"You'll have another chance all right," said he. "They've shut themselves up in a trap."
By this time Crouch, who had already given up the chase, had descended to the suspension bridge and crossed to the quarry. There the first person he set eyes upon was de Costa.
"Hands up!" he cried. And at the word de Costa threw up his arms pleading for mercy.
Crouch looked about him, and heard Max's voice calling for assistance. And at that, of his own accord, de Costa took a bunch of keys from his pocket and offered them to Crouch. They were the keys of the iron collars of the slaves.
A few seconds later every slave was free. They could not at first realize what had happened; and then, one man, more intelligent than his fellows, grasped the truth, and picking up the chain which had been fastened to his neck for many months hurled it into the river.
Max told his story in a few words. He explained how he had been captured, and showed Crouch the rubies.
Crouch turned to the half-caste. "Will you throw in your lot with us?" he asked.
"I am ready to do so," said de Costa. "I would have told you all that night when Cæsar found you in the hut."
"I have some reason to believe that to be true," said Crouch. "I hold to my original promise. Stand by us to-day, and I'll take you down to the Coast. You must see that the game's up for Cæsar."
De Costa intimated that he was only waiting to receive orders.