 'baccy, Cap'n? Been out two days," re- 
 marked Jeems. 
 
 "Lift your lanky frame off that chest," replied 
 the Captain, "and I'll git you some." 
 
 The man sprang up with remarkable alacrity, 
 and as he unfolded length after length of his long 
 figure, it seemed as if his head would touch the 
 ceiling of the cabin. In fact, he did not miss it
 
 154 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 by many inches. It was a comical contrast be- 
 tween the short stooping figure of the Captain and 
 the tall stranger. 
 
 "Waal, Jeems, I wouldn't advise you to grow 
 any more, or I'll have to raise the roof of my 
 cabin." 
 
 "That's what, Cap'n," replied Jeems imperturb- 
 ably. "That's what happens when you grow up in 
 Californy. You grow all the year around, and not 
 like in New England where the winters makes you 
 stubby." 
 
 Then the native philosopher seated himself on 
 the chest again and took long and delightful pulls 
 at his recently staked pipe. 
 
 "Hum!" he said. "This tastes right. Did yer 
 ever know what it war to be starved for yer 
 'baccy, Cap'n?" 
 
 "No," replied the Captain, "I can't say that I 
 ever did." 
 
 "Well, I want to tell you, Cap'n, that it is worse 
 than going without water and I know what that is. 
 Been on a desert till my tongue was as thick as a 
 cow's, and hung out between my teeth, black." 
 
 "How long have you been away?" inquired the 
 Captain. 
 
 "Three weeks, Cap'n." 
 
 "How are the sheep lookin' ?"
 
 THE PASSENGER 155 
 
 "Pretty fair, Cap'n," he replied. "I think that 
 they had a whiff of rain over there a few days 
 ago." 
 
 "It won't be long till we git the rains," sug- 
 gested the Captain. 
 
 "I don't know, Cap'n," remarked the lanky one. 
 "The climate of Californy is a curious proposition. 
 It's built on the bias down at this end." 
 
 "How's that?" asked the Captain curiously. 
 He had a certain interest in this particular cour- 
 ier's theories, however he might laugh at their pe- 
 culiarities. For there was apt to be a basis of 
 reason in them. 
 
 "Well, it's this way, Cap'n," said James Howell, 
 to give him his correct name, thrusting one lanky 
 hand deep into his jeans pocket and bending for- 
 ward awkwardly. "It's this way. You see the 
 storms come down from the North to the Tehatchi- 
 pei mountains, where there isn't any way for them 
 to get through to the south. Then the clouds 
 shift around to Arizony, and if the wind is right 
 they are blown through the passes of the Sierra 
 Madre into Southern Californy, then we get the 
 rain. That's why I said, Cap'n, that this dazzling 
 climate is built on the bias." 
 
 "Waal, Jeems, as a weather prophet you can't 
 be beat," said the Skipper.
 
 156 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 "In my business I get plenty of time to think, 
 Cap'n," he remarked, "and as they ain't much to 
 see except climate I think about that." 
 
 "Waal, I have a good sight more than that to 
 consider," replied the Skipper. "I'm thinking 
 right now about that government boat. I'm going 
 on deck. You can turn in." 
 
 The Captain showed him to an empty cabin and 
 the lanky stranger proceeded to make himself 
 comfortable for the balance of the night, while the 
 Captain went up on the Bridge. 
 
 "Where are you heading this boat to?" he 
 asked gruffly of the man at the wheel. 
 
 Then he took the helm himself and immediately 
 the Sea Eagle's prow pointed to the Westward as 
 if she were heading directly for Japan. How- 
 ever, she held this course for only an hour and a 
 half when the Skipper swung her bow once more 
 to the South. 
 
 Long before the morning broke, Tom and 
 Juarez, hauled out of their resting place, were set 
 to scrubbing the decks and rubbing them down 
 with holy-stone. They waited eagerly for the first 
 break of day to see where they were. 
 
 Then the light came slowly through the fog- 
 covered sky, showing a glossy sea with a slight 
 swell and not a sign of land anywhere. The boys'
 
 THE PASSENGER 157 
 
 hearts sank within them and they felt sure that 
 they would not see their native land again. 
 
 Once in a while they would glance up at the 
 Bridge where stood the Captain with his powerful 
 stooped figure. He was evidently on the lookout, 
 for with his eye at a long glass, he kept scanning 
 the sky-line to the east. What was he looking 
 for? Juarez knew instinctively that he was afraid 
 of pursuit. 
 
 If only they could be overtaken and captured, 
 his heart thrilled at the thought and he watched 
 the Captain eagerly for the first sign of excite- 
 ment. About ten o'clock he saw by the Skipper's 
 actions that something of interest had come under 
 his observation. 
 
 There were a number of quick, sharp orders 
 given and Juarez noticed the increased volume of 
 smoke pouring from the stack. The Sea Eagle 
 began to show the speed that was in her trim, 
 black form. Juarez worked around the port side 
 of the boat as rapidly as he dared, and his heart 
 leaped with hope. 
 
 He saw low upon the eastern horizon a smudge 
 of black smoke. If he only had known what the 
 Skipper knew, his hopes would have risen still 
 higher. Certain preparations were going on up- 
 on deck. The three cannon, one in the stern,
 
 158 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 that had fired the salute to the group on the shore, 
 one on either side of the quarter-deck, were di- 
 vested of their canvas jackets. 
 
 They certainly gleamed bravely in their polished 
 brass. Then the ammunition was got ready be- 
 siide each separate gun. It begin to look like 
 business. The Sea Eagle began to justify her 
 name and fly through the water. Still the spot 
 upon the horizon grew bigger. 
 
 Then Juarez began to have a paralyzing feel- 
 ing of doubt. The steamer, though coming up 
 fast, did not seem to be steering the proper course 
 to head the Sea Eagle, bearing on her port-quarter 
 instead of across her bows as would have been 
 the natural course if she wished to intercept her. 
 
 Then the doubt in his mind was changed to dis- 
 appointed certainty for the Skipper waved his 
 hand to the mate, who was busy on the deck be- 
 low. It was after he had taken a pull at the spy- 
 glass, which this time seemed to have an intoxi- 
 cating effect upon the Captain. 
 
 "It's all right, Bill," he yelled, "It's nothing but 
 a steamer bound for 'Frisco. It looks like the 
 Panama." 
 
 Juarez and Tom resumed their work doggedly. 
 That was all that was left for them to do. They
 
 THE PASSENGER 159 
 
 scarcely glanced at the big steamer as she ap- 
 peared, growing constantly larger above the hori- 
 zon, and then diminishing as she steamed North 
 towards San Francisco. 
 
 Juarez was scrubbing the deck near a cabin door 
 when it suddenly opened, and a tall, long-legged 
 figure stepped out and fairly over him. He came 
 to the conclusion that it was the man who had 
 come aboard the night before. 
 
 He took in the tall, gaunt man with the smooth- 
 shaven face and long hair at two glances one 
 not being sufficient to his height. 
 
 "Well, who are you?" he inquired lounging on 
 the rail and regarding Juarez with mild-eyed in- 
 terest. 
 
 "I'm Juarez Hopkins, deck scrubber. Who are 
 you?" 
 
 "I'm James Howell, sheep farmer. I'll add 
 you two lambs to my flock," he replied, whimsi- 
 cally, glancing at, Tom who was down the deck 
 a way. 
 
 "You are more apt to find us wolves in lamb's 
 hide," retorted Juarez. "Where's your farm?" 
 
 "There," said the stranger, pointing with a long, 
 bony finger on the port-quarter, "that nigh island." 
 
 Then Juarez saw to his surprise, two islands
 
 160 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 that seemed to have sprung like magic upon the 
 South-eastern horizon. The further one lay long 
 and low and dark but distant beneath the fog-lined 
 sky, the "nigh one" was more short and dumpy in 
 appearance.
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 TO THE RESCUE 
 
 During the afternoon, everything had been made 
 ready for the journey of the morrow. There was 
 not a great deal to be done for the three rescuers 
 would travel light. There would be no need of a 
 pack animal, because the Senor had assured the 
 boys that they would find hospitality on the way. 
 
 Jo however was in mourning because when he 
 gave his black a trial gallop, it was discovered that 
 he was badly lamed in the right knee. It would not 
 have been safe for any of the pirate gang to come 
 within range of Jo's wrath. 
 
 "The cursed brutes stove him up for fair," he de- 
 clared grinding his teeth. 
 
 "I'm afraid it will take a month's rest before he 
 will be fit," determined Jim. 
 
 "Then I'm out of it," exclaimed Jo sorrowfully. 
 
 "Not so, my friend," interrupted the Spaniard. 
 "Take the bay. He is not as good a horse as yours, 
 but he has great endurance. He is yours to use as 
 long as you wish." 
 
 161
 
 162 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 Jo thanked the Spaniard heartily for his kindness 
 and generosity. Then he spoke in a low voice to his 
 brother. "How about that money, Jim? Don't for- 
 get to pay the Spaniard for those goods we bought 
 at the store." Jim spoke up. 
 
 "Senor, I wish to show you a little something of 
 interest." 
 
 Then Jim got his heavy saddle, on which he had 
 ridden so many hundred miles. And the Senor re- 
 garded it with interest, because of the carved leather 
 workmanship which was of the finest and he was a 
 connoisseur of such matters. 
 
 "How much would you give for it, Senor Sebas- 
 tian," inquired Jim, "if it were put up for pur- 
 chase?" 
 
 "It is a beautiful saddle. I would be willing to 
 give a hundred dollars. It is worth it." 
 
 "That saddle is worth several thousand, Senor," 
 replied Jim confidently. 
 
 "I do not understand," replied the Spaniard. "It 
 is the personal value, I suppose." 
 
 "I will show you," said Jim. 
 
 Then he took from his hip pocket a heavy bone 
 handled knife which he had bought at the store and 
 pulled back the hoof cleaner, an instrument attached 
 to the knife that was used to get a pebble or 
 anything that had got 'into the horse's hoof.
 
 TO THE RESCUE 163 
 
 With this he worked at the leather that covered 
 the high and rather thick horn of the saddle. Finally 
 he pried the top leather flap off. There was a heavy 
 piece fitted into the top of the horn. With some 
 difficulty Jim got this out disclosing a hollow, in 
 which was concealed most of the jewels he had 
 found in Mexico. 
 
 "Hold your hands, Jo. Tight now." And with 
 the word he emptied the contents of the horn into 
 Jo's palms. Diamonds, rubies, turquoises and some 
 heavy gold pieces. 
 
 "That is what you might call a horn of plenty," 
 said Jim jocosely. 
 
 "But!" cried the Spaniard in amazement, "where 
 did you get these ?" 
 
 "In Mexico," replied Jim. "This was what the 
 Pirates were after. And they got all but this. 
 Sometime I will tell you the story of its discovery. 
 Now take this to reimburse 'you, Senor, for the 
 money we spent at the store." And he held out the 
 diamond. 
 
 "That is far too much. That stone is worth five 
 hundred dollars at least/' said the Spaniard. "These 
 three rubies would be more exact and I will take 
 them." 
 
 Jim, handing over the three stones selected, said,
 
 1 64 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 "Now, Senor, you shall take the diamond as a token 
 of good will from my brother and myself." 
 
 "We insist upon it," chimed in Jo. 
 
 Finally the Spaniard accepted the gifts with many 
 protestations of obligation and appreciation. Jo 
 was about to urge him to accept a jewel for his 
 sister, but Jim stopped him, knowing that the proud 
 Spaniard would not hear to such a present. 
 
 The next morning they were up an hour before 
 daylight and ate a hearty breakfast by the light of 
 the candles. Veterans though they were, the boys 
 felt a thrill go through their pulses as they thought 
 of the expedition that lay before them. Outside they 
 could hear the pawing of the impatient horses. 
 
 "To the success of our expedition and the rescue 
 of our friends !" was the toast the Spaniard proposed 
 as they rose from the table. The Frontier Boys 
 drank it, but not in wine. They felt just a little 
 foolish too, but such is the reward that often comes 
 with doing what is right. But they were sturdy in 
 their determination to stick to their principles. 
 
 If they had only known it, down in his heart the 
 Spaniard respected them the more, even though it 
 seemed odd to him. 
 
 Then they went out on the verandah, fully armed 
 and ready to take their departure. Two oil lamps 
 near the door and fastened to the wall, backed by
 
 TO THE RESCUE 165 
 
 shining reflectors sent a strong light across the 
 verandah and into the darkness outside. 
 
 There stood the three horses, eager to be off, each 
 one held by a Mexican groom. Caliente we already 
 know, and the horse that Jo is to ride also. So let 
 us take a glance at the third animal, Don Fernando. 
 He evidently justified all the enthusiasm of his mas- 
 ter, a truly splendid creature. 
 
 A dark chestnut, as large as Caliente and built on 
 something the same lines. They were beautifully 
 matched except in color. It was with a thrill of 
 pleasure that Jim swung himself into the saddle. His 
 mount was in fine fettle and ready for the long pull 
 ahead. 
 
 They started from the home ranch with a thunder 
 of hoofs in unison, the riders checking their 
 horses to a slow gallop with a heavy hand. Together 
 they pressed through the waning darkness. There 
 was a wonderful exhilaration, as they leaped for- 
 ward, the horses powerful and fresh. 
 
 Instead of following in the direction of the morn- 
 ing before, the Spaniard turned to the East until 
 they came near the foot of the range. In a short time 
 they came to a gate, which seemed to open mysteri- 
 ously as they approached, but the motive power 
 proved to be a small Mexican boy, whom the Senor 
 had sent on ahead.
 
