"
So intent was he upon Rios, so occupied with considering what was to be
done with him, that he did not note who it was who had come to stand in
the narrow cleft between them and the entrance from the canon side.
But Betty, her hands dropping from her horrified face saw.
"Oh," cried Betty. "We are lost!"
Then he saw that following Rios had come Zoraida and that she stood and
looked at them, her eyes filled with mockery and triumph.
"Who is it that speaks of what shall be done with that which rightfully
is Zoraida's?" she demanded, her voice ringing out boldly. "And you
two, who thought to escape me, I have you in a trap!"
Kendric swung his rifle about so that the muzzle was towards her. His
eyes hardened.
"If we have to shoot our way out of this, we're going free," he told
her shortly.
Zoraida's only answer came quickly, unexpectedly, before he could step
forward. Her hand went to her bosom; out came her silver whistle; a
blast shrilled forth from it, loud and penetrating.
"Twenty of my men, all armed, hear that," she said defiantly. "They
are just below. Listen and you will hear them coming."
The sound, first of men's voices somewhere outside, then of rattling
stones under running feet, told that Zoraida spoke truly. Kendric
heard and for an instant was struck motionless with indecision. The
entrance was narrow and he could make a fight for it--there was Betty
to think of, behind him but in the path of glancing bullets--there was
Rios, wounded but treacherous--there was Zoraida--there was the
treasure below and he had no mind to see it snatched from under his
eyes--
Then the one chance presented itself to him, clear and imperative.
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