The whistle stopped in a moment or two, but Ned took up the air and continued it for a few bars more.

Then, all apprehension gone, he sprang out of the arroyo and stood upon the bank.
Another figure was projected from the arroyo and stood upon the bank facing him, not more than twenty feet away.
Simultaneously Obed White and Edward Fulton advanced, shook hands and laughed.
"You kept me here waiting in this gully at least half an hour," said Obed.

"Time and I waited long on you." "But no longer than I waited on you," said Ned.

"Why didn't you think of whistling the tune sooner ?" "Why didn't you ?" They laughed and shook hands again.
"At any rate, we're here together again, safe and unharmed," said Ned.
"And now to see what has become of the Panther." "You'd better be lookin' out for yourselves instead of the Panther," growled a voice, as a gigantic figure upheaved itself from the arroyo eight or ten yards behind them.

"I could have picked you both off while you were standin' there shakin' hands, an' neither of you would never have knowed what struck him." "The Panther!" they exclaimed joyously, and they shook hands with him also.
"An' now," said the Panther, "it will soon be day.