 166 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 Now they were on a turf road with bushes on 
 either side and down this they thundered, Caliente 
 the gray, and Don Fernando the dark, matching 
 stride for stride, with Jo well in the rear. For he 
 found if he rode close up he was blinded and stung 
 by sods and stones thrown back from the flying 
 hoofs of the two horses in the front. 
 
 It was a bit lonely for Jo and he wished that one 
 of the other boys was here to keep him company. As 
 they rode, the bushes seemed to fly by as they do 
 when you look from a railroad train and Jo was 
 afraid lest his horse would be unable to keep the 
 pace indefinitely. One thing in Jo's favor was that 
 he was the lightest of the three and what is more to 
 the purpose a very light rider. 
 
 So like the good horseman he was, he determined 
 to save his horse all he could and make him last out. 
 For eight miles or more they rode without a stop 
 until they came to another gate. This the Spaniard 
 unfastened and swung open without dismounting, 
 then closed it after Jo. 
 
 The morning light was now distinct, although 
 the fog was over the sky. Before them stretched a 
 long level plain that broke into sand dunes near the 
 sea. They could see the ocean lying dark in its 
 monotonous level of color, to the Western horizon.
 
 TO THE RESCUE 167 
 
 "We have just left the Sebastian ranch," called 
 the Spaniard. 
 
 "It is immense," commented Jim. "May I ask 
 how many acres it embraces ?" 
 
 "It was immense in the old days," replied the 
 Spaniard. "Before your people took possession of 
 the land. It was held by no fences then. But your 
 laws were not ours and we lost many square miles. 
 Now there are fifty thousand acres under fence." 
 
 "Fifty thousand acres !" exclaimed Jo. 
 
 "Ah, but it was double that before the Americans 
 came," replied the Spaniard. Then he glanced crit- 
 ically at Caliente. "Your horse looks as cool as 
 though he had been standing in the stable. The pace 
 does not affect his wind either. Splendid condi- 
 tion!" 
 
 "Caliente is as hard as nails," said Jim proudly. 
 "But your horse has wonderful speed." 
 
 The chestnut seemed more on edge than the old 
 warrior, Caliente, and tossed the foam from his bit, 
 until his dark coat was speckled with it. 
 
 "He is high strung," said the Spaniard, "but I 
 would back him against any horse flesh in California. 
 We can let them out here for a half dozen miles." 
 
 "Let her go, Senor. I won't let you lose me." 
 
 At the word the Spaniard gave his chafing horse 
 his head and away the chestnut sprang in the lead.
 
 168 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 It was slightly down grade for a mile, then there 
 was a gulch twelve feet wide and of considerable 
 depth. It was a good jump and to make it saved a 
 little distance. Going at top speed the chestnut took 
 the jump in fine style. His rider half turned in his 
 saddle to watch Jim's effort. Caliente had faced 
 worse leaps than that, he rose to it and swept over 
 it as gracefully as a bird. 
 
 "Good fellow !" exclaimed Jim patting him affec- 
 tionately on the neck.
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE BANDITS 
 
 When Jo saw the gulch ahead, he decided that 
 discretion was the better part of valor as he did not 
 know his mount well enough to risk the leap, so he 
 galloped a few hundred feet below, where the gulch 
 narrowed and then he took the jump nicely, and 
 scampered after the other two riders who were quite 
 a way ahead. 
 
 Jim purposely held Caliente in check, keeping a 
 hundred yards in the rear of the Spaniard. Ahead 
 a few miles, there was a perfect sea of yellow where 
 the tall mustard covered the plain for a great dis- 
 tance. Into this they charged full tilt, the mustard 
 reaching as high as their heads. 
 
 There was a swish of its blossoms in their faces as 
 the powerful horses charged into it and in spite of 
 their strength they began to tire after going some 
 distance. 
 
 "Where is Jo ?" inquired Jim suddenly after they 
 had slowed down, "I don't see a sign of him." And 
 169
 
 i;o FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 he rose in his stirrups looking over the level lake of 
 mustard. 
 
 "Hello, Jo," he yelled at the top of his voice. No 
 answer came. Could he be drowned in this lake? 
 There was not a motion to indicate his where- 
 abouts, no waving of the yellow tops. 
 
 "It is very strange," said the Spaniard. "Did he 
 cross the gully all right?" 
 
 "Yes, I saw him take the jump below us a ways." 
 Then Jim raised his revolver above his head and 
 fired. 
 
 "That ought to fetch him," he said. Then they 
 listened intently. Suddenly about a quarter of a 
 mile ahead of them they saw a sombrero rise like 
 a gray mushroom above the yellow surface of the 
 mustard, and Jo's voice came back to them. 
 
 They both gave their horses the rein, this time Jim 
 did nothing to hold Caliente back, and with their 
 powerful speed the two great horses tore forward, 
 on even terms until in the last hundred yards Cal- 
 iente forged ahead by half a length. 
 
 "Hold on boys/' yelled Jo in warning. "Don't 
 on even terms until in the last hundred yards Cal- 
 horses up. There was Jo sitting quietly. on his horse. 
 
 "That's how you beat us," exclaimed Jim, pointing 
 to a cow trail running diagonally through the 
 growth of mustard.
 
 THE BANDITS 171 
 
 "Yes," laughed Jo, "I struck it further down after 
 I jumped the gully. Otherwise you fellows would 
 have lost me." 
 
 "Good work, Jo," said Jim. "Now we will have it 
 easier going." 
 
 So in single file they galloped along the path, until 
 they found themselves by noon, at the foot of a spur 
 of mountains that extended from the main coast 
 range to the ocean'. Jim regarded this barrier in 
 their way with a practised eye. 
 
 "This will slow us down, Senor," he said. "It 
 looks like a pass below there, about two miles." 
 
 "Yes," said the Senor," we can get through there 
 all right, but it is pretty rough going." 
 
 They had to advance more slowly now, as the 
 ground was broken into stony ravines, and there was 
 a good deal of brush. In this kind of country Jo's 
 horse more than held its own with the bigger an- 
 imals, for he was as nimble as a goat. 
 
 "I hope we will find water, Senor," remarked Jim. 
 "Our horses are pretty dry now." 
 
 "Yes," replied the Spaniard, "there is a good 
 spring at the foot of the Pass." 
 
 They found it all right, in the entrance to the 
 Pass, where there was a small green cove, sur- 
 rounded with bushes, and on one side was a sheep 
 herder's shanty. Jo investigated this immediately
 
 172 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 and found nothing in it but the charred remnants 
 of a fire and a pair of discarded overalls. 
 
 Jim, who had himself been looking around, made 
 a more important find. 
 
 "There has been somebody here recently," he an- 
 nounced. "Here are some tracks around the spring 
 and not over twelve hours old." 
 
 "Yes, I have no doubt," said the Spaniard care- 
 lessly puffing at his cigarette. "This Pass is used 
 occasionally by ranchmen and herders." 
 
 "There have been five or six horses here," said 
 Jim, whose experiences had made him suspicious. 
 
 "There are no Indians," said Jo, "in this section, 
 at least none who are on the warpath." 
 
 "I supose you do have cattle rustlers, Senor?" 
 inquired Jim. 
 
 "Yes, there is a band of outlaws," replied the 
 Spaniard, "that raids from as far north as our 
 ranch, south to San Diego, but we have seen no 
 trace of them for many months." 
 
 "Then, Senor," remarked Jim, "it is about time 
 that they paid you another visit." 
 
 "Ah, Senor Darlington," exclaimed the Spaniard. 
 "We Castilians do not reason so. We say that there 
 is no trouble today, why worry about tomorrow. 
 Perhaps these bandits may have starved to death, or 
 been hung, or the good Padres may have persuaded
 
 THE BANDITS 173 
 
 them by the fear of Hell, to become quiet, sheep rais- 
 ing citizens. God knows." 
 
 "I fear that they are raising sheep in their old 
 style," grinned Jo. The pun glanced off the Span- 
 iard harmlessly. 
 
 "The theory that they may be hung, sounds plaus- 
 ible, Senor," admitted Jim. "But before we advance 
 into the Pass., I will scout a little." 
 
 "If the Senor pleases," responded the Spaniard 
 courteously. 
 
 "Do you chance to know of a small, hunch-backed 
 Mexican who is more or less in this section of the 
 country, Senor ?" Jim suddenly inquired. 
 
 The Spaniard flushed with red anger and spit em- 
 phatically on the ground. 
 
 "You give him into my hands and I will reward 
 you well," cried the Spaniard. 
 
 Jim made no immediate reply but gazed thought- 
 fully at the ground. He was considering the case. 
 This was not the time to turn aside in a chase for 
 even so desperate a criminal as the hunch-backed 
 greaser. So he made no definite reply to the Span- 
 iard. 
 
 After the horses were fed, and watered, and while 
 Jo was looking after the coffee, Jim started off, to 
 do a little scouting up the Pass. The first thing that 
 he did was to slip off his heavy riding boots, which
 
 174 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 the stylish Jo had forced him to buy, and to put on 
 his noiseless footed moccasins. 
 
 Then with his revolver loaded and ready to his 
 hand, he went swiftly and silently up the trail that 
 followed through thick brush, gradually working up 
 the side of the mountain. It was no difficult task to 
 follow the tracks of the horses. In a half hour's 
 swift climbing he came to the top of a stony ridge, 
 over which the trail curved, and dipped down the 
 other side. 
 
 Jim now saw that the Pass was an irregular one 
 with recurrent spurs, thrusting out from the 
 mountains on either side, at quite frequent inter- 
 vals. There were innumerable chances for ambus- 
 cades. Jim did not stand in the trail but to one side 
 partially hidden in a thicket. 
 
 All the time his keen eyes were taking in the can- 
 yon below, not however admiring the scenery. In 
 fact there was nothing particularly beautiful, or in- 
 teresting in the view. In the Rockies and further 
 South too he had seen canyons incomparable to the 
 rather ordinary ones that he had seen in California. 
 
 Jim was watching for some slight movement of a 
 living creature in the canyon. Finally he gave it up, 
 and was about to turn away, then he gave a start, 
 he saw one, two, three, men crouch across the trail, 
 a quarter of a mile below, and disappear into the
 
 THE BANDITS 175 
 
 thick (brush. He was almost certain that the first 
 one was the hunch-back. 
 
 That was all that Jim wanted to see. He noise- 
 lessly took the back trail, thinking over the best 
 course to pursue. He would have liked nothing bet- 
 ter under ordinary circumstances than to fight it out 
 with the outlaws and to capture the hunch-back. 
 But their first object must be the rescue of Tom and 
 Juarez. 
 
 Was there not some way by which they could get 
 to the South without going through this bandit in- 
 fested Pass? 
 
 "Well brother, what didst thou find ?" inquired Jo, 
 who was at times pleased to be dramatic. 
 
 "Very few specimens in the way of bandits," re- 
 plied Jim. 
 
 "As I said, Senor," remarked the Spaniard, "they 
 have become good citizens." 
 
 "Not yet, I am sure, because they are alive." 
 
 "That is a good one, Jim," remarked Jo, appre- 
 ciatively, but the Spaniard was politely mystified. 
 "Same as Indians." 
 
 "I found one thing out," said the diplomatic Jim, 
 "and that is, that the Pass is a hard one on horses. 
 Are you sure, Senor, that there is no easier way 
 than this to get through?" 
 
 "Positive," briefly responded the Spaniard.
 
 176 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 Jim who was seated on .a rock digging his heel 
 into the soft earth, looked up as a sudden idea struck 
 him, but without knocking him out. 
 
 "How far is it from here to the sea, Senor?" he 
 asked. 
 
 "Not over five miles." 
 
 "Can we not get around that way ?" Jim inquired 
 eagerly. 
 
 "Why, yes," replied the Spaniard slowly, "if the 
 tide is not coming in. In that case we should be 
 drowned." Jim glanced hastily at his watch. 
 
 "We can try for it and make it, if we do not 
 waste any time," he said. "The horses have had a 
 good rest." 
 
 "Very well, Senor/' said the Spaniard resignedly. 
 He regarded Jim as an amiable hurricane whom it 
 was not worth while battering to resist. Jim hastily 
 swallowed his coffee and a hunk of bread and in five 
 minutes the three musketeers were in the saddle 
 again.
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 RACE WITH THE TIDE 
 
 In spite of the rough going, they made good 
 time for the five miles, spurred on by the constant 
 anxiety lest they should not reach the beach before 
 the tide began coming in. There were several 
 gathered to see them off when they left the mouth 
 of the Pass, but not to give them a send off. 
 
 A short explanation will prove this. It is not 
 to be supposed that the hunch-backed Mexican 
 and the bandits did not know that the three horse- 
 men were coming over the plain of the mustard 
 growth. Indeed, their scout, the Mexican dwarf, 
 saw Jim, Jo and the Spaniard when they first 
 landed in the entrance to the canyon. 
 
 He had gone back to report to the bandits 
 their coming, and after Jim had returned, they 
 had prepared the nicest trap imaginable near 
 where Jim had been hiding. They had had numer- 
 ous experiences in that line and were perfectly 
 qualified experts. The spider and the fly was 
 177
 
 178 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 nothing to the arrangements they had made to re- 
 ceive their supposably unsuspicious guests. 
 
 You can imagine the surprise and disgust of the 
 bandits and their scout when they saw the three 
 horsemen ride in an entirely different direction 
 than that they had looked for. Talk about con- 
 vulsions, you should -have seen these desperadoes 
 express their disappointment. It was terrific. 
 Not a saint in the long calendar was left un- 
 scathed. 
 
 How Jim would have enjoyed the performance. 
 But entirely oblivious to this, Jo, Jim and the 
 Spaniard were riding rapidly towards the sea. 
 Before an hour had passed, they had ridden be- 
 tween the rounded sand dunes and then out upon 
 the hard, smooth sand of the beach. 
 
