The woman nodded firmly, then bent to explain:
“You no worry. I here. I no hurt you nor let any one else hurt you. I not a bad woman, but—” She seemed about to say more, then closed her lips tightly. Once more she indicated the mouth of the cave.
The girls had no choice. With fear in their hearts and with faltering steps, they entered.
CHAPTER XX
An Attempt that Failed
Once within the cave, Belle took a deep breath. Nothing had happened yet. They were still alive, at all events. She led the way toward the light they had seen, and, to her amazement, she discovered that on the left a passageway led to another cavern, larger than the first, which also was illuminated.
Hearing a shuffling step behind them, the girls turned swiftly, but it was only the old woman, the light from the lamp in the wall shining on the metal of her leveled revolver. Whatever else might be said for her, she allowed her charges no chance to escape.
“Ahead,” she grunted, and slowly the girls entered the second cave. This had a high, rocky roof. Several lighted lamps were fastened to the walls. There was furniture of a sort, there being a heavy table in the center, while arranged along the wall were makeshift cots, five of them.
With a slight gasp, Ethel leaned against the table. The woman grinned.
“No get scared,” she said. “All right. You safe in here. We wait now till men come. But you no worry. I here. You all safe.”