a closed hack and drove rapidly toward the Mexican quarter. Nick's
manner showed such recklessness and high spirits that Tuttle regarded
him with anxiety and began to wonder if it would not be wiser to carry
out his threat of the morning before attempting anything else. But he
caught sight of two Mexicans coming toward them, one handsome and well
built and the other slouching and ill-favored.

"There come two of 'em now! Liberate Herrera and Pablo Gonzalez!" he
exclaimed, with sudden concentration of interest and attention.
"Liberate is a boss knife-thrower, and I think likely he 's the one
that did the business for old man Paxton. Look out for 'im, Nick!"

The carriage came abreast of the two men and Tuttle jumped out, with
Ellhorn close behind him. But quick as they were, Herrera, the
handsome one of the two, understood what was happening and leaped to
one side, a long knife flashing from his sleeve, before Tuttle's hand
could descend upon him. The other was slower and Ellhorn had him by
the arm before he could thrust his hand into his pocket for his
revolver. Herrera's knife slid into position against his wrist and
Tuttle's revolver clicked. The Mexican looked dauntlessly into its
black muzzle, but saw that his companion was submitting, and that both
were covered by the guns of the officers.

"It's all right, Señor Tuttle," he said coolly. "You 've got the best
of me. I give up."

They drove back to the adobe jail; and while Tuttle was turning his
prisoners into the custody of Willoughby Simmons, the deputy sheriff,
Ellhorn slipped out, crossed the street, and went into a saloon. The
men already there had watched the arrival of the hack and the two