five minutes, and
will help you."

"You had better go up at once, senor," he went on to Bertie, "and help
your brother, so that they may not get sight of you. However, I am
afraid they know how many we are. It was foolish to light that fire
yesterday evening, I expect they were somewhere near and caught sight
of us, and no doubt one of them crept quietly down to find out what our
force was. Seeing there were but four of us, they thought they could
take us all easily here in the morning without firing a shot. But as
your brother and I happened to be going on first, they thought they
would parley. They would be sure that if they attacked us, we should
kill two or three of them at least before we had finished with them.
And as they reckoned that we should gladly accept their terms, they
would get all they wanted without trouble, and could shoot us
afterwards if they felt inclined."

Bertie had by this time got the guns unstrapped, and had filled his
pockets with cartridges. He now went forward, and as he kept among the
rocks he was able to get within four or five yards of his brother
without being seen, as the mouth of the pass was almost blocked with
great boulders.

"I cannot get any nearer without running the risk of being seen. I have
loaded the double-barrelled guns."

"Stay where you are then, Bertie. I don't think they will make a rush,
and if they do, you can use them as well as your rifle. Of course I
have my pistols and you have yours. I don't believe they will venture
to attack in daylight, our trouble will be after dark."

"Now, then, the five minutes are up!" the brigand shouted.

"I am coming!" Dias shouted back.

As he approached, Harry said: "Stand by the side of a rock, Dias, so as
to be able to shelter as soon as you have given them the answer; they
are likely enough to fire a volley."

"We will give you nothing," Dias shouted. "Anything you want you had
better come and take."

Three men raised their heads above the rocks and fired. Almost at the
same instant Harry's rifle and Bertie's cracked out,