Fortunately Big Monte had a horse hidden not far from the cabin, and Frank was able to find the animal.
The wounded ruffian was raving at intervals. He seemed quite deranged.
"I can't leave him like this," thought Merry. "He might wander off into the mountains and perish."
Still he disliked to be encumbered with the wretch. Some would have deserted the wounded man without delay and ridden with all haste to reach the mine.
It must be confessed that such a thought passed through the head of Frank Merriwell.
"No!" murmured Frank. "He's a human being. It is my duty to do what I can to save him."
So it came about that two men rode Monte's big horse away from that valley. One of them muttered, and laughed, and talked wildly.
"Riding with the dead!" he said. "We're on the road to Purgatory! Ha! Ha! Ha! Whip up the horse! Gallop on!"
It was a strange ride through the starlight night. The clicking clatter of the horse's hoofs aroused the big man at intervals, and he laughed and shouted.
"I'm dead!" he finally declared. "I am a dead man! Two dead men are riding together! And we're on the road to the burnin' pit! But it's getting a heap cold! I'm beginnin' to freeze. The fire will be good an' hot!"
"Shut up!" said Merry. "We're getting near the Queen Mystery. You may get shot up some more if you keep your jaw wagging."
As they came nearer to the valley, Merry slackened the pace of the foam-flecked horse. Fortunately the animal had been big and strong, for once Frank had seemed to have little mercy on the beast he bestrode.
Monte continued to talk. He had grown so weak that Merry was compelled to partly support him.
"Look here," Frank said, in a commanding way, "you are not to say another word until I give you permission. Do you understand that?"
"Then close up. Not another word from you."
They were entering the valley. Suddenly there came a challenge.
Not a word from Merriwell's lips, but he drove the spurs to the horse, clutched Big Monte tighter, and they shot forward into the valley.
Instantly sounded a shot, followed by several more. Bullets whistled past them. Frank felt Monte give a great start and lurch sideways, but he held the man steady.
There were cries of rage from the men who had fired the shots.