To Val’s ears it sounded like hoofbeats. She prayed earnestly that it was. Even if it was but the other two bandits coming back, it would delay the Mexican’s knife a little longer.
Gale, recognizing that the Mexican sought revenge for that kick and was intent upon securing that revenge with his knife, cast about quickly for some means of getting him from the cabin. Her eyes came round from the window to the Mexican’s horse standing meekly a few paces away. She crossed to him, pulled the reins up over his head and gave him a sharp slap on the flank. The horse started forward with a jerk and Gale disappeared around the side of the cabin. With the sound of the hoofbeats the door of the cabin was pulled open and the Mexican stepped to the ground. Gale could see him staring after his horse, but he made no effort to chase the animal as she had hoped he would. He stood there for several minutes until the horse had disappeared and then with a smothered exclamation of disgust or wrath stalked back into the cabin. Her ruse had failed. He didn’t apparently care what happened to his horse. Now what was she going to do? Val needed help and she, Gale, must do something. She didn’t have time to go for Jim or Tom. She would have to handle the Mexican herself, and hope that she and Val would have a fighting chance. If he should foil her attempt at rescue, then they would both be his helpless prisoners and anything might happen! She laughed nervously at her own lack of confidence. She wasn’t very optimistic at any rate. However, they would see--what they would see.
She peeped in the window again. The Mexican was wiping the blade of his knife carefully on his shirt sleeve. She knew he was so deliberately cool and slow just to keep Valerie in suspense and to undermine her courage. She looked at her friend. Valerie’s color had faded a bit and her eyes were a little more luminous, but not with fear. She saw Val’s lips move again but she didn’t know that Val had said:
“Well, why don’t you get it over with?”
“In time, my leetle one, in time,” Pedro laughed.
“If you don’t hurry my friends might arrive and spoil your little party,” Valerie continued imperturbably.
He laughed again. “They weel not come here, my friend.”
“Yes they will,” Valerie said coolly, “and when they do, you will look very handsome--at the end of a rope.”
“Rope?” he pretended not to understand her.
“Yes, a rope,” Valerie said bluntly, “for they will hang you to the highest limb of the nearest tree and your friends with you!”