Slowly and cautiously they slipped on toward the cave. [Jo Ann could see that the man and Carlitos were still crouched around the fire.]
When they had gone as close as they dared, they waited till there was a loud crash of thunder. Immediately Jo Ann crept forward till she was directly behind the man.
With amazing swiftness she dropped the noose over the man’s head and down over his shoulders, then jerked back on the rope. Automatically his hand flew toward his stiletto as he leaped forward. But the rope tightened—his arms were pinioned to his sides. He wheeled partly around only to find he was looking into the barrel of a 32-caliber automatic.
“Stand still or I’ll shoot,” Florence ordered in Spanish. “Carlitos—get back. You might get hurt.”
Jo Ann quickly slipped a loop of the rope over the man’s right hand and drew it behind his back, then his left, and tied the two together securely.
“Tell him to lie down on the ground now,” Jo Ann said.
Florence quickly repeated the order.
The man’s eyes blazed angrily. “No—no. I no——” His protest was lost in a clap of thunder.
“Do as you’re told or I’ll shoot,” Florence commanded a moment later.
As the man made no move, Jo Ann quickly gave him a hard shove and sent him sprawling headlong on the ground.