Near the top of the cliffs the way was worse than ever. The man passed in safety and then came Bob. Si's horse came to a halt. "I can't make that!" cried the former farm lad, in dismay. "If the horse tries it we'll go over, sure!" "Nonsense!" exclaimed Bob. "Wait a minute." He dismounted and caught Si's horse by the bridle. Then the steed came on, slowly and cautiously; and in a few seconds more the danger was over. Once on top of the cliffs the riding was easy. Andrew West located the point below which the cave was situated, and they rode around it in several directions. "I see something like an opening," said Bob, a few minutes later. "I think--look!" He pointed to a split in the rocks. A Mexican had just appeared. He did not see them and was looking towards a valley far back of the cave. "Is he alone?" whispered Si. "He seems to be." "Let us try to capture him!" The three dismounted and crept forward, screening themselves behind some pointed rocks. Soon they were within a dozen feet of the Mexican, who had stepped away from the opening, to get a better look at the valley. "Now!" cried Andrew West and threw himself forward. The two boys followed, and in a twinkling the Mexican was thrown down, and then a fierce struggle ensued. CHAPTER XXXIII BROUGHT TO BAY--CONCLUSION Left at the bottom of the cliffs, the others of the party drew a trifle closer to the mouth of the cave. They could see nobody, and wondered if it was possible that Sag Ruff and his associates in crime had managed in some way to get away. "Perhaps they are miles away by this time," said Mark. "We really ought to go into the cave and make sure." "And git shot for our pains," said Maybe Dixon. "None o' that in mine." Nevertheless, as the moments went by, all grew more anxious, and at last, when it grew dark, they walked up within a hundred feet of the opening. "Halt!" came in the voice of Sag Ruff, and he peered forth from behind a rock, pistol in hand. "Come out of that!" cried Mark. "We are not coming out," answered the gambler. "You had better," said Maybe Dixon. "You ain't got no show to git away." "Don't be so sure of that," came from Morgan Fitzsimmons, who was behind another rock, and also armed. "We'll starve you out, if we can't do better," said one of the posse. "You must give up to the law," said Peckham. "He's an under-sheriff," said Maybe Dixon, but did not add from what State. "An under-sheriff!" muttered Morgan Fitzsimmons, in dismay. "They are certainly after us hot-footed," he added, to Sag Ruff. "Look here, if you are willing, maybe we will compromise," said Sag Ruff, after a long pause. "We are not compromising with criminals," said Mark. "You want your gold, don't you?" "Yes, and we are bound to have it," put in Maybe Dixon. "Unless you will compromise, you'll never see a speck of your dust," growled Sag Ruff.