A black head of hair, lifted just above the level of the rock on the far side, revealed a low forehead and a pair of burning black eyes—evil eyes they seemed to the two startled girls. They could not see the hands that were gripping the edge of the rock, but what they could see was sufficient to fill them with alarm.
Without an instant’s hesitation, Elfreda Briggs snatched up a chunk of flinty rock and hurled it with all her might. The chunk of rock fell a couple of yards short of the mark, bounced up into the air, and landed fairly on the man’s head.
“Who says a woman can’t throw a stone!” cried J. Elfreda Briggs almost hysterically.
CHAPTER XVI
BANDITS TAKE THEIR TOLL
“Run!” cried Grace.
“The diary!” exclaimed Elfreda, as Grace dropped the book, snatched it up, and ran clambering down the rocks.
The guide saw them coming, saw that something was wrong, and strode forward to meet the two girls.
“What is it?” he asked sharply.
“A prowler,” answered Grace, out of breath.
“Where?”