He threw a protecting arm around Lucia, who was panting and pale. He pulled his gun, and aimed it at Pedro's head. "Drop it!" he cried. Pedro obeyed like lightning. The gun fell to the floor with a vibrating crash.
Then Gilbert covered Lopez. "If this is a trick—" he cried.
"Trick for what?" the bandit wanted to know. He nodded to Pedro. "Get ze men. 'E will not shoot!"
Enraged beyond control, young Jones cried out: "For the last time! You mean it? I know what you've tried to do, and I'm grateful; but there's one thing that I must do!" Still the gun was leveled at the bandit's head.
"What's that?" nonchalantly.
"Protect her!" Gilbert said, drawing Lucia closer to his heart.
Lopez smiled again. "You will not shoot."
"I will—if I must!"
"Oh, ze wolf in ze sheep's overcoat!" the bandit smirked.
"I will! I warn you!"