Hal and Jean also had heard the sound of footsteps, and they now ranged themselves on either side of Chester.

Suddenly the revolvers of all three flashed out and covered the crowd of Apaches, as Chester’s voice rang out sternly: 

“Throw up your hands, all of you!”

Taken completely by surprise, the Apaches obeyed.

Without lowering his weapons, Chester called to Jean: 

“Open the door!”

Jean sprang to obey, and as he did so the Apaches, realizing that they were trapped, sprang toward the two lads with cries of rage.  Right in the face of the muzzles of the four automatics they came on.

“Halt, or we fire!” cried Chester.

Jean was struggling nervously with the door.

The Apaches paid no heed to the lad’s cry.

“Crack!  Crack!  Crack!  Crack!”

The automatics of both lads spoke four times in rapid succession, and as many men fell to the floor.  For a moment the Apaches fell back.  In this moment Jean swung wide the door, and, picking up his revolver, rushed to the side of the two lads, while through the door streamed, one after another, the squad of French cavalrymen.

Some of the Apaches now produced revolvers and fired wildly at the approaching soldiers, and these, leveling their rifles, returned the fire.

Immediately the den became a scene of tumult.  Wounded men screamed and others gave vent to their rage with fierce cries.  Revolvers and rifles flashed on all sides.

Hal and Chester, immediately the firing had begun, had dropped to their knees, and so, as they still poured lead into the Apaches, the bullets of the latter went over their heads.  Jean, however, was not so fortunate.

Realizing that there must have been treachery some place, Georges had naturally come to the conclusion that Jean was responsible for it, and had singled the little man out as his own particular mark.  Paying no heed to the fighting that raged about him, he took careful aim and fired.

Jean gave a single cry, threw up his hands and fell squarely between Hal and Chester.

But the fight could have but one outcome.  Outnumbered two to one, the Apaches were fighting a losing struggle.  Half of their number lay dead on the floor, and many others were nursing serious wounds.  As suddenly as it had begun, the fighting ceased, and the Apaches still on their feet raised their hands in the air.

Immediately the soldiers advanced on them and made them prisoners.  Each was bound securely and hustled out of the door.

Chester and Hal were not wounded.  The former now bent over the body of Jean, in whom he saw there was still a spark of life.  He lifted the little man’s head gently, and, as he did so, Jean looked at him and spoke: 

“Well, they got me,” he said quietly.  “I thought they would.”

“You will be all right in a day or two, Jean,” said Chester.