are dead deserted you, running this way and that in their fear--and,
Shepherdess, it is for this that I am glad they are dead, and lifted
no hand to save them--I followed you alone. It seems to me that, having
followed you far till I could walk no more for hunger and weariness, I
used my wit and bribed a certain white man, of the sort who would sell
their sisters and blaspheme their mothers for a reward, to attempt your
rescue.

"I bribed him with a gem of great price--had there been ten of them,
that gem would have bought them all--and with the gem I told him the
secret of the treasure which is here. He took the bribe, and being brave
and desperate, he drew you out of the clutches of the Yellow Devil,
though in that matter also I had some part; and then you loved him.
Ah! could I have foreseen it, Shepherdess, I had left you to die in the
slave camp, for then you had died loving me who now hate me and cast me
off for the sake of this white thief."

Leonard could bear it no longer, and in the interests of their common
safety he came to a desperate resolve. With an exclamation, he lifted
the pistol and covered Soa. Both Francisco and Juanna saw the act and
sprang to him, the latter exclaiming, "Oh! what are you going to do?"

"I propose to kill this woman before she kills us, that is all," he
answered coldly.

"No! no!" cried Juanna, "she has been faithful to me for many years. I
cannot see her shot."

"Let the butcher do his work," mocked Soa; "it shall avail him little.
Doubtless he is angry because I have spoken the truth about him," and
she folded her arms upon her breast, awaiting the bullet.

"What is to be done?" said Leonard desperately. "If I do not shoot her,
she will certainly betray us."

"Then let her betray," said Francisco; "it is written that you shall do
no murder."

"If you fear to shoot a woman, send for your black dog, White Man,"
mocked Soa. "He would have killed my father, and doubtless this task
also will be to his liking."

"I can't do it. Get a rope and tie her up, Francisco," said Leonard.
"We must watch her day and night; it will be a pleasant addition to
our occupations. After all it is only one more risk, which is no great
matter among so many. I fancy the game is about played out, anyhow."

Francisco went for the rope and presently returned accompanied by Otter.
A month of furious dissipation had left its mark even on the dwarf's
iron frame. His bright black eyes were bloodshot