“One thing is sure. If Miguel Costello troubles us, we’ll make it warm for him. We don’t mean to give up our claim. But as he is twenty miles from here on another spur of the mountain-—-” Silver Sam did not finish his speech. A thrilling thing happened at that moment. There was a wild, blood-curdling laugh far up the gorge, and the next moment the crack of rifles smote upon the air. Two of the red-shirted miners upon the top of the coach fell dead. CHAPTER V. BEATING A RETREAT. Down into the defile there came a perfect swarm of armed men. Rough looking wretches they were, all greasers and armed to the teeth. It needed but a glance for any in the party to realize who and what they were. “All aboard!” yelled Bill Guernsey, the stage driver. “Run fer yer lives, lads. There’s no show fer us agin that pack of imps.” There was no doubt of this. Costello’s gang, for such they were, fairly swarmed in the defile. There seemed a legion of them, and the numbers were too great for the party of miners. Frank saw this at a glance and he turned the Steam Man about. Barney and Pomp were instantly at the loopholes and giving the wretches a shower of bullets. The party on the coach were firing, and a small sized battle was in progress. But all clambered aboard the coach, and just in time Bill Guernsey cracked his long whip and sent his eight horses flying down the pass. The Steam Man was far ahead making rapid time. But Costello was determined not to be cheated so easily of his prey. His murderous gang came thundering in pursuit. The greasers rode like fiends and kept up a constant fire. Down through the pass went the Steam Man. After it came the stage-coach, and the passengers were yelling and firing with full force. A short while later the Steam Man shot out upon the mesas. The coach came after and across the plain the race went. Of course the fleet ponies of the greasers could out-foot the stage horses. The greasers came swarming up around the stage and it was possible that they would have annihilated the mining party but for an intervention. Frank Reade, Jr., saw the danger and at once made action to prevent it. He turned the Steam Man making a wide circle. Then he started out to strike the foe on the flank. The Man rushed with full force for the party of outlaws. They did not swerve, and the next moment the Man was among them. The wheels of the wagon overturned horses, split the party up and raised havoc. Men were trampled beneath the Man’s iron feet. Horses were sent riderless over the plain and confusion ensued. The Steam Man followed up his advantage closely. Right and left the outlaws were scattered. Several times Barney drew a bead on a leader of the gang whom he fancied to be Costello, but each time missed. The man seemed to bear a charmed life. The Celt was disgusted.