Pausing a moment, he continued pressing through, and at last came as far as his knees, holding fast to the lower sash with his hands the while.
In that position he stopped a moment to rest and listen.
Hearing nothing, he let go with his hands and swung down, hanging by his legs, and his hands came in contact with the ground.
It was an easy thing, then, to let go with his legs and turn over and land upon his feet, and he did it with scarcely any more noise than a cat would have made.
He was without his weapons, but he was free.
Knowing the direction he must take, he set forward immediately, taking the greatest care that his steps were too light to be heard.
In a few moments he was out of hearing distance from the cabin, so far as his steps were concerned, and he then struck out at a rapid pace in the direction of the gulch.
He was going straight to the treasure cache to secure the treasure, and would then put all the distance possible between himself and the outlaws before daylight.
He could cache the money again, and in due time return with a posse and secure it.
"There will be something of a surprise when they find that I am gone, I imagine," he said to himself. "I would like to be there to see Captain Joaquin's face at the moment."