“They lead to right here!” answered Carlos Vazala, pointing to some impressions in the damp ground and some overturned stones.
“I bet they went up into these trees!” cried Jasniff. He raised his voice. “If you are up there you might as well come down,” he commanded. “If you don’t, we’ll come up there and bring you down.”
CHAPTER XXX
THE ROUND-UP—CONCLUSION
“Oh, Dave, do you think——” began Jessie in a low voice, when a look of warning from our hero stopped her.
“You can’t fool us!” cried Nick Jasniff, after a moment of silence. “Are you coming down, or shall I come up and bring you down?”
To this none of those in the tree replied. All kept silent, scarcely daring to breathe. Jessie was clinging to Dave’s arm, and Roger had a protecting hand on Laura’s shoulder. Each of the young civil engineers had his pistol ready for any emergency which might arise. They heard a movement below as if either Nick Jasniff or one of the gypsies was starting to climb the tree.
“Oh, don’t let them come up here!” whispered Laura, unable to remain silent longer.
“Yes, yes, make them stay on the ground!” breathed Jessie.
“Stop where you are!” cried Dave in stern tones. “Don’t you dare come a foot closer if you value your life.”
“Don’t you shoot me!” exclaimed Nick Jasniff.