Frank Merriwell in Mexico: The Search for the Silver Palace — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

FRANK MERRIWELL IN MEXICO, _ | | BS But Frank Merriwell found he could terms and come to an agreement with ~ you, if you——”? “Bah! Do you think I would make terms? Not much! You have robbed me) of what-is rightfully mine, and I have} sworn you shall not take the good of it. I’l] keep that oath!’ © A strange cry broke from his lips, as he found he could not tear his wrist from Frank’s fingers. _ ‘Then came a rush of cat-like footfalls and a clatter of hoofs. were heard crying: ‘*Qadrones! ladrones!’’. Dark figures appeared on every hand, sending natives fleeing to shelter. Spanish oaths sounded on the “evening air, and the glint of steel was seen. . “Shimminy Gristmas!’’? gurgled Hans Dunnerwust. ‘‘Uf we don’d peen in a heap uf drouble, you vos a liar!” “It’s the bandits, Frank! called Pro- fessor Scotch. into the town, and they——”’ ‘*‘Ha! hal? laughed Carlos. the bandits! They are my friends. ate here, and it is my turn!”’ A horseman was ridirg straight down on Frank Merriwell, and the "boy flung | Carlos aside, making a leap that took him out of the way. | Something, glittering brightly, scended in a sweep toward Frank’s hea but the blow was stopped by Carlos, who shouted something in Spanish. “Vou fear They de- Frank understood Spanish well enough | | to catch the drift ef the words, and he | knew his cousin head not saved him | through compassion, but for quite auokner purpose. ) ' Carlos coveted the riches into which Frank had fallen, and he meant to have a portion of the money. If Frank were killed, there was. I®tle chance that he would ever handle a dollar of the fortune, so he had cried out that his cousin was to Be spared, captured, and held for ransom. That was enough to warn Frank Merri- well of the terrible peril that over- shadowed him at the moment. Out came his revolvers, and his back went against the wall. Upward were flung _ his hands, and the weapons began to bark. "Two horses fell, sent down by the two first bullets from the pistols of the boy at bay. | ‘“They have charged right | itho you vork dose revolfetrs. not shoot horses and save himself, for dark forms were pressing upon him, and- ‘he must fall into the clutches of the ‘bandits in another moment unless he te-- cr to the most desperate measures. “Tf you will have it, then you shall!” ihe muttered, through. his set teeth, turn- | jing his aim on the human forms. Spouts of red fire shot from the muzzles of the revolvers, and the cracking of the All at once voices |-weapons was followed by cries and groans. - Through a smoky haze Frank saw some of the dark figures fling up their” arms and topple to the ground within a. few feet of hii. He wondered what had become of Hans ; and the professor, for he could see noth- . ing of either, and they had been close at » hand a moment before. In the midst of all this, Frank won-- His one ught was that nota bullet should be. wasted, and then he feared he would find © his weapons empty and useless before the dered at his own calmness. desperadoes were rebuffed. n But this reception was something the ‘bandits had not expected from a boy. | They had no heart to stand up before a |lad who could shoot with the skill of a_ Gringo cowboy, and did not seem at all excited when attacked by twenty men. Mexican half-bloods are cowards at. heart, and, by the time they saw two or | three of their number fall before.the fire . from Frank’s revolvers they turned and itook to their heels like a flock of fright-— ened sheep. “Say, holdt on avile und led me ged a | few pullets indo you, tnein friendts.’? ‘It was Hans’ voice, and, looking down, . Frank saw the Dutch lad on the ground at his feet, wither he had crept on hands | and knees. ‘What are you down there for, Hans??? You don’d subbose I sdood up all der dime und ged _ in der vay der pullets uf? Vell, you may | oxcuse me! I don’d like to peen a deat “Wot you dink, Vrankie? man alretty yet.” “That’s good stuff, Hans. your judgment. aan “Dank you, Vrankie. pand, und don’d you vorged him!” I admire I admire der vay © Dot peat der econnicbhocl S (CO) in