His one fear was of being attacked behind. He was quite ready for any that might rise in front.
"Dis-a way, señor," Mazaro kept repeating. "Dis-a way."
Frank fancied the fellow was speaking louder than was necessary. In fact, he could not see that it was necessary for Mazaro to speak at all.
And then the boy was sure he heard footsteps behind them!
He was caught between two fires—he was trapped!
Frank's first impulse was to leap forward, knock Mazaro down, and take to his heels, keeping straight on through the passage.
A second thought followed the first quite swiftly.
He knew not where the passage led, and he knew not what pitfalls it might contain.
At that moment Frank felt a thrill of actual fear, nervy though he was; but he understood that he must not let fear get the best of him, and he instantly flung it off.
His ears were open, his eyes were open, and every sense was on the alert.