From the Indian’s monosyllables, and, using her imagination freely, Grace inferred that Joe had overheard the bandits when they were spying on the Overland Riders’ camp, and, after the men had gone away as Joe supposed, he had fired the arrow into the camp to warn Grace Harlowe and her friends. The bandits, however, had not gone away, and when they saw what Joe had done, they suddenly fell upon him, bound and gagged him and carried him to their lair in the ancient Community House of the Cliff Dwellers.
“Was Con Bates one of those men?” she asked.
“Him come along.”
“Who is Ben Jackson?”
“Bad man who follow white girls till Bates make escape at Globe and come along to help. Much bad men. Steal much. Plenty here. You find. Joe Smoky Face know where.”
“You say they have gone to Globe. Con Bates would not dare to go there. How did he get out of jail?”
“Not know. Mebby he not go Globe to-day. Ben Jackson he go. Mebby Con he stay in bushes.”
“How many men come here?”
Joe counted six on his fingers.
“Show me the way out,” demanded Grace.