CHAPTER XI
CAUGHT IN A LIVING ROPE
"Quick! Peg out the mules!" cried San Pedro, after one look at the onrushing horses. "Drive the stakes well down! Tie them fast and then get behind those rocks! Lively!"
He cried his orders to the natives in Spanish, at the same time motioning to Tom and Ned.
"Get off your mules!" he went on. "Peg them out. Peg out the others, and then run for it!"
"Run for it? repeated Tom. "Do you think I'm going to leave my outfit in the midst of that stampede?" and he waved his hand toward the thundering, galloping wild horses which were coming nearer every moment. "Get out the electric rifles, and we'll turn that stampede. I'm not going to run."
"Bless my saddle!" cried Mr. Damon. "This is awful! There must be a thousand of them."
"Nearer two!" cried Ned. who was struggling tc loosen the straps that bound his electric rifle to the side of his mule. Already the pack animals
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