The Jefe, overcome by the trap into which he had descended, in Spanish addressed the leader.
"I shall not fight with this man. He is younger than I, and has better wind. Also, the affair is illegal. It is not according to the law of the Eepublic of Panama. It is extra-territorial and entirely unjudicial."
"It is the Snake and the Bird," the leader shut him off. "You shall be the Snake. This rifle shall be in your hands. The other man shall be the Bird. In his hand shall be the bell. Behold! Thus may you understand the ordeal."
At his command, one of the brigands was given the rifle and was blindfolded. To another brigand, not blindfolded, was given a silver bell.
"The man with the rifle is the Snake," said the leader. "He has one shot at the Bird who carries the bell."
At signal to begin, the bandit with the bell, tinkled it at extended arm's length and sprang swiftly aside. The man with the rifle lowered it as if to fire at the space just vacated and pretended to fire.
"You understand?" the leader demanded of Henry and the Jefe.
The former nodded, but the latter cried exultantly:
"And I am the Snake?"
"You are the Snake," affirmed the leader.