 "This is splendid going, Senor Sebastian," ex- 
 claimed Jim. 
 
 "It is all right," he replied, "if the sea does not 
 get hungry too soon." But the sea appeared to be 
 in a very pleasant mood and the white breakers 
 had withdrawn as far out as it was possible to get. 
 It was such a smooth smiling sea with the laugh 
 of its little sparkling waves that it seemed that 
 there could be no possible harm in it. 
 
 "I never saw a road that was better than this !"
 
 RACE WITH THE TIDE 179 
 
 exclaimed Jo in delight. "It is perfectly springy 
 and no dust or mud." 
 
 It deserved all of Jo's praises, this broad, firm 
 California beach. The brown sand, that had been 
 pounded down by the force of the great rollers 
 some hours before, showed scarcely a sign of the 
 shoes of the horses. 
 
 There was plenty of width and the three horses 
 pressed on abreast, the powerful sweep of the 
 gray Caliente and the chestnut Don Fernando, 
 and the snappy, nervous leaps of the little bay that 
 Jo was riding. With the bracing sea air and the 
 exhilarating speed, the three musketeers were in- 
 vigorated. 
 
 The Spaniard hummed a gay ballad, while at 
 times Jim's heavy bass and Jo's lighter treble 
 were joined in a rollicking American song. They 
 laughed without reason, for the simple joy of being 
 alive and on the move; but as pride sometimes 
 goes before destruction, so happiness often goes 
 before disaster. 
 
 It was a small matter too, but it made for 
 trouble. The Spaniard's horse stepped between 
 two small rocks that were close together and 
 wrenched .one of his hind shoes nearly off. Jim 
 and Senor Sebastian hastily dismounted. Of 
 course they carried with them the necessary things
 
 i8o FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 to fix the shoe on again, but even then it was a 
 question of a number of minutes. 
 
 "You had better ride ahead, Jo," urged Jim. 
 "Your horse is beginning to tire and we will over- 
 take you, when we once get started." 
 
 "It is a good idea," joined in the Spaniard. 
 
 "All right," acquiesced Jo readily enough, and 
 he gave his bay the rein, riding slowly down the 
 beach. 
 
 Then the two began operations on Don Fernan- 
 do's hind foot. Here they found their first real 
 delay. At the point where the accident happened, 
 the mountains came down quite close to the sea, 
 so that they were crowded in much closer than 
 they had been. The nearness of the water made 
 the big chestnut restless and hard to handle. 
 
 The Spaniard had great difficulty in getting 
 near enough to his horse to get hold of his hind 
 foot. When he did succeed in doing this, and 
 was just starting to peg the shoe on, an extra big 
 wave slapped down upon the beach, though at a 
 safe distance and caused the big chestnut to jump 
 and hurl his master to a distance of a dozen feet. 
 
 "This won't do," cried Jim. "I'll take my horse 
 around to the sea side of yours and close up. Per- 
 haps that will give your animal confidence." 
 
 It worked like a charm, for though Caliente was
 
 RACE WITH THE TIDE 181 
 
 high-spirited, he was not flighty and he steadied 
 his comrade so that the two workers were able to 
 fasten the shoe. 
 
 "We have lost a good half hour," said Jim, look- 
 ing at his watch with a grave face. 
 
 "Perhaps we shall have to turn back," remarked 
 the Spaniard with gravity. "We may not escape 
 the incoming tide if we go on." 
 
 "Don't you believe it," cried Jim, impetuously. 
 "I've got business ahead and must go." 
 
 "Have it your way," said the Spaniard with a 
 peculiar smile. He knew what dangers lay ahead 
 with a rising tide and Jim did not or he probably 
 would not have been so insistent. 
 
 "I see no sign of Jo," remarked Jim, as they 
 swung into the saddles. 
 
 "Ah, we will not catch him. He is safe," re- 
 plied the Spaniard. 
 
 Then with tremendous speed, they swept down 
 the beach, the splendid horses responding to the 
 crisis. It was their fleetness against the steadily 
 rising rush of the inexorable sea. They actually 
 gained ten minutes on the first two miles and a 
 half. Then Jim saw ahead the dark form of a 
 headland thrusting out towards the sea. 
 
 Already the rush of a long wave would send the
 
 182 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 water lapping around their horses' feet. Jim 
 recognized the danger. They must get around 
 that promontory or give up beaten. Then he gave 
 Caliente a touch with a spur, the first that day. 
 With a snort, the spirited animal sprang forward 
 faster than before and at his shoulder was the 
 chestnut with flaming nostril. 
 
 None too soon had they reached the headland, 
 for the recurrent waves were beginning to surge 
 against it, with full force and gnawing foam. In 
 the fierce fury of their charge, they sent their 
 horses against the sea. It was at the long with- 
 drawal that made bare the scattered black rocks, 
 that they rounded the headland. 
 
 But too soon a great thundering wave with the 
 force of the Pacific behind it came roaring in 
 and swelled to the horses' throats, almost sub- 
 merging the riders. But the animals held against 
 its withdrawing power and before the ocean could 
 return to the attack, they had got beyond the head- 
 land to a safe place on the beach. 
 
 The horses were trembling and quivering with 
 their exertions and with the fear of the sea 
 which is the most terrible and paralyzing of 
 all fears. Jim drew a long breath of relief and 
 looked ahead to see if there was any sign of Jo.
 
 RACE WITH THE TIDE 183 
 
 Then to his consternation he saw that the beach 
 curved inland and at the further end of the curve 
 was another frowning headland thrusting itself 
 out somewhat further than the one they had but 
 just rounded.
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 THE ENCHANTED ISLE 
 
 Let us now return to the Sea Eagle, and find out 
 what is happening there. 
 
 You recollect that Juarez had just discovered two 
 islands lying on the South-eastern horizon, the one, 
 long and low, the other comparatively short and 
 dumpy. He had been conversing with the tall shep- 
 herd of the island, who seemed to take an interest in 
 Juarez. But because of his isolated life during a 
 greater part of the year, he would have taken an 
 interest in a stone idol, if he had chanced to dis- 
 cover one. 
 
 "Which of these islands are we making for?" in- 
 quired Juarez. 
 
 "The one where we land," replied the sheep far- 
 mer oracularly. "I might ask the Cap'n, only I never 
 pester him with questions. You aren't a Yankee, 
 are you?" 
 
 "No," replied Juarez, "I'm not. My folks J< ve in 
 
 Western Kansas." 
 
 184
 
 THE ENCHANTED ISLE 185 
 
 "I'm glad to hear it, son. But what are you doing 
 here?" he asked. 
 
 "You aren't a Yankee, are you ?" inquired Juarez, 
 quizzically. The man laughed softly to himself. 
 
 "You've got me there, lad," he said. "It looks to 
 me," he continued, "that the old man is going to 
 steer for the further island." 
 
 "Then you will have to swim for your home," re- 
 marked Juarez. 
 
 "I can wade," he replied whimsically, looking 
 down at his long legs. 
 
 "You are a humorist," said Juarez. 
 
 "No, you can put me down for a philosopher, 
 that is to say, a man who has much time to think 
 and nothing to do." 
 
 "I should like to be one," said Juarez. "Suppose 
 you holy-stone these decks while I try it." 
 
 "No, my friend," replied the shepherd, "I am too 
 much of a philosopher to make any such swap." 
 
 "Is Captain Broom one?" asked Juarez. 
 
 "Well, he is a sort of a philosopher till he gets 
 mad, then he becomes a living active volcano, belch- 
 ing out a lava of hot language and scorching things 
 generally. I guess that I had better be moving along. 
 I see that he is eyeing me from the Bridge, and he is 
 likely to get active any moment if I keep you from 
 working. 1 ' With this the lanky shepherd strolled
 
 186 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 forward and seating himself upon the top of the 
 boys' sleeping place in the bow, smoked his pipe in 
 meditative comfort. 
 
 His estimate in regard to the destination of the 
 Sea Eagle proved to be correct. For in the early 
 afternoon the ship passed under the lee of the long 
 island and was steaming up the channel between it 
 and the mainland, which was distant some thirty- 
 five miles. 
 
 The fog had cleared by noon, and there was that 
 complete transition to brilliant, sunny weather. 
 There was a sort of a white haze along the distant 
 coast and beyond far inland, rose the faint summits 
 of the high mountains. 
 
 Fortunately Juarez and Tom had a chance to 
 observe their new surroundings for they had been 
 set to work sewing on a small sail that was to be 
 used in one of the boats. They sat upon the top of 
 one of the hatches, under the watchful eyes of old 
 Pete and the philosophic gaze of the shepherd. 
 Sewing was one of the accomplishments of the 
 Frontier Boys. They had been obliged to learn. 
 
 "What is that particular bronze looking weed, 
 floating in these waters?" asked Tom. It was as 
 Tom phrased it, bronze and a most beautiful color. 
 
 it was indeed a giant among weeds ; just such as 
 the garden of the ocean would grow. The stems
 
 THE ENCHANTED ISLE 187 
 
 were fifty to eighty feet long, with peculiar colored 
 leaves eight to ten inches in length, growing on little 
 boughs from the parent stem. The whole structure 
 was held up by small bronze buoys, of a round shape. 
 
 "Well as ye seem likely boys and want to learn, 
 I'll tell you about this plant," said the shepherd. 
 "The scientific fellows call it Algae. When the 
 world was first made this algae covered the whole 
 surface of the ocean." 
 
 "How did you learn this ?" asked Juarez. 
 
 "You know that the Captain is quite a collector, 
 and in his travels has gotten together among many 
 other things some interesting books. He gives them 
 to me when convenient." The face of the lanky 
 shepherd was perfectly grave when he spoke of 
 Captain Broom as a collector. 
 
 "What makes the water so clear around here?" 
 asked Juarez. "I never saw anything like it." 
 
 "Well, you see," replied their mentor, "this island 
 is placed peculiarly, I mean this side of it. You 
 see how quiet the water is?" 
 
 "It is certainly smooth and blue," said Juarez. 
 "More like a lake than the ocean." 
 
 "That's only true of this side," resumed the 
 shepherd, "the other is rough enough, but you see 
 the prevailing winds are from the North-west and 
 this shore is never disturbed. So on the beaches
 
 i88 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 you will find not sand, but smooth round pebbles, 
 because there is no action of the water, no breakers 
 or waves to grind them into sand." 
 
 About four o'clock the Sea Eagle came into a per- 
 fectly beautiful little harbor, at the South-eastern 
 end of the island. There was a small level plot 
 back from the beach and on all sides rose steep hills 
 and back of them the mountains. It was the most 
 picturesque scene the boys had ever beheld in all 
 their travels. 
 
 What would they not have given to have been free 
 to roam that island, hunting inland, or fishing or 
 bathing along those quiet, enchanted shores. But this 
 was no pleasure excursion. Far from it. Captain 
 Broom had his own ideas, and he did not intend 
 to make a landing at all. 
 
 "Get the whale boat ready, lads!" he ordered. 
 "And put her over, we've got no time to lose." 
 
 They lost no time either, under Captain Broom's 
 commanding eye. 
 
 What was necessary for the cruise was already in 
 the boat. Two casks of water, several guns, and a 
 lot of provisions. Then the boat was hove over- 
 board into the quiet bay. The captain was ready 
 with a much battered satchel in his hand. Not for 
 one second did he entrust it to any one else. 
 
 "Now over with you, you two lads," he com-
 
 TEE ENCHANTED ISLE 189 
 
 manded and Juarez and Tom, with a sinking of the 
 heart, got into the boat. This was the last leg of their 
 mysterious journey, and it boded them no good 
 they felt sure of that. The mate they noticed stayed 
 aboard in charge of the ship. 
 
 They were put in the stern where old Pete had the 
 steering oar. Near them sat the shepherd on one of 
 the casks of water, his long legs getting uncertain 
 accommodation. The captain had his position in the 
 bow and two powerful sailors were at the oars, one 
 on either side. They did not sit down, but stood up 
 to their work. 
 
 Without any loss of time the boat got under way 
 proceeding seaward from the shelter of the beautiful 
 little harbor. In spite of their depression, the two 
 boys could not help being interested in the absolutely 
 clear water in which they could look down for 
 eighty feet. 
 
 They could see the straight slender columns of the 
 Algae rising to the surface, starting from where 
 they were rooted in the bottom of the bay and sway- 
 ing to the slow pulsation of the tide. These strange 
 plants of this marine garden were marvels indeed. 
 Between their stalks and among the encrusted rocks 
 swam in absolute unconsciousness of being watched, 
 many beautiful, and strange fishes. 
 
 Some were small of golden hue, with little spots
 
 190 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 of a marvelous blue (poetry) that flashed like keen 
 electric dew. (that will do). Others were like gold 
 fishes, a foot in length and of corresponding 
 breadth. There were long mackerel, and innum- 
 erable minnows, and over the rocks a peculiar little 
 fish crawled or rather walked on thin rat-like feet. 
 Before they had time to observe further the boat 
 had got out of the harbor where the water sunk away 
 to blue unfathomed depth. When clear of the har- 
 bor, they turned to the South, passing near a cove 
 with a symmetrical pebbly beach, built up for five 
 feet, above the level of the water. The ocean was 
 perfectly smooth, with not a ripple upon its surface. 
 They were evidently making to round the Southern 
 extremity of the Island.
 
 CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 IN THE WHITE BOAT 
 
 Ahead of them was a rock rising fifty or sixty 
 feet out of the water. It was evident that the rock 
 was inhabited for there could be seen dark forms 
 moving around upon it. Nothing had been said 
 since they started, for the Captain was not in a 
 talkative mood. Jeems Howell, the shepherd, had 
 sat silently smoking his pipe in philosophic content- 
 ment. 
 
