or the others to join her.

They advanced slowly, Cavendish holding the revolver at the Mexican's
head, the latter grinning savagely, his dark eyes never still. Bitter
hate, desperate resolve, marked his every action, although he sought to
appear indifferent. The girl's lips were compressed, and her eyes met
his firmly.

"The way is clear," she said, "and, listen to my warning, _senor_. We
are going straight along the north side of your cabin there, until we
reach the door. For about twenty feet we shall be exposed to view from
that other cabin, if any of your men are there. If you dare utter a
sound, or make a motion, this man will shoot you dead in your
tracks--do you understand?"

His look was ugly enough, although he compelled the thin lips to smile.

"Quite clearly--yes; but pardon me if I doubt. You might kill me; I
think that, yet how would it serve you? One shot fired would bring
here a dozen men--then what?"

"I thank you, _senor_; there will be no shot fired. Give me the
revolver, Mr. Cavendish; now take this knife. As we advance walk one
step behind Mendez. You will know what to do. Now, _senor_, if you
wish to try an experiment--we go now."

There was not a sound, not a word. Not unlike three shadows they
crossed the open space, and found shelter behind the walls of the hut.
The girl never removed her eyes from the other cabin, and Cavendish, a
step behind his prisoner, poised for a quick blow, the steel blade
glittering in uplifted hand, saw nothing but the back of the man before
him. The latter shrugged his shoulders and marched forward, his eyes
alone evidencing the passion raging within.

Without pausing they reached the door, which stood slightly ajar.
Stella pushed it open, took one swift glance within and stepped aside.
The other two entered, and she instantly followed, closing the door,
and securing it with a stout wooden bar. Her face was white, marked by
nervous emotion, her eyes bright and fearless. With one swift glance
she visioned the interior; there were two rooms, both small, divided by
a solid log partition, pierced by a narrow door-way.

The back room was dark, seemingly without windows, but this in which
they stood had an opening to the right, letting in the sunlight. It
was a mere slash in the logs, unframed, and could be closed by a heavy
wooden shutter. She stepped across and glanced out. The view revealed
included a large portion of the valley, and the entran