Janice heard a horse charging past her from the direction of the general's car. In the dim light she thought she recognized the young aide-de-camp who had been so much in evidence the day before. He rode off into the north, away from the mine, and Janice believed he had gone to recall that part of the government troops now absent.
Did General Palo consider the promised attack of the banditti serious? When Janice had been in Dario Gomez's company he had had but forty followers!
She re-entered the shed and closed the door. Her father and Marty were sleeping quietly. Should she arouse them?
The girl was already becoming used to war's alarms. She determined to watch alone. By no possibility could she have closed her eyes now in slumber.
While her father and Marty slept peacefully, Janice Day sat by a dim and rather smoky lantern and watched. Confused sounds of marching and countermarching soldiery reached her ears; but from a distance.
Suddenly the uproar increased—then more rifle shots in the distance. Her father roused up, half asleep yet.
"What's that?" he demanded.
A sharp rap came upon the door. Janice arose hastily.
"Lie down, father," she said reassuringly. "I will go."
"The Señor General De Soto Palo order you all to the train. We make stand there, señorita," said the man who had knocked. "The bandits are at hand."