 "What are those things on that rock?" inquired 
 Tom, his curiosity getting the best of his reserve. 
 
 "Two yankees in this boat," commented the 
 shepherd. "Those are seals, son. Didn't you ever 
 see any before ?" 
 
 "No !" admitted Tom. 
 
 "You didn't know that seals, next to humans, are 
 the smartest animals, in the world." 
 
 "Is that so?" inquired Juarez. "They certainly 
 are sleek." 
 
 "They have got the most brain room, that's a 
 fact." 
 
 191
 
 192 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 The boys regarded the seals with peculiar interest 
 as the boat passed near the rock. They were moving 
 about awkwardly by means of their flippers, moving 
 their sinuous necks this way and that and re- 
 garding the strange boat with their soft brown eyes. 
 Then they dived headlong into the sea, swimming 
 about with a peculiar grace. 
 
 "Queer animals," remarked Tom, "belong half to 
 the sea and half to the land." 
 
 "Something like sailors," remarked the shepherd. 
 
 "What's the Captain going to do with us ?" asked 
 Juarez in a low voice. The shepherd's face took on 
 a solemn expression, but before he could reply the 
 Captain's voice roared. 
 
 "None of that, you'll find out soon enough. You 
 can talk about the flory and fauny, with long shanks, 
 but don't let me hear anything else out of you," such 
 was the Captain's ultimatum. 
 
 But soon matters grew so interesting that they lost 
 all inclination for talking. When they got near the 
 Southern end of the island they began to notice 
 white caps to the Southward, dotting the darkness 
 of the sea. 
 
 "You lads will have to hold tight now in a few 
 minutes," remarked Howell. "Do you get sea- 
 sick?" 
 
 "No," replied the boys.
 
 IN THE WHITE BOAT 193 
 
 "Well, you will have a chance soon, and if it don't 
 fetch you, nothing will." 
 
 So far they had been rowing under the sheltering 
 lee of the island whose huge rocky bulk had shoul- 
 dered off the charge of the wind-driven seas. Now 
 before they had fairly rounded the island the charac- 
 ter of the water began to change. The boat began to 
 toss on the great rollers. Then as they cleared the 
 land for good and were in the channel, a fresh gust 
 of wind struck them, drenching the occupants of the 
 boat with spray. 
 
 The Captain stood up in the bow of the boat and 
 steadying himself took in the conditions of the sea 
 and wind. There was nothing in his grim weather- 
 beaten face to show what he felt. The men at the 
 oars now made hard work of it against the head- 
 wind and the running sea. 
 
 They would climb up a steep wave and then with 
 a sickening slide, go down into the hollow, then with 
 a lusty pull the sailors would bring the heavy boat 
 over the toppling crest of wave to find another rush- 
 ing to meet them. No rest, this was what made it 
 such heart breaking work. 
 
 The early fog had come, covering the sea with 
 gloom, and the waves did not go down perceptibly. 
 At times, they shipped a good deal of water and 
 Tom and Juarez were kept busy bailing out. After
 
 194 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 an hour's hard struggle the sailors were about all 
 in and seemed hardly able to hold their own against 
 the sea and wind. The Captain was quick to notice 
 this. 
 
 "Can you row, lad?" he inquired of Juarez. Now 
 the latter's experience had been confined to his work 
 going down the Grand Canyon of Colorado, on the 
 raft-boat that the Frontier Boys had built. 
 
 Even the old ocean itself could not show anything 
 worse than some of the rapids that the boys had run. 
 As for rocks, nothing could beat the canyon for 
 them. 
 
 "I'll try, sir," he replied, "I've never rowed on the 
 ocean." 
 
 "Humph!" grunted the Captain, "take the star- 
 board. And you, you lazy long shanks, you take the 
 other oar." 
 
 "All right, sir," replied cheerfully, the one ad- 
 dressed. 
 
 "Get out of here, Pete," he cried, giving that 
 worthy a lift with his foot that landed him on top of 
 Tom, "I'll do the steering. You boys will only have 
 to pull, that's all. I'll keep her headed up right." 
 
 Fortunately Juarez was in fine condition, or he 
 could never have stood the gruelling work ahead. 
 He weighed one hundred and sixty pounds and there 
 was not an ounce of fat on him. Likewise he had
 
 IN THE WHITE BOAT 195 
 
 had a sound night' s sleep and three square meals 
 so that he was f orti fied for what was ahead. 
 
 Juarez buckled to the task with all his strength, 
 and he was glad of the chance to get his blood in 
 circulation for he was chilled to the bone by the fly- 
 ing spray, and then too, anything was better than 
 thinking of the fate ahead. He was surprised to 
 find out that the shepherd who appeared rather 
 frail in physique was able to keep up the pace. 
 
 But he had that sinewy length of muscles that 
 counts for more than mere bunchy thickness. 
 Juarez was crafty enough not to spend all of his 
 strength in the first fifteen minutes of work. He 
 liked this, fighting the sea and standing on his feet 
 he was able to put the whole leverage of his body in- 
 to the stroke. 
 
 The change in speed was noticeable right away, 
 and the boat began to pull ahead steadily. The two 
 sailors who had been laid off from exhaustion, had 
 watched Juarez with a sneering grin as he took the 
 oar. They were sure that the first wave that came 
 along would wrench the oar out of his hand. Great 
 was their surprise when they saw him buckle to the 
 oar, rising and pulling at the right time to meet 
 the toppling, rustling seas. 
 
 "That little shrimp will last about ten minutes," 
 said one of them to his mate.
 
 196 
 
 "Sure, Bill," replied the other. 
 
 Juarez choked back a hot reply, for he knew that 
 it would not be good for him to say anything to them. 
 They were in the majority and would get him if he 
 did, besides making it bad for Tom. The ten minutes 
 passed and Juarez was just beginning to warm to 
 his work. This took the wind out of their sails 
 completely. 
 
 The powerful hand of the Skipper at the steering 
 oar was a great help, for now all that the two men 
 at the oars had to do was to pull and not to worry 
 about keeping her headed right. Juarez kept 
 steadily at it for an hour and then darkness began 
 to fall over the channel but not until the island that 
 they were approaching had begun to loom up, dead 
 ahead. 
 
 They were now getting in the lee of the strange 
 island and the sea was moderating perceptibly. At 
 this juncture the two sailors who had become 
 thoroughly rested took the oars from Juarez and his 
 co-worker and pulled steadily through the gathering 
 gloom. In a short time the bulk of the island 
 loomed above them in the darkness. 
 
 Not a word was said, only the swish of the sea 
 was heard and the groaning of the oars in the locks. 
 Tom and Juarez were deeply depressed and gloomy. 
 They felt exactly as though they were being taken
 
 IN THE WHITE BOAT 197 
 
 to prison and could sympathize with sailors who had 
 been marooned on lonely and desolate islands. 
 
 "Easy now, lads," called the Captain, as he brought 
 the boat's head squarely around towards the shore. 
 "Two strokes," he yelled, "and let her run." 
 With great force they pulled the oars in succes- 
 sion, then they shipped them in a hurry. Juarea 
 could see the dashing of foam on either side of the 
 boat where the waves smote the rocks. There was a 
 roar in his ears as the boat rushed toward seeming 
 sure destruction. It was going with great speed 
 from the impetus of the sailors' strokes. 
 
 The Captain was standing taut at the steering 
 oars, his eyes piercing the darkness ahead, then the 
 foam of the breakers dashed in their faces, there 
 was a quick sliding past of dark rocks and before 
 they could draw breath again the boat was in quiet 
 water, under some black cliffs. At last they had 
 reached the mysterious goal of their mysterious 
 journey.
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 
 IN PERIL 
 
 We must now go back in our narrative to where 
 we left Jim Darlington and the Spaniard, Senor 
 Sebastian, in a position of extreme peril, between 
 the cliffs and the deep sea, with the white-fanged 
 tide coming in like a devouring monster eager for 
 its prey. 
 
 "Is there a chance, Senor?" cried Jim as soon 
 as his horse gained his footing. 
 
 "It is the fatal day, I fear," replied the Span- 
 iard with resigned hopelessness. "The sea is hun- 
 gry." 
 
 "As for that, so am I," declared Jim coolly. "So 
 let us try to get around the headland and after that, 
 supper." 
 
 "As you please," acquiesced the Spaniard quiet- 
 
 iy- 
 
 Then Jim turned Caliente's head and with a 
 quick touch of the spur sent him full stride along 
 the curving beach, followed closely by the Span- 
 iard. Already the heavy waves were licking far 
 198
 
 IN PERIL 199 
 
 up the slant of the sand. Even the veteran Ca- 
 liente seemed nervous at its approach, while Don 
 Fernando would jump and shy as the hissing wa- 
 ter crept around his feet. 
 
 In about two minutes the two horsemen reached 
 the base of the rocky headland that barred their 
 way. It was a desperate moment, there was 
 but one thing to do and that was to take the 
 chance. 
 
 "Better be drowned quick, Caliente, old boy," 
 cried Jim, "than slowly, but we'll beat you yet," 
 and he shook his clenched fist at the ocean, and 
 whirled his horse to meet a wave that struck 
 Caliente breast high. So for a moment, the two, 
 boy and horse, stood facing their powerful enemy, 
 The Sea, that came with the recurring charge, 
 its evenly separated files robed in blue with white 
 crests. Thus they stood getting a full free breath 
 before they leaped into the ranks of the foe. 
 
 Jim's strained, keen gaze took in every detail of 
 the situation, noting the position of the rocks that 
 a receding wave left bare, so that he might find a 
 clear path or trail in his dash for life. Nor did 
 his gaze flinch as he saw the advancing wave 
 break against the front of the cliff. 
 
 "Now, Caliente," yelled Jim, with a sense of 
 fierce determination and exultation that communi-
 
 200 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 cated itself to his horse, and lifting his feet free 
 from the stirrups so that he would not be en- 
 tangled, if Caliente should fall, he headed him 
 seaward, galloping fast down the beach upon the 
 heejs of the withdrawing wave. 
 
 Meeting a smaller inrush of water and dashing 
 through its foaming crest, his gallant horse swam 
 until he got a foothold upon the rocks at the base 
 of the cliff. Now was the crucial moment. With 
 absolute recklessness, Jim urged his powerful 
 horse over the foam-covered rocks, striving to 
 get around the prow of the headland before the 
 charge of the next wave. Not one look did Jim 
 give seaward, all his energies were bent upon 
 using every precious second, and Caliente was 
 filled with his rider's indomitable spirit. 
 
 Then above them towered the fatal wave, and 
 with a confused roar, it broke over them in swel- 
 tering foam and they were swept towards the 
 black front of the cliff. Then came the impact 
 against the rock and the next moment, stunned 
 and bruised, Jim holding to the pommel of the 
 saddle, with a death-grip, was carried out to sea 
 with Caliente in the grasp of the retreating wave. 
 
 It was all over, as like pieces of drift, horse 
 and rider were swept away, but fortune does 
 sometime favor the brave and, being caught in a
 
 IN PERIL 201 
 
 powerful current, Caliente was carried South of 
 the headland and his progress towards the sea was 
 stayed by a rock that rose high, an outer-guard of 
 the headland. So then the next great wave bore 
 them toward the beach, and once Caliente got his 
 feet upon the sandy bottom he braced himself 
 against the fierce pull of the retreating sea, striv- 
 ing to drag him back again. 
 
 Though almost unconscious, Jim clung to the 
 saddle with his body half-drooping over the pom- 
 mel. Then Caliente plunged blindly forward un- 
 til he stood with head bent down and nose almost 
 touching the sand, his great sides heaving, but 
 safe at last. 
 
 In the distance, a horseman could be seen com- 
 ing at full gallop along the straight line of the 
 beach. It was Jo, who finally had become fright- 
 ened by the non-appearance of his two comrades 
 and had turned back. His fright had been in- 
 creased by seeing a horse and rider coming appar- 
 ently out of the sea. 
 
 When he came up, he found his brother Jim 
 sitting on the sand still half dazed but slowly com- 
 ing to himself. 
 
 "Where's the Senor, Jim?" cried Jo. This 
 question served to bring Jim completely to him- 
 self. He got up, looking pale, with one side of
 
 202 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 his face bruised to a real blackness, and the flesh 
 of his left hand badly torn, where it had struck 
 the cliff, but he was not thinking of these matters. 
 
 "Why, Jo, the Senor came after me. Where is 
 he?" Then it came over him all at once, that his 
 companion was even now caught between the jaws 
 of the black cliff. 
 
 "We must get to him, Jo," he cried. 
 
 "But how did you ever get around that cliff?" 
 asked Jo. 
 
 Already it was an awesome sight as the waves 
 crashed in foam against its front and rushed shore- 
 ward along its black sides. It seemed impossible 
 that only fifteen minutes before Jim had actually 
 come around that foaming headland. 
 
 In reply to Jo's question, Jim threw his arms 
 around Caliente's neck with warm affection. 
 
 "This is the old fellow that pulled me through," 
 he cried. "But we must go to the help of our 
 Spanish friend." 
 
 "How can we?" inquired Jo. "We can't get. 
 around the headland unless we become fishes." 
 
 Jim considered the problem carefully. One 
 thing he was determined on and that was not to 
 leave the Spaniard who had been so hospitable 
 and helpful to them. 
 
 "No, we can't go around by the headland," he
 
 IN PERIL 203 
 
 determined, "but we might be able to find a way 
 over the rocks and down on the other side." 
 
 "All right, I'm ready." 
 
 "Let's find a place for Caliente first," advised 
 his owner. Back a short distance from the beach 
 there were some trees on a lower spur of the 
 mountain. Here Jim brought Caliente and took 
 off the saddle and bridle. 
 
