Placing her hand at her belt, she seized a small whistle.
She was about to place it to her lips when Jack Howard suddenly drew his revolver and leveled it at her heart.
"Blow that whistle and you are a dead woman!" he exclaimed.
Evidently the woman was acquainted with the nature of firearms, for her face turned deadly pale and the whistle dropped from her hands.
"What would you do?" she demanded, hoarsely.
"I would kill you, as sure as fate," was the reply. "Now, then, we are going to leave this valley. We will take a trip to the land of your people and see what sort they are. Don't attempt to oppose us, for if you do you will be the first one to die."
Jack's words had their effect upon the woman. She was completely cowed, and did not utter a word of protest.
"Draw your revolvers," said the young Englishman, turning to his companions. "We will leave at once. There are six of us, and if these women attempt to bar our way, shoot them down as though they were so many savages."
The next instant twelve revolvers flashed in the sunlight from as many hands.
It was at this state of affairs that a wild howl went up from a crowd of women about a hundred yards distant.