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Allee light," replied Sing cheerfully, and a second later he was clambering

through the window in the wake of the loyal Mexican.

And then the door crashed in and half a dozen troopers followed by Pesita himself

burst into the room.

Bridge was standing at the foot of the stairs, his carbine clubbed, for he had just

spent his last bullet. He knew that he must die; but he was determined to make

them purchase his life as dearly as he could, and to die in defense of Anthony

Harding, the father of the girl he loved, even though hopelessly.

Pesita saw from the American's attitude that he had no more ammunition. He

struck up the carbine of a trooper who was about to shoot Bridge down.

Wait!" commanded the bandit. "Cease firing! His ammunition is gone. Will you

surrender?" he asked of Bridge.

Not until I have beaten from the heads of one or two of your friends," he replied,

that which their egotism leads them to imagine are brains. No, if you take me

alive, Pesita, you will have to kill me to do it."

Pesita shrugged. "Very well," he said, indifferently, "it makes little difference to

me--that stairway is as good as a wall. These brave defenders of the liberty of

poor, bleeding Mexico will make an excellent firing squad. Attention, my children!

Ready! Aim!"

Eleven carbines were leveled at Bridge. In the ghastly light of early dawn the

sallow complexions of the Mexicans took on a weird hue. The American made a

wry face, a slight shudder shook his slender frame, and then he squared his

shoulders and looked Pesita smilingly in the face.

The figure of a man appeared at the window through which the Chinaman and

the loyal Mexican had escaped. Quick eyes took in the scene within the room.

"Hey!" he yelled. "Cut the rough stuff!" and leaped into the room.

Pesita, surprised by the interruption, turned toward the intruder before he had

given the command to fire. A smile lit his features when he saw who it was.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, "my dear Captain Byrne. Just in time to see a traitor and a

spy pay the penalty for his crimes."

"Nothin' doin'," growled Billy Byrne, and then he threw his carbine to his shoulder

and took careful aim at Pesita's face.

296

The Mucker