volver roared. The echoes were deafening in that confined space.
Something whizzed past Frank's head and smacked against the rock.
The bullet, aimed for the rock wall, had ricochetted across the bend and had missed him by a hairbreadth.
This was too close for comfort. The revolver crashed again, and there was a cry from Joe.
"Are you hurt?" asked Frank anxiously.
"No. But the bullet glanced off the rocks. I think it went through my sleeve. It sure was close."
Their voices had been heard by the men in the cave.
"That's got 'em scared!" yelled Gus.
The boys retreated out of range of the glancing bullets.
"We're up against it," Frank admitted. "If we stay here they'll starve us out. If we try to rush them, we'll get shot."
"I guess we'll have to surrender."
"Looks as if there's nothing else for it. We'll give ourselves up and take our chances on escape. The way things are, we're liable to be shot."
He edged back toward the bend in the passage. There was a lull in the firing.
"We give up!" he shouted.
A yell of triumph followed.
