In a trembling voice Sam Simmons answered the call.
"Y-y-yes, the storm is here," Jack heard him answer, evidently in reply to some question at the other end.
"Y-y-yes, I will open them, sir. Y-y-yes, I know the dam is weak."
"Don't hesitate," warned Black Ramon vindictively.
"Y-y-you'll send the engineers to-morrow, you say? Very well, sir."
"Evidently they know of the storm in the valley," thought Jack to himself; "shouldn't wonder if the old man himself warned them some time ago, before he was tied."
This was, in fact, the case. But now the old man's hesitancy grew more painful than ever.
"T-t-they're asking about you," he said, turning to the Mexican.
"Tell them you haven't seen me," snarled Ramon.
"No, I have seen nothing of him," whimpered the old man feebly. "Kidnapped some boys, you say—the ranchers are after him—and the soldiers, too——"