"True. I am even worse. I formerly shot the pill in one of the bush leagues. I aspired to a place in the box of one of the major league clubs, but instead I joined the Madero revolution. I had all the sport I wanted and finding my brother in this forsaken land, I joined him as a public entertainer. Shall we give you a sample of our performance?" "Not now," from Donald. "Let's go and round up this bunch of revolutionists first." "But why?" queried the mountebank. "To-morrow they may be the government." The boys looked at each other with an expression that said as plainly as words: "True! We never thought of that." "Now, I have a better plan," continued the mountebank. "Let's go and entertain the revolutionists. Let's be neutral." "I'm afraid we are already belligerents," laughed Adrian. "We have had one brush with them." The mountebank heaved a sigh. "Of course, if you have declared war, we shall have to fight to a finish, unless," with a grin, "we can intrench." "It is they who are intrenched," explained Billie. "They are at the bottom of the old mine, although I don't know how they got there." "So," laughed the mountebank. "Suppose we go and find out." Arrived at the shaft house, for that is what the gable-roofed building was, the boys and their new-found friend approached and listened to the sound of voices which still arose to the top of the shaft. Evidently considering themselves free and safe, the bandits were preparing their evening meal, for it was now well on toward sunset. They were singing and joking as though they had not just lost half or two-thirds their number. From a few remarks made now and then, it appeared that they proposed on the following day to recruit the band up to its former strength. "That is the thing we must prevent," declared Donald. "A very easy thing," said the mountebank, "if we had enough provisions to remain here for twenty-four hours, or more." "How so?" asked Billie. "Why, they will doubtless send out two or three to do the recruiting. We can capture them as they leave the ruins." Billie glanced at the man from under his broad-rimmed sombrero as he asked: "How did you know they came out through the ruins?" The mountebank smiled. "Now, don't go to mistrusting me, young fellow, for I'm on the level. But I've been in this place before, and I know that the only way to where your friends down there are camping is through the ruins." "Have you ever been down there?" "Yes. They are only about sixty feet below the ground, in a chamber which was originally a gallery in the mine. The shaft over which this house is built is over two hundred feet deep." "I'd like to explore it," remarked Adrian. "Do you think you have the nerve?" and the stranger bent upon him a penetrating gaze. Billie laughed softly. "Say, stranger," he finally said. "I guess you never heard of the Broncho Rider Boys. We've got the nerve to do anything that any other human being dare do."