d and ready
to cut each other's throats if they had knives. Dona Jocasta may
overhear what she pleases, and furnish the knives as well if she so
decides."

But Dona Jocasta with a shudder put up her hand in protest.

"No knife, no knife!" she murmured, and Rotil shrugged his shoulders
and looked at Kit.

"That little crane in the corner would walk barefoot over embers of
hell to get a knife and get at Conrad," he said. "You have taste in
your favorites, senor."

He seemed to get a certain amusement in the contemplation of Kit and
Tula; he had seen no other American with quite that sort of addition
to his outfit. Kit was content to let him think his worst, as to tell
the truth would no doubt lose them a friend. It tickled the general's
fancy to think the thin moody Indian girl, immature and childlike, was
an American's idea of a sweetheart!

Voices and the clank of chains were heard in the patio, and then in
the next room.

"Why bring us here when your questions were given answer as well in
another place?" demanded a man's voice, and at that Dona Jocasta
looked at Rotil.

"Yes, why do you?" she whispered.

He stared at her, frowning and puzzled.

"Did I not tell you? I did it that you might hear him repeat his
offer. What else?"

"I--see," she said, bending her head, but as Rotil went to the door,
Kit noted that the eyes of Dona Jocasta followed him curiously. He
concluded that the unseen man of the voice was Jose Perez.

Then the voice of Conrad was heard cursing at a chain too heavy. Rotil
laughed, and walked into the chapel.

"I can tell you something, you German Judas!" he said coldly. "You
will live to see the day when these chains, and this safe old chapel,
will be as a paradise you once lived in. You will beg to crawl on your
knees to be again comfortably inside this door."

"Is that some Mexican joke?" asked Conrad, and Rotil laughed again.

"Sure it is, and it will be on you! They tell me you collect girls in
Sonora for a price. Well, they have grown fond of you,--the Indian
women of Sonora! They say you must end your days here with them. I
have not heard of a ransom price they would listen to,--though you
might think of what you have to offer."

"Offer?" growled Conrad. "How is there anything to offer in Sonora
when Perez here has sent the guns south?"

"True, the matter of ransom seems to rest with Senor Perez who is
saving of words."

"I put the words on paper, and sent it by your man,