 "Now make yourself comfortable," said Jim. 
 
 Caliente, in seeming recognition of what was 
 said, took immediate advantage of the invitation 
 and rolled heartily in a dry and dusty spot. 
 
 "Get your lasso, Jo," urged Jim, "and we will 
 start." 
 
 So together they made for the steep rock and 
 soon reached the base of it, and now began a hard 
 climb, but no more difficult than they had encoun- 
 tered before in their travels. 
 
 "Do you recollect, Jim," inquired Jo, "that day 
 you got stalled in our first canyon in Colorado, 
 when you tried to imitate an eagle and fly up 
 a precipitous cliff and we had to get you 
 down ?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, I remember," replied Jim, "and how 
 I scared you and Tom by pretending that an In- 
 jun was after me, when I went down to the creek 
 for water."
 
 204 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 "Poor Tom," said Jo sadly, "I wonder when we 
 will see him again." 
 
 "In a couple of days," stoutly declared the op- 
 timistic Jim. 
 
 They were now going up the face of the cliff, 
 the lariats over their shoulders, and searching 
 with careful feet for a foothold, while their hands 
 clutched some piece of projecting rock. 
 
 "Lucky this rock isn't rotten," cried Jo, "or we 
 would find ourselves stuck headfirst in the sand 
 below." 
 
 "Like an ostrich," said Jim. "We couldn't do 
 much in a place like this without our moccasins, 
 that's certain." 
 
 The moccasins did make them nimble as goats, 
 and they not only made possible a secure hold, 
 but they protected as well the feet. At first they 
 were not in any grave danger of a fall because the 
 drifted sand at the bottom of the cliff would have 
 made a soft landing. But after a while they were 
 forced to work their way out over the rushing wa- 
 ter, then if they had slipped and fallen it would 
 have been all up with them. 
 
 It seemed as if the sea, furious at having lost 
 Jim a short while ago, was making fierce efforts 
 to get at them now. The great waves foamed 
 against the cliff and the spray dashed over the
 
 IN PERIL 205 
 
 boys, making the surface of the rock treacherous 
 and slippery. 
 
 "I can't bear to look down," said Jo. "It makes 
 me dizzy." 
 
 "Look up, then," Jim called back. 
 
 "That's almost as bad," replied Jo. 
 
 "Keep 'em shut then," was Jim's command. 
 
 Finally they came to a place that stopped Jo en- 
 tirely. Jim was able to get over it, because of his 
 superior height and reach, and he attained a point 
 of safety above Jo. 
 
 "What am I going to do now?" cried Jo. "I 
 can't go any higher and it is impossible for me to 
 go back." 
 
 "You wait," urged Jim, "till I get a secure foot- 
 hold above here." 
 
 "Oh, I'll wait," said Jo grimly, "you don't ob- 
 serve any anxiety on my part to move, do you?"
 
 CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 TWO LASSOES 
 
 Finally Jim reached a broad ledge, that gave 
 him an excellent foothold, and he got his lariat 
 ready and dangled the loop under Jo's nose. 
 
 "What are you going to hang me for ?" inquired 
 
 Jo. 
 
 "For a horse thief, I reckon," replied Jim, "that 
 bay don't belong to you does it, Mister?" 
 
 "Meaning this ocean bay?" queried Jo. 
 
 "I certainly will hang you for that," retorted 
 Jim, "Now get the loop under your armpits." 
 
 "All ready," cried Jo. 
 
 Then Jim, bracing himself, kept a taut line on 
 his brother, and with this help he was able quite 
 easily to get over the slippery, bare belt of rock, 
 and in a few moments was safe with Jim on the 
 ledge. 
 
 "It won't take us long now," said Jo, "to get 
 to the other side." 
 
 "Let's give him a yell," suggested Jim, "to let 
 him know that we are coming." 
 206
 
 TWO LASSOES 207 
 
 Then Jim put his hands to his lips and cried : 
 
 "Senor, ahoy." They listened breathlessly and 
 in a few moments came a faint reply. This put 
 renewed energy into the boys and as the way was 
 now easier, they leaped ahead, agile as goats, and 
 had soon reached the top of the cliff. They looked 
 eagerly down. 
 
 There was the deep short semi-circle of the 
 little bay with the waves heaving in against the 
 cliffs and at the point midway between the two 
 head-lands, where the beach was highest, they saw 
 the Spaniard on Don Fernando. Already the en- 
 croaching waves were gnawing at them. 
 
 It was only a question of minutes now, and 
 horse and rider would be carried out to sea. The 
 Spaniard sat like a statute. It was seemingly pos- 
 sible for him to have made his escape up the cliffs, 
 which were not overly precipitous, like those Jim 
 and Jo had just scaled, but he was a fatalist and 
 believed that his day had come. Perhaps he did 
 not want to abandon his horse, in which his pride 
 was centered. 
 
 "Cheer up, Senor, we'll be there," yelled Jim. 
 
 Then followed by Jo, he sprang forward, leap- 
 ing from rock to rock, and from jutting point to 
 opportune foot-hold. It was dangerous and daring 
 work, but the life of their friend was at stake and
 
 208 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 the boys were not the kind to consider their own 
 safety at such a time. 
 
 It was only their sure-footedness and varied ex- 
 perience in climbing that saved them from broken 
 limbs or possible death. In a remarkably short 
 time, they stood upon a ledge above the Spaniard. 
 
 "Here, Senor," yelled Jim, "catch the rope." 
 
 He did as ordered but called up, "Is there no 
 way to save my horse?" 
 
 Jim considered a moment, then shouted: "All 
 right, yes, we will save your horse, too. Tie the 
 ends of the lasso to the iron rings at the ends of the 
 front cinch." This was a broad, strong band, 
 which would furnish a good purchase, when Jim 
 tossed down the lariat. The Spaniard caught it 
 and made it fast as ordered. 
 
 "Now, fasten this under your arms," ordered 
 Jim, as he cast down the second lariat, which be- 
 longed to Jo. They then drew up the Spaniard to 
 safety and he appeared to be pleased in a quiet way 
 but not at all enthusiastic. 
 
 "I am your eternal debtor, Senors," he said with 
 a courteous bow. 
 
 "How was it you did not follow me, Senor?" 
 questioned Jim, "when I sailed around the head- 
 land?"
 
 TWO LASSOES 209 
 
 "Don Fernando balked," replied the Senor. "I 
 thought, too, that you had been drowned." 
 
 "Came near it," replied Jim. "I would, too, if 
 it had not been for Caliente." 
 
 "But my poor Fernando, he will be drowned," 
 cried the Spaniard, now much more excited about 
 the safety of his steed than he had been for his 
 own. It did look rather bad for the big chestnut, 
 as a large wave swelling in, almost took him off 
 his feet. He began to neigh wildly. 
 
 "Don't worry, Don, old boy," cried Jim to the 
 frightened horse. "If you will help yourself." 
 There was something in his voice that seemed to 
 reassure the animal. 
 
 "Now, Jo, we will let you down by the lariat 
 and get the bridle reins over his head and help 
 him get a foothold on that ledge below us. He 
 will be safe enough there, even if he does get 
 somewhat damp." 
 
 "Let me go. It is my risk for my horse," urged 
 the Spaniard. 
 
 "It is no risk, Senor," replied Jim. "You are 
 heavier than my brother and stronger and can do 
 more good on this ledge with me." 
 
 "The commands of the General !" said the Span- 
 iard with a low bow. "I see your plan is good."
 
 210 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 "We will tie this end of the lasso to the tree," 
 said Jim, "so you will feel perfectly safe, Jo." 
 
 The tree referred to was a sturdy, gnarled cedar, 
 growing on the ledge. Then Jim swung his 
 brother off and with every confidence in the 
 strength of the lariat to hold, Jo made his way 
 quickly and safely down, while if he had been 
 without the rope he would have doubtless fallen 
 into the water below. 
 
 A wave surged in, submerging him, and then 
 started triumphantly to carry him out to sea, but 
 when the lariat pulled taut Jo struggled safely 
 back on the rock, while the wave went grumbling 
 back. 
 
 "Catch the bridle now, Jo," urged Jim. "Don't 
 waste any more time swimming." 
 
 Thus adjured, Jo grabbed the bridle reins and 
 pulled them over Don Fernando's head, and braced 
 himself on the rock above. All was ready now, 
 and the two above held the loop of the lasso that 
 had been tied at the cinch, with both hands, and 
 they pulled together. Again a big wave swelled 
 in towards the cliff, which gave the frightened 
 horse a big boost. 
 
 Then, with Jim and the Spaniard pulling might- 
 ily from the ledge above, and Jo giving the big 
 chestnut a purchase by a steady pull upon his
 
 TWO LASSOES 211 
 
 bridle, the horse scrambled with a mighty clatter 
 and all his frightened energy up the sloping rock. 
 The lariat and Jo's work helped a whole lot. 
 Without the three, he would never have made it. 
 
 Before the next wave swept in, Don Fernando 
 stood, trembling and dripping, but safe, upon the 
 lower ledge. He seemed above the danger point 
 now, though an unusually big wave welled up 
 around the horse's fetlocks and the spray was con- 
 tinually dashing upwards. 
 
 "He is all right now," cried Jim, "better come 
 up, Jo, where it is dryer." 
 
 "Haul in then," replied Jo, and then he was 
 landed safely on the ledge. 
 
 "Caught a speckled trout," exclaimed Jim in 
 happy humor again. 
 
 "Referring to my freckles, I suppose," grinned 
 Jo. "If I'm a fish, I reckon Don Fernando is a 
 whale." 
 
 "Do you suppose he is safe?" inquired the Span- 
 iard anxiously. 
 
 "Who, Jo?" 
 
 "Ah, no," said the Spaniard smilingly. "I mean 
 the Don. The water seems to be rising." 
 
 "You may rest assured that he is safe," replied 
 Jim. "It is the turn of the tide now, and it is only
 
 212 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 a westerly wind that makes it appear higher. All 
 we will have to do now is to wait." 
 
 "It is a great pity, this delay," said the Span- 
 iard warmly. "You are anxious to be on to the 
 rescue of your brother and his friend. Anyway, 
 I hope you will succeed as well in their case as 
 you did in mine." 
 
 "In another hour we will be able to start," said 
 Jim, "the tide will then commence to run out." 
 
 "Where shall we stop tonight?" inquired Jo. 
 
 "Camp in the open as usual," replied Jim. 
 
 "I hope we will get up above the sea so high 
 that it won't come within a mile of us," said Jo, 
 fervently. 
 
 "As to a place to stop, I will see to that," said 
 the Spaniard. "Do not give yourselves any un- 
 easiness on that score." 
 
 "It's getting kind of chilly roosting up here," 
 remarked Jo, plaintively, "especially as the fog is 
 coming in." 
 
 "I'll warm you," said Jim. "Put up your 
 Dukes." 
 
 "You'll take the counts if I put up my Dukes," 
 said Jo, who was an inveterate punnist. 
 
 "Shut up," yelled Jim, giving his brother a 
 hearty chug in the chest. Then they went at it 
 hammer and tongs, giving and receiving good
 
 TWO LASSOES 213 
 
 hard blows, and after ten minutes of whaling at 
 each other, both were plenty warm. The Span- 
 iard looked on in mild wonder. 
 
 "You Americans love the hard exercise," he 
 said. "I should think you would have great pleas- 
 ure in resting awhile." 
 
 "I got the best of the bout," declared Jo. "See 
 how black and blue your face is on this side." 
 
 "You didn't do that," protested Jim. "That 
 was a wallop that old Neptune handed me when he 
 bumped my head against yonder cliff." 
 
 "Neptune! Yonder cliff!" jeered Jo. "You 
 ought to be a story writer and use fine words." 
 
 "Me a story writer!" growled Jim. "I aint got 
 so low as that, not so long as I have got two hands 
 to steal chickens with."
 
 CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 "Do you not think, Senor Darlington, that it is 
 now safe to start ?" inquired the Spaniard, who was 
 fearful of bloodshed, not quite understanding the 
 boys. 
 
 "Certainly," responded Jim, "we will get Don 
 Fernando down from his perch and proceed." 
 
 This proved to be an easier task than getting him 
 up. His master lowered by the rope to his side, one 
 scrambling leap and the horse was on the firm wet 
 sand of the beach, almost knocking his master over 
 in his eagerness to be on safe footing again. Don 
 Sebastian now showed the gay side of his nature, as 
 he vaulted into the saddle. 
 
 He swung his hat wildly, the blood mounting to 
 his face, and the horse seemed to feel the sting and 
 excitement of his master's mood, as he pranced, 
 danced and caracoled upon the sand and ended up 
 by bowing in unison with his master to the two 
 American lads, who were looking on with interest 
 and amusement. 
 
 Then the party made their way quickly along the 
 214
 
 ANOTHER FRIEND 215 
 
 curve of the beach and went around the fateful 
 headland with perfect safety, while quite a distance 
 out among the hidden rocks snarled the defeated 
 ocean. Then Caliente heard them coming and he 
 quickly raised his head, neighing in welcome to Jim 
 and his comrade, Don Fernando. 
 
 Jim gave him a vigorous hug for more than ever 
 he was fond of his faithful horse. In a few minutes 
 he had him saddled and away the three horsemen 
 thudded in a swift gallop down the beach. The 
 horses fairly flew, the wind of their speed tossing 
 their manes back. It was cool beneath the fog 
 laden sky and the refreshing sea air seemed to 
 give the horses tireless endurance. 
 
 Soon three miles had spun backwards under their 
 hoofs and the boys were filled with the joyous ex- 
 citement of the run. It seemed now that every stride 
 of the horses was bringing them nearer to the 
 hoped-for rescue of Tom and Juarez. And this was 
 an incentive to their energy. 
 
