That the handbag had not been opened Darrin was sure, for he had kept his eye upon it through the chase.
Going to the ground in a heap, the Mexican thief was upon his feet instantly. A knife glittered in his right hand as he rushed at the young ensign.
But Seaman Rogers was too quick for the fellow. One of his feet shot up, the kick landing on the Mexican's wrist. That kick broke the fellow's wrist and sent the knife spinning through the air.
"We must go back to the woman from whom this was taken," Dave declared, and he and Rogers faced about, walking briskly back to the carriage.
The woman was completely unnerved, and trembling with fright. Her coachman stood beside her, and already a crowd of a dozen curious natives had gathered.
"Is this your property, madam?" Dave Darrin inquired, holding up the bag.
"Yes, it is!" she cried, in excellent English. "Oh, thank you!
Thank you!"
Hastily she opened the bag, disclosing a thick roll of bills.
"It is all I have in the world," she murmured, her eyes now filling with tears.
"It looks to me like a whole lot and then plenty more," uttered Seaman Rogers under his breath. "Whee! There must be a fortune there."