“Keep Nicolas in the center,” he said, “and if he makes a false move, shoot him.  He’s too dangerous a man to be running around loose.”

While the others mounted, Hal moved to the door to watch the men without.  He arrived there just in time to meet a man who would have entered.  Hal produced his automatic.

“Get back there!” he commanded.

The man took one look at the revolver and leaped back in a hurry.  A moment later a voice called: 

“What’s the matter in there, Nicolas?”

“Answer him,” said Chester, prodding Nicolas with his revolver.  “Tell him everything is all right.”

Nicolas did so.

Came the voice from without again: 

“Trying to give us the slip, eh?  Don’t want to divide up the gold with us, I guess?  Well, we’re coming in after you.”

“All ready?” asked Hal at this juncture.

Chester glanced around quickly.

“Ready, as soon as you mount,” he replied quietly.  “Hurry!”

Hal took one more look out the door and saw that the men were approaching, separated widely.

“They’re coming!” he cried, and leaped astride his horse.  Then he called to the mountaineer,

“Open the door wide!”

For a moment the mountaineer hesitated.  He saw that there was trouble coming and he knew that it was none of his business.

Hal aimed his automatic at him.

“Open it wide, quick!” he commanded.

The man hesitated no longer.  He threw wide the door.

Again Hal glanced quickly about him; then gave the command in a sharp voice: 

“Forward!”

Out the door they charged at a gallop—­Hal and Chester in the lead, next
Colonel Anderson and Nicole, then Nicolas and Stubbs, with Ivan and
Colonel Edwards bringing up the rear.

Outside the door the enemy had drawn somewhat closer together and they stood with drawn revolvers as the riders charged.

There was no time for flight, and in spite of the fact that the charge was a distinct surprise, the foe opened with their revolvers.

Without checking their wild speed, Hal and Chester fired point blank into the faces of the men who barred their way.  Whether they hit or not it was impossible to tell, but two men who were unable to jump out of the way in time, were knocked down by the foremost horses and the rest of the little troop passed over their prostrate forms.

But now beyond the enemy, Hal and Chester, leading, did not check the speed of their horses, for Colonel Edwards had mentioned the fact that there were more horses in the barn, and all knew that there would be pursuit.

Behind, some of the men had fallen to their knees and taken deliberate aim at the flying riders, and the sharp crack, crack of the weapons continued for several seconds.  Bullets flew near, but not one struck home.

Out of revolver shot, Hal and Chester drew up their horses to take stock.