 "Here, friends, is where we branch off from the 
 beach," cried the Spaniard. 
 
 Then he turned his horse to the left and headed 
 straight for a wooded spur that extended from the 
 range to the shore. In a short time the three came 
 to a well-traveled trail and were soon riding through
 
 216 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 the semi-dusk of the woods. For two miles they 
 went up a steady grade. 
 
 Then they rounded the summit of the wooded 
 ridge and saw stretching far below them in the in- 
 distinct dusk, a wide plain bounded on the West by 
 the blue darkness of the level sea with its rim of 
 yellow sand. 
 
 "We will soon be at the home of my friend, Senor 
 Valdez," said the Spaniard, "where we will spend 
 the night." 
 
 "I'm a lovely looking object to present itself in a 
 civilized home," protested Jim, "I look like a tough 
 who has been in a bar-room rush." 
 
 "You are my brave friend," said Senor Sebastian, 
 quietly, "and will be welcome." 
 
 Jim blushed, at least one side of his face did, the 
 other was already too deeply colored to show any 
 emotion, and he grinned sheepishly. Before he had 
 time to reply they swept into an open driveway, 
 carefully sanded, and drew rein in front of a long, 
 low white adobe house, that from its mountain ter- 
 race looked over Plain and Sea. 
 
 Out came Senor Valdez to receive them, a stately 
 Spaniard, who furnished the boys with an ideal of 
 perfect courtesy ever after. To the end of their 
 days they remembered their first visit to the home 
 of Senor Valdez. How they did enjoy their dinner
 
 ANOTHER FRIEND 217 
 
 that evening in the long, pleasantly lighted dining- 
 room. 
 
 It was an excellent meal, with delicious soup, a 
 salad garnished with peppers of the Spanish style, 
 and garlic. Jim and Jo had never tasted anything 
 equal to it. Besides there were frijoles and lamb, 
 while the dessert was some slight and delicate con- 
 fection of jelly and cream, made by the hands of 
 the Senora Valdez. 
 
 "I feel wicked sitting here and eating this fine 
 meal," said Jo, addressing Jim in a low voice, 
 "when Tom and Juarez are being ill used and prob- 
 ably starved." 
 
 "Well," replied Jim, who was always practical, 
 "I think it is better to eat, and to keep my strength 
 up." 
 
 "I guess it won't fail," commented Jo slyly. 
 
 The boys bore themselves well, and without any 
 diffidence though Jim had a whimsical recollection 
 of his bruised side face and blackened eye, and he 
 tried to keep it turned from the Senora Valdez, the 
 fragile little woman who sat at the end of the table 
 opposite her husband. She 'had snow white hair, 
 parted low over her ears and the pallid face was 
 lined with years. Very gentle was the Senora Val- 
 dez, but she had in her time beheld scenes of car-
 
 218 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 nage and terror, so Jim need not have worried 
 about his bruised face. But the wise old lady 
 noticed his solicitude and understanding, was the 
 more gracious to the young Americano because 
 of It 
 
 That evening they sat on the piazza, that looked 
 out towards the sea, the Spaniards smoking and 
 Jim and Jo enjoying the music of a guitar played 
 by a Mexican in a dim corner of the verandah and 
 the boys heard a bit of important news. 
 
 "There was a mysterious ship put into shore 
 several miles South of here, late last night, Senor," 
 said their host, "one of my shepherds brought me 
 word." 
 
 "The first scent of the trail," cried Jim eagerly. 
 Then the Senor Sebastian explained to his friend 
 more fully the objects of their search. Immediately 
 the listener was deeply interested. Then he sent for 
 an Indian, one of his trusted men, to come to "him, 
 and gave him minute instructions about some mat- 
 ters. Without a word the Indian turned and dis- 
 appeared in the darkness, and in a short time there 
 came the sound of a horse galloping full speed down 
 the road. 
 
 "Tomorrow, Senor Darlington, this Indian will 
 meet you at a point near the Puebla de los Angeles,
 
 ANOTHER FRIEND 219 
 
 which my friend knows and he will have all the in- 
 formation there is obtainable as to the location of 
 this ship and its crew," thus spoke the Senor Val- 
 dez. Jim thanked him with deep fervor for his un- 
 usual kindness, but the Spaniard made light of it
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 A TALE OF YORE 
 
 As they sat there in the dusk of the verandah, 
 Jim would have liked to ask his host to re- 
 late some of his experiences in southern Califor- 
 nia for he felt sure that the Senor Valdez had 
 known something of adventure not only because 
 those early days were full of marvels of interest, 
 but there was something in the bearing of the 
 old Spaniard that spoke of former days of romance 
 and of stirring incidents. 
 
 Then, too, there was something in the after-din- 
 ner content and quiet, following the perilous 
 adventure which they had been through that pre- 
 disposed the boys to listen to a good story of adven- 
 ture. Their friend, the Senor Sebastian, seemed 
 to divine what *was passing through Jim's mind, 
 for he suddenly spoke, breaking the meditative 
 spell that had fallen upon the group on the piazza. 
 
 "It just occurred to me, Senor Valdez, that our 
 friends here might like to hear something of the 
 
 early days in this part of the country, for you of 
 220
 
 A TALE OF YORE 221 
 
 all men know it thoroughly and I am sure it would 
 interest them." 
 
 "Indeed, it would, Senor," cried Jim enthusias- 
 tically, "it was in my mind to ask Senor Valdez to 
 tell us of the early days but I was afraid to im- 
 pose upon him/' 
 
 "I feel greatly honored to think that you young 
 men would care to hear anything my poor tongue 
 could relate. It would hardly be worth your dis- 
 tinguished attention." Jim made due allowance 
 for the courteous exaggeration characteristic of the 
 Spaniard. 
 
 "Try us, Senor," he said briefly, "we would 
 want nothing better." 
 
 "I will have the coffee brought first," replied 
 the Senor, "that may serve to stimulate my dull 
 imagination." 
 
 In a short time a softly moving servant brought 
 out a tray of coffee cups, and placed one before 
 each guest on a small wicker table. Jim noticed 
 these cups with immediate interest. They were 
 certainly beautiful and he had never seen any- 
 thing like them before. They were of a won- 
 derful blue, each one, and had a coat of arms 
 in gold with raised figures on it; a scroll above 
 with a Latin motto, and beneath the representation 
 of a wild animal couchant. The Senor Valdez was
 
 222 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 quick to see Jim's interest and respond to it. "That 
 is the coat of arms of my family," he explained. 
 
 "I am not a scholar, Senor," said Jim, "and 
 all I can make of the motto is that it has some- 
 thing to do with a lion." 
 
 "You are quite right," the ghost of a smile 
 hovered around the white-fringed lips of the 
 Spaniard, at Jim's innate boyishness. 
 
 "That figure does not look exactly like a lion," 
 remarked Jo frankly. 
 
 "Not like an African lion certainly," replied the 
 Spaniard, "but a lion nevertheless, such as one finds 
 yet in the mountain fastnesses of Spain, something 
 like a panther only larger and much more fierce." 
 
 "The lion seems to have a rope or chain around 
 his neck," commented Jim, "and fastened to a 
 collar." 
 
 "Quite so," responded the Spaniard, "likewise 
 the motto translated reads, 'Gentle as a Lion.' " 
 
 "Rather strange way of putting it," said Jim curi- 
 ously. 
 
 "I will explain, for you would naturally be 
 puzzled by the phrase, 'Gentle as a Lion,' as it 
 seems to contradict common knowledge," said 
 Senor Valdez. "You see my family has the dis- 
 tinction, if such it can be called, in these modern
 
 A TALE OF YORE 223 
 
 days, the distinction of being old. This coat-of- 
 arms dates back to the eleventh century." 
 
 Jo was about to give a prolonged whistle of sur- 
 prise when Jim gripped his knee to enforce silence, 
 for though Jo might mean all right, the Spaniard 
 might not understand. 
 
 "The founder of the family who flourished at 
 that time was a rather rugged character, and I am 
 afraid would regard the family representatives of 
 this day as very puny and unworthy specimens. 
 This Rodriquez de Valdez had his castle in a 
 rugged mountainous part of Spain, where there 
 were plenty of wild animals and of wilder and 
 
 fiercer men, bandits and freebooters without num- 
 ber. 
 
 "His castle was a very powerful one, not only 
 in construction but likewise in location, as it was 
 built on a shelf of rock above a deep chasm, with 
 precipitous cliffs behind it. However, Rodriquez 
 de Valdez spent but very little time behind the pro- 
 tection of its powerful walls. It would take the 
 forces of some strong Duke from the lowland to 
 cause him to seek the shelter of his castle and to 
 raise his war banner of crimson with a blue cross 
 upon it, above the turret. 
 
 "He spent his days hunting among the moun- 
 tains for wild beasts or for marauding bands of
 
 224 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 lawless men. Rodriquez was a man of wonderful 
 strength, even for those days, when there were 
 giants in the land. In stature six feet five and 
 powerful in proportion and likewise very fleet of 
 foot. If I should tell you of some of the legends 
 of his strength and swiftness, you would probably 
 laugh. 
 
 "But the one that has to do with the coat-of-arms 
 of my family I will tell you. It chanced one day 
 that he was out in the wilds of the mountains 
 and quite alone. Intent upon the trail of a deer 
 that he was following along a shelving mountain 
 side, he did not see a lion half grown, but never- 
 theless very dangerous, which was crouching on 
 the branch of a tree ready to spring upon him when 
 he got beneath it. 
 
 "When he had passed by under the tree a pace 
 or two, the lion sprang with distended claws. 
 Some instinct of danger made Rodriquez turn and 
 he was just in time to grapple with the brute, 
 clutching it by the throat. The lion had some 
 advantage in weight but not a great deal, for my 
 brave ancestor was probably three hundred pounds 
 of sinew, bone and muscle. So that the struggle 
 was not such an unequal one, but it was terrific 
 while it did last. Finally, though torn and bleed-
 
 A TALE OF YORE 225 
 
 ing, the man subdued the beast, and had it in abject 
 fear of him. 
 
 "Then instead of killing the lion as one would 
 naturally expect, Rodriquez took a strange humor- 
 ous notion into his head. He would make a pet of 
 this same lion and it should be his dog to follow 
 obediently at its master's heels wherever he went. 
 This idea he carried out and he even had a heavy 
 brass collar placed upon its neck, and it followed 
 him on all his trips, slouching with padded tread 
 at his heel, or behind his war horse as he rode 
 abroad, like a powerful yellow dog. 
 
 "I do not imagine that the beast ever had any 
 great amount of affection for his master, but he 
 no doubt was in great fear of him, which seemed 
 to answer the purpose quite as well. So, my 
 friends, you have a full and complete explanation 
 of the coat-of arms of my family. My only fear is 
 that I have wearied you with what could not have 
 the same interest for you as it does for me." 
 
 "Indeed, you have not wearied us, Senor," ex- 
 claimed Jo enthusiastically. 
 
 "That is one of the most interesting accounts 
 that I have ever listened to," said Jim. "I only 
 wish I could have lived in those days when there 
 was plenty of adventure." 
 
 "I do not think that you have any reason to com-
 
 226 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 plain," remarked the Spaniard laughingly. "Per- 
 haps your descendants in future years will be 
 pointing out your daring deeds as emblazoned on 
 their coat-of-anns." 
 
 "No danger of that, I guess," laughed Jim, 
 "though they might have a picture of Jo and me 
 tied to a mule. That was the way old Captain 
 Broom treated us." The Spaniard joined in the 
 merriment at this unheroic representation of Jo and 
 Jim. 
 
 "Now, Senor Valdez, you have told us a tale 
 of old Spain, tell us something of new Spain here 
 in California," urged Jo. 
 
 "It seems to me that it is now someone else's 
 turn," said the Senor. "I would not do all the 
 talking. A host should sometimes listen. Perhaps 
 Senor Darlington will tell us of some of his ex- 
 periences. They will be much more stirring than 
 any musty tales of mine." But Jim shook his head 
 firmly, not to say obstinately. 
 
 "I would not think of telling our adventures," 
 he replied. "Perhaps after we have travelled more, 
 we will have something worth while relating." 
 
 "That's right," said Jo, "we would much rather 
 listen to you, Senor." 
 
 The Senor Valdez sipped slowly at his coffee, 
 looking out into the semi-darkness beyond the ve-
 
 A TALE OF YORE 227 
 
 randah, where over the plain below stretched the 
 gray blanket of the fog-clouds. Then he rolled 
 another cigarette, lit it and took a few meditative 
 puffs. The Senor now began his next story at a 
 peculiar angle, and did not commence with the 
 stereotyped form of "once upon a time," so dear 
 to the days of one's childhood. 
 
 "I see you do not take cream in your coffee," 
 he said addressing Jim. 
 
 "No, but I like some sugar, not too much." 
 
 "It has seemed to me," said the Spaniard, "that 
 the seasoning of coffee is in a way an indication 
 of character." 
 
 "Where the party uses milk in his coffee that 
 indicates weakness, does it not, Senor?" inquired 
 Jim with a sly look at Jo, but the subtle Spaniard 
 was not to be trapped. 
 
 "Not necessarily," he replied, "only mildness." 
 
 "And when it is taken straight and black that 
 means a strong character," remarked Jo. 
 
 "You have stated it," replied the Spaniard. 
 
 "But I would like to know how I would be sized 
 up ?" questioned Jim, "you see I use a little sugar." 
 
