In a moment, and with a staggering weakness, Stella climbed into the saddle. With a man on each side of her, she took up the march again.
Through dark defiles in the black mountains the cavalcade made its way, Stella clinging to the saddle, and often in danger of falling off. Presently they came into a glade, or park, which was surrounded by towering mountain walls. For half an hour they traversed this, then came to the end, and before them yawned an opening in the wall less than ten feet wide.
They entered this, and after traversing it a short distance Stella found herself in a circular chamber in the mountains with the starry sky for a roof. Several fires were burning in the chamber, around which Indians and white men were sprawling, playing cards, talking, or silently smoking.
In one corner was a corral, in which many horses were confined.
"You can get down now," said the leader of the party that had conducted her to the place. "There is a shelter for you over there."
He pointed to a small tent on the farther side of the chamber.
"You will be perfectly safe here. You do not seem well. I will send you assistance."
"Where am I?" asked Stella.
"You are a prisoner in the Hole in the Wall," was the reply.
"Then Heaven help me," said Stella, sobbing.