 "My friend," said the Spaniard with playful 
 earnestness, putting his hand lightly on Jim's knee, 
 "that shows a character of great strength, tem- 
 pered with mercy and human kindness. All of
 
 228 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 which leads one to speak of a man who was once 
 famous in this part of the country, but not popular. 
 He always had the reputation for taking a strong 
 liquor in his coffee, Fernet, if I remember right. 
 His name was Alverado, but I judge that you are 
 not acquainted with it." 
 
 "No," replied Jim, "but I should say that he was 
 a very fierce character." 
 
 "He was. He was a bandit." 
 
 "I thought so," agreed Jim. 
 
 "This Don Alverado came from a well known 
 Spanish family, of ancient lineage, but impoverished 
 fortune. He was such a wild and unruly blade 
 that his family were decidedly relieved when he 
 left Spain and came to the new world to mend his 
 fortune, if not his ways. He landed first in Mexico, 
 and after a series of more or less remarkable ad- 
 ventures, he came to this part of California. I 
 knew him, or rather I knew of his family in Spain, 
 and for their sake I made him welcome here at my 
 home. 
 
 "He was really a charming fellow in manner and 
 appearance, tall, slight, with dark eyes and hair, a 
 typical cavalier. But the graces of his manner did 
 not reach down tc his heart, and after a disagree- 
 able episode which I need not revive here, he left 
 my rancho never to return except as an enemy.
 
 A TALE OF YORE 229 
 
 I heard nothing further of him after his departure 
 for some six months. My next introduction to him 
 was an unpleasant one. 
 
 "It consisted in the loss of a band of horses and 
 a herd of cattle which were driven off by a gang 
 of raiders, thirteen in number, at the head of which 
 was this fellow Alverado. His depredations went 
 on for years among the ranchmen in this part of 
 California. So resourceful and crafty was this des- 
 perado that he evaded trap after trap laid for his 
 capture. 
 
 "He had several very close calls and there were 
 numerous battles between the outlaws and the ranch 
 owners, but though some of his men were shot, 
 he seemed to bear a charmed life. I remember 
 one running fight over the plain yonder, when, be- 
 lieving me to be absent from home, as I had been, 
 but returned unexpectedly from the north, this 
 Alverado and his gang made a bold dash to capture 
 some horses from a field directly below the house. 
 
 "It did not take long to get my men together 
 and I gave the bandits a surprise indeed. Noth- 
 ing but the speed of Alverado's horse, a splendid 
 black stallion, saved him from capture. We got 
 several of his men however. At last there came 
 the turning of the lane. Through the treachery of 
 one of the band we found that their rendezvous was
 
 230 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 at the head of a small canyon in a range of foot- 
 hills several miles south of here. 
 
 "You will go through it to-morrow on your way 
 south, if you carry out your speed schedule, which 
 with your remarkable horses you ought to be able 
 to. We came upon the gang about noon, where 
 they were resting after a long chase. In a corral 
 near by were a number of stolen stock. They 
 were not expecting trouble of any kind. Some 
 were playing cards, a few cooking, most, however, 
 were enjoying the siesta, their leader among the 
 number lay under the shadow of a tree, his head 
 resting on a saddle, sound asleep. 
 
 There were fifty of us, and we had them sur- 
 rounded, so that there was no chance of escape. 
 Alverado himself made a desperate dash, but the 
 cordon was too strong. The rest surrendered. 
 That afternoon we took the bunch to the lower 
 end of the canyon, where there was a giant syca- 
 more tree. There we hanged the whole thirteen, 
 and by them no more were troubled not even by 
 their ghosts." 
 
 Jim and Jo expressed their appreciation of their 
 host's kindness in entertaining them as he truly 
 had done in relating his tales. Then they said 
 good night and went to their room. 
 
 That night the boys slept in a comfortable bed in
 
 A TALE OF YORE 231 
 
 a quaint old bedroom with roses nodding in at the 
 half open casement windows. By the light of the 
 candles they could see the strange old and carved 
 furniture and tired as they were how they did 
 sleep. 
 
 The next morning they started hours before day- 
 light. "I will be prepared to welcome more of you 
 in a few days," said the Senor Valdez, and the boys 
 thanked him heartily. Promising to return soon 
 they galloped away through the darkness. 
 
 All day they rode, hardly drawing rein at all. At 
 first through the foot-hills and then over the wide 
 plains. Jo had a fresh horse, a powerful black, as 
 his other mount could not stand the strain of the 
 long trip that meant three score and ten of miles be- 
 fore evening. 
 
 Early in the afternoon they left the plain and rode 
 into the deep and rugged gorges of a mountain 
 chain, running East and West. Thence into a broad 
 valley leading South-easterly, and about four P. M. 
 they turned directly South entering a Pass in the 
 Southern side of the valley, from which they 
 emerged on a plain. Where the trail left the Pass 
 stood a large scycamore tree, when they reached it, 
 the Indian messenger rose from its shelter.
 
 CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 A WONDERFUL LEAP 
 
 Now without hestitation we must take up the for- 
 tunes or rather misfortunes of Tom and Juarez as 
 they landed in the darkness upon the mysterious 
 island, for our narrative presses to its conclusion. 
 Never did they feel more hopeless than on this oc- 
 casion, when they were going to a dubious and un- 
 certain fate. 
 
 "You boys come with me," called the Captain 
 gruffly. 
 
 "How about me, Cap'n?" asked Jeems Howell, 
 the lanky shepherd. 
 
 "What's your business ?" inquired Captain Broom 
 briefly. 
 
 "Looking after the sheeps." 
 
 "Then attend to it," said the Captain grimly. 
 
 "Certainly, Cap'n," replied the shepherd, who was 
 incapable of taking offense. 
 
 "You come, Jake," called the Captain, to one of 
 the sailors, "and be quick about it, we haven't 
 232
 
 A WONDERFUL LEAP 233 
 
 much time." Tom shivered, for in the gloom and 
 tired as he was he felt that his time too was 
 short. 
 
 Then with the Captain in the lead, carrying a 
 lantern, which was muffled in his great coat, they 
 started, the sailor bringing up the rear. 
 
 "Look out sharp, that these lads don't spring 
 something on you, Jake. They are a bad lot." 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir," replied the sailor, "they'll have to 
 be quick to get the jump on me, sir." 
 
 "It's the Injun one's the worst. Don't let him 
 scalp you," warned the Captain jocosely. 
 
 "I'm no Indian," said Juarez, hoarsely and utterly 
 reckless of his fate, "I'm an American, and was 
 proud of it, till I found you were one, you cursed 
 yankee barnacle." 
 
 "Ho, ho, lad!" roared the Captain, "you won't 
 talk so tall in a few minutes. Nothing like a slow 
 fire for stewing the nonsense out of a fresh kid." 
 
 "How far is this cave of yours, you are taking us 
 to, old salt horse?" said Juarez insolently, and ut- 
 terly unwise. 
 
 This was too much for Captain Broom, and with 
 an imprecation he turned to strike Juarez. This 
 was what Juarez was looking for and as the furious 
 Skipper whirled facing him, Juarez dodged his huge 
 fist, and sent a fierce hook to the Captain's jaw.
 
 234 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 There was anger, desperation and strength behind 
 that blow and the Captain fell, striking his head on 
 a rock. That time the Frontier Boys scored. 
 
 "Follow me, Tom," yelled Juarez, and he sprang 
 away through the darkness. It seemed like a hope- 
 less undertaking to make an escape with the sea on 
 one side and the cliffs on the other, and a des- 
 perate enemy near at hand. But Juarez thought it 
 was best to take a chance. Anything was better 
 than captivity, that was seemingly just ahead of 
 them. 
 
 One thing he was determined on and that was, 
 that he would not be taken alive. He ran splashing 
 through the water, leaping rocks, with the two 
 sailors in fast pursuit. Not far ahead to the right 
 was the white dash of the breakers that shut off 
 escape in that direction, to the left was the cliffs. 
 
 Then before him rose a steep but not precipitous 
 rock that had been divided from the main cliff by 
 the action of the water. Instantly Juarez aban- 
 doned his desperate plan of plunging into the sea, 
 and without lessening his speed, he sprang up the 
 rock, in his moccasined feet. 
 
 The sailor who was following most closely, got up 
 ten feet when he .slipped and rolled violently to the 
 bottom, knocking down the one who came after.
 
 A WONDERFUL LEAP 235 
 
 Once Juarez came near falling but he caught him- 
 self, and kept going up, driven by a desperation that 
 seemed to carry him over every obstacle. 
 
 "We've got yer, ye little shrimp," exultantly 
 cried the sailors at the base of the rock, "Ye can't 
 get away unless you fly." 
 
 "Shoot the blasted little varmint," roared the Cap- 
 tain, who, still dizzy, had struggled to his feet. In 
 obedience to the order a flash punctured the dark- 
 ness and there was a roar like artillery echoing 
 among the hollow cliffs. A slug of lead whistled 
 past Juarez's head. 
 
 The boy had now reached the top of the rock and 
 was at the crisis of his fate, a distance of ten feet 
 separated him from the main cliff, not an impossible 
 jump but the foothold was precarious and uncertain, 
 and fifty feet or more below were the jagged rocks, 
 and enemies equally as hard, but Juarez did not hesi- 
 tate. 
 
 He dodged down just as the sailors fired another 
 shot, then he sprang to the narrow pinnacle of the 
 rock and bending slightly forward with bent knees 
 and swinging hand, poised for the leap. 
 
 "The condemned fool is going to jump," roared 
 the Captain. "Shoot him on the wing." 
 
 But the sailors were not ready and the skipper 
 ran between the rock and the cliff to be at hand to
 
 236 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 stamp the life out of Juarez when he should fall as 
 he knew he would. Then he leaped, a dark object 
 flying through space, his hands caught the edge of 
 the cliff, the roots of a small bush held him for a 
 moment, then he slipped. Below him was certain 
 death. 
 
 Two strong hands caught his arms, and he was 
 drawn in safety to the cliff above. The Captain and 
 the two sailors watched in open mouthed 
 wonder, all they could see was the dim figure of 
 Juarez crawl in safety over the top of the cliff, but 
 they could not determine the means of his es- 
 cape. 
 
 It struck a superstitious chord in their natures 
 and the skipper became moody and silent. 
 
 Juarez breathlessly followed the lanky figure of 
 the shepherd through the darkness, for it was no 
 other who had extended the rescuing hand. Hardly 
 a word was spoken, and they started off. After going 
 a considerable distance they came to a slab hut built 
 at the foot of a high range of hills that formed the 
 backbone of the island. 
 
 Two shepherd dogs rushed forth and gave their 
 master a boisterous welcome, and were soon good 
 friends with Juarez. Everything in the hut was 
 neat; with Indian rugs on the floor which gave a
 
 'A WONDERFUL LEAP 237 
 
 warm touch of color to the interior and one side of 
 the hut was lined with books. 
 
 "What am I thinking of," suddenly cried Juarez 
 in dismay, "to leave Tom in the hands of that crew? 
 My head is wrong." With that, he grew pale and 
 slid unconscious to the floor. He had evidently not 
 recovered from the blow that the Mexican had dealt 
 him a few days before, and the strain he had been 
 under brought on a relapse. The shepherd worked 
 over him a long time before he finally brought him 
 around. 
 
 Meanwhile what had become of Tom? He had 
 not been quick enough to make his escape, and his 
 fate was in the balance when the Skipper came up 
 to him just after Juarez had disappeared over the 
 cliff. 
 
 "You don't get away, I promise you that, lad," 
 growled the Captain. Roughly seizing the boy by 
 the shoulder he dragged him toward the cliff. Then 
 the two disappeared into the entrance of a cave, the 
 Captain still holding in one hand his battered leather 
 satchel. 
 
 The sailor who stood on guard at the entrance, 
 saw just then the lights OL a steamer that was just 
 entering the channel and he rushed into the cave, 
 called to the Captain, and in a few minutes that 
 worthy appeared. If he felt any alarm he showed
 
 238 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 none, but without any loss of time he assembled his 
 crew, got his boat free of land and rowed silently 
 out to sea. Whatever he had intended to do with 
 Tom, evidently passed from his mind, now awakened 
 to the solution of some other problem.
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 
 IN THE STRAIT 
 
 As Juarez and Tom were under the kindly es- 
 cort of Captain Broom and his sailors in the whale 
 boat on their cruise to the mysterious island, Jo, 
 Jim and the Spaniard had stopped at an old syca- 
 more tree, where, as had been promised, the In- 
 dian messenger was awaiting their coming. 
 
 "What news, Yaquis?" asked the Spaniard, 
 who knew the Indian well. 
 
 "I saw the boat by my own eyes," he replied, 
 "heading for the Big Island," pointing to the 
 South. "By her smoke she stopped in the Bow Har- 
 bor near the lower end." So spoke the Indian, 
 standing straight and tall. He was a picturesque 
 sight with his coarse, black hair cut square and 
 long. 
 
 "The trail is getting warm," exclaimed Jim 
 eagerly. "Where can we get a boat?" 
 
 "There is a small boat at the Harbor of San 
 Pedro," replied the Spaniard, "that is the prop- 
 erty of a friend of mine. I doubt not we can have 
 the use of it." 
 
 239
 
 240 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 "It is now a little after six," said Jim. "How 
 far is it to the Harbor?" 
 
 "A dozen miles," replied the Indian. 
 
 "Is your horse too tired, Senor Sebastian, 
 to make it by eight?" The Spaniard's eyes 
 flashed. 
 
 "Senor, Don Fernando is never tired. Let us 
 start." 
 
 "We are ready," replied Jim. "Which is the 
 shortest cut?" 
 
 "I will guide you," was the Indian's response. 
 
 "He knows this country like the foot does the 
 shoe," assured the Spaniard. 
 
 Without more ado, the new guide took the lead 
 and they rode at a rapid gait in single file. At 
 first they went down a gentle grade for several 
 miles until they came to a perfectly level plain 
 that stretched in three directions to the sea. At 
 the end of the land was a perfectly rounded rise 
 like a huge long bolster. 
 
 The party of rescuers left the Puebla de los 
 Angeles several miles to the East, taking the 
 shortest way to the harbor. There was no let-up 
 to the speed, if anything, they seemed to be 
 going faster, with sweaty sides and shoulders, but 
 with unaffected stamina. The going was fine,
 
 IN THE STRAIT 241 
 
 over a springy turf and sometimes they tore 
 through wide belts of tall mustard. 
 
 Jo and Jim were in fine fettle as the end of the 
 journey came in sight and there was promise of 
 their coming to close quarters with the pirates and 
 possibly rescuing their oppressed brothers from 
 captivity. Then, too, the passage of the strait in 
 an open boat appealed to their sense of adventure. 
 
 About eight o'clock, they came to a ranch two 
 miles from the harbor, where Senor Sebastian had 
 a short talk with a man who owned the small boat 
 that had been referred to. He was perfectly 
 willing to lend them the boat and also sent a 
 Mexican servant to bring back their horses and 
 put them up in his stables. Not forgetting to 
 thank him for his great kindness to them, the boys 
 turned their horses' heads for the harbor, the last 
 lap of their long journey had begun. 
 
 In a half hour, they stood on the shore of a 
 long, narrow inlet, at a point where a craft was 
 moored. From a small boat-house, they got the 
 oars, the mast and the sail to be used if the wind 
 was right. Then they were ready to get aboard. 
 Jim looked at his watch. "It lacks ten minutes of 
 nine," he said. 
 
 Then they embarked. The boat was not a 
 mere row-boat, but was found to be of good size
 
 242 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 and about equal to a whale boat. It was staunch, 
 too, and sea worthy. The mooring was cast off. 
 Jim was at the bow oar, and Jo at the one back of 
 him on the other side, while the Indian, Yaquis, 
 steered. The tide favored them as they glided 
 quickly between the banks, and they were not long 
 in reaching the channel. 
 
 At first, there was a slow, heavy swell, while in 
 the lee of the land, that did not bother the boys 
 but within a half hour they were in a choppy sea 
 with breaking crests, and now the real work for Jo 
 and Jim began. Fortunately, the Indian was a 
 most skillful oar, and he kept them from being 
 swamped. As yet there was no breeze to help 
 them. 
 
 "This is almost as good as running the Rapids 
 in the Grand Canyon," cried Jim joyously. 
 
 The boys were in fine fettle for their work, not- 
 withstanding their long day in the saddle, and they 
 buckled to it with a will, although wet through 
 with flying spray. They had enjoyed a good rest 
 the night before and after their long ride they 
 were glad to get the kinks out of their muscles. 
 They really made remarkably good headway 
 against the sea and the stoical Indian grunted 
 approval of their work. Ah, but it was fine, bat-
 
 IN THE STRAIT 243 
 
 tling with the waves through the darkness, while 
 the boat thrashed and beat its way ahead. 
 
 The boys stood to their oars and put all the 
 strength of their lithe young bodies into the stroke 
 and they seemed tireless. The Spaniard had made 
 himself comfortable in the bow, where, sheltered 
 by a short overhead deck, he was soon fast asleep. 
 
 "Wake me when it is time to be drowned," he 
 said. "I know it is my fate." Jim remembered 
 the Spaniard's melancholy of the day before, and 
 laughed heartily, as he promised. 
 
 "There are the lights of a vessel," cried Yaquis, 
 who, though silent, was ever on the watch. 
 "Ahead of us to the Southwest." 
 
 "You are right," said Jim. The lights were like 
 two faint, moving stars, one aloft and the other 
 below. 
 
 "That isn't the Pirate ship," declared Jo. "She 
 wouldn't be showing any light." After a while, 
 the lights of the vessel were suddenly eclipsed, but 
 by the dull light of the moon, now risen, the ves- 
 sel's bulk could still be made out. 
 
 "She has gone into the further straits," said Ya- 
 ,quis, "between the two islands." 
 
 A gentle breeze sprang up, but blowing di- 
 rectly toward them, it lent no aid. Before mid- 
 night, the westerly breeze had died absolutely
 
 244 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 down, and in a not very long time, the sea followed 
 suit, leaving a long swell and the rowing be- 
 came much easier. Nothing occurred to break the 
 monotony for a while. There was the steady 
 grinding of the oars in the row-locks and the lap- 
 ping of the waves in the gloom, for the moon was 
 now obscured by clouds. Then, of a sudden, the 
 Indian called a halt. 
 
 "Do you hear footsteps?" inquired Jim, jo- 
 cosely. 
 
 "A steamer coming, I hear her, no lights. Pull 
 hard." In a minute, even the boys could hear 
 the beat of her engines and saw the occasional 
 flare from her stacks, then a dark form took shape 
 through the night. They pulled lustily for they 
 knew their danger and who it was. How quickly 
 they would be run down, if discovered, and left to 
 drown in the wide strait, when Captain Broom 
 found out their identity. No wonder they pulled. 
 
 "Stop now, draw in your oars. Lie down," 
 warned the Indian. 
 
 Not a hundred yards to the Eastward came The 
 Sea Eagle and she was on an even line with the 
 boat that lay a black patch on the dark water. If 
 Captain Broom was not on the Bridge they would 
 be safe. 
 
 "Boat ahoy," boomed out his voice.
 
 IN THE STRAIT 245 
 
 "Indian fishermen," cried Yaquis. "Stop, take 
 me ashore." 
 
 With a growl, the Captain sent his ship ahead, 
 paying no attention to the "Indian fisherman" in 
 distress. There was a gleam of white teeth as 
 the Indian smiled at the hearty congratulations of 
 the boys and their glee at his stratagem. Then 
 the Spaniard and Yaquis took the oars while Jim 
 steered and Jo slept.
 
 CHAPTER XXXI 
 
 CONCLUSION 
 
 When morning came, they were but a few miles 
 from the Northern end of the longer Island and 
 the fog was over the whole sky. The sea was 
 glassy with a sullen glaze. Nowhere was there 
 sign of any steamer or ship. The Sea Eagle 
 had made good her escape. 
 
 "I wish we had a stiff breeze to help us along," 
 said the Spaniard, who loved not manual labor, as 
 did the boys. 
 
 "It will come, the strong breeze, soon," said the 
 Indian. 
 
 "When we make the Island, what are we to do ?" 
 asked Jo. 
 
 "Who can tell, maybe Tom and Juarez have been 
 taken along with the Skipper, instead of being 
 marooned." 
 
 "That's so," replied Jo, and gloom settled down 
 upon his spirits, heavier than the fog upon the 
 sea. 
 
 "We will keep after them," said the never de- 
 246
 
 CONCLUSION 247 
 
 spondent Jim, "even if we have to chase them 
 around the world." 
 
 The boat seemed to crawl so slowly along, and 
 the boys began to fret in their eagerness to find 
 out whether their comrades were on the island or 
 not, but they were not yet close enough to make 
 out any object upon its surface. Then from the 
 West there came a breeze rippling the glassy wa- 
 ter. 
 
 "Up with the sail," cried Jim. "Here's where 
 we fly." 
 
 As the breeze strengthened to a wind, they went 
 towards the island at a clipping gait. When they 
 got within a half mile of the shore, they began to 
 look eagerly for some sign of a living being and 
 they were disappointed at first, but they drove 
 their boat along as near the shore as they dared. 
 
 "Say, did you hear that?" cried Jim in excite- 
 ment. "That was a rifle shot, or my name is 
 Dennis." 
 
 "Three men on the shore," said the Indian, im- 
 perturbably. 
 
 "I see them," cried Jo, "on that beach yonder. 
 I believe it is Tom and Juarez. Hurrah for the 
 Frontier Boys." 
 
 "It is they," declared Jim as they drew closer.
 
 248 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 "but how Tom has grown. He looks over six 
 feet." 
 
 "That isn't Tom," said Jo. "It's some one else. 
 The short one is Tom." Then he saw Jim grin 
 and realized that he had been kidded. 
 
 "If this wasn't my busy day," said Jo, "I'd give 
 you a punching for being so smart." 
 
 Five minutes later, the boat had grounded on 
 the pebbly beach and The Frontier Boys were 
 again united. There was a great jubilee for a 
 while with the Spaniard, the Indian, and the 
 lanky shepherd on the outskirts of the family cele- 
 bration, but in a short time they were all good 
 friends, each according to his different nature : the 
 Spaniard, suave and courteous, the Indian stolid, 
 but with his share in the general good-will, and 
 Jeems Howell, the shepherd, lankily humorous. 
 
 "We met our old friend Captain Broom in the 
 channel, boys," said Jim, "steaming along like the 
 Devil was after him." 
 
 "I'll give him reason to think so," growled 
 Juarez sullenly, "if I ever get on his trail." 
 
 The Indian, Yaquis, grunted approval, for there 
 seemed to be a bond of sympathy between him 
 and Juarez, as the reader can well understand. 
 
 "How far is that cave, Tom, where the old 
 codger left you?" inquired Jo.
 
 CONCLUSION 249 
 
 "Just around the bend," said Tom. "Here's the 
 rock where Juarez made his famous jump." 
 
 "How did you ever get up there?" asked Jo in 
 wonder, looking up at the pinnacle of rock. 
 
 "You'd a done the same if those fellows had 
 been chasing you," replied Juarez, "but if it 
 hadn't been for Jeems here catching me when I 
 jumped they would have got me after all." 
 
 "I was a f card you might have fallen on the 
 Skipper and a hurt him. He's a kind of a tender 
 plant you know." The Shepherd made this re- 
 mark with a perfectly sober face, in no wise dis- 
 turbed by the hilarity of the boys, over the idea 
 of the tenderness of the Skipper. 
 
 "Here's the cave," said Juarez, and he led the 
 way through an arched opening in the wall of the 
 cliff. Picking up a lantern, he went ahead as 
 guide. 
 
 "This is certainly a dry cave," said Jim. 
 
 "It ought to be," said Jeems Howell. "It don't 
 rain on this Island more than twice a year, but I 
 feel it in my bones that it is coming on to storm 
 today." 
 
 "I hope you don't feel it in all your bones," re- 
 marked Jim, quizzically, "because it is liable to be 
 a long drawn out storm if you do."
 
 250 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 The lanky Shepherd gave himself over to 
 spasms of silent mirth at Jim's queer humor. 
 
 "Here's where we found Tom," said Juarez. 
 "Just discovered him a couple of hours before you 
 discovered us." 
 
 When the Captain had made his sudden change 
 of plans, Tom made himself as comfortable as he 
 could for the night, intending to search for Juarez 
 in the morning. 
 
 "Sometime I hope that this wretched Captain 
 will be captured and imprisoned right here," said 
 the Spaniard with a cold, vindictiveness. 
 
 "If he comes snooping around here again, that 
 is what will happen to him," remarked Jim quietly. 
 "I suppose, Tom, that he hid some of the loot he 
 took from us in this cave somewhere. I bet this 
 is his safe deposit vault, all right." 
 
 "He went back in there with his small satchel," 
 said Tom, indicating the depths of the cave as yet 
 unexplored. 
 
 "It will keep," said Jim, "but before I leave this 
 island for Hawaii, I am going to search every cor- 
 ner of this cave and see if I cannot find our prop- 
 erty." 
 
 "We discovered it in a cave and perhaps we will 
 lose our treasure in a cave," said Juarez, who was 
 something of a fatalist.
 
 CONCLUSION 251 
 
 "Don't you believe that we won't find it," declared 
 Jim stoutly, "but no work for me for a while. I'm 
 going to take a good rest." 
 
 "So say we all of us," chanted the boys. 
 
 "Gentlemen," said Jeems Howell oracularly, "If 
 it pleases you, and Christopher Columbus," with a 
 wave of his hand toward Jim, "who discovered this 
 savage group, we will now adjourn to my castle on 
 the distant hillside." 
 
 "We are with you," declared those assembled in 
 unison, and in a short time they were making 
 their way up the slope towards the "castle" on the 
 hillside, where they made themselves at home. 
 
 All the new arrivals at the island were soon fast 
 asleep. 
 
 Later after several hours of rest, they occupied 
 themselves according to their different ideas of com- 
 fort. 
 
 The Spaniard amused himself thrumming" on a 
 guitar, that belonged to one of the Mexican herders 
 on the island. Tom got a book, and stretched out 
 on a rug forgetful of all his recent troubles, while 
 Jim and Juarez borrowed a couple of guns and went 
 for an hour's hunting, in the woods which at that 
 time covered the mountain ridges of the island. 
 
 That evening they were all gathered in the cabin 
 before the blazing fire on the stone hearth, while
 
 252 FRONTIER BOYS ON THE COAST 
 
 outside raged the Easterly storm that Jeems Howell 
 had predicted, with rush of wind and sweep of rain. 
 But the slab cabin was storm proof and comfortable. 
 It is a good place to leave the boys after their days 
 of trial and bitter hardship. In our next book we 
 will meet "The Frontier Boys in Hawaii, or The 
 mystery of The Hollow Mountain." There, I feel 
 confident they will cope with adventures as unusual 
 and as remarkable as they have heretofore encount- 
 ered. I am sure that the Reader will be anxious to 
 accompany them on their journey. But we must 
 permit the Frontier Boys to have the last word, in 
 this volume. 
 
 "Do you think that Captain Broom, will return 
 here, before we get away for Hawaii, Jim?" in- 
 quired brother Jo. 
 
 "I certainly do," replied Jim, "and we will be 
 right here, to give him a warm and hearty Wel- 
 come, you can rest assured of that."
 
 
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