In dismay, the bandits gazed at one another, as they heard the portentous words of the Indian maiden.
And in a moment more their own ears confirmed their truth.
No mistaking the identity of the men in the outer cave was there, as a sharp command, in plain English, rang out:
"Search every nook and cranny in the den, men. It's just the place for Jesse James and his pack of cutthroats to hide."
"That pet name'll cost the life of many a soldier, young fellow, if I ever get out of here!" hissed Comanche Tony in a low, harsh voice.
But his pals were too taken up with the peril of their position to make any comment on the blood-thirsty announcement.
No need was there to tell them it was one thing to have the Indians search the cave and quite another to have the cavalrymen.
The superstitious reverence and fear of the bent and bowed sorceress would not sway the troopers or cause them to consider the intrusion of the abode of the witch a sacrilege.
Rather would their contempt for the customs and beliefs of the redmen incite them to unusual effort.
Should they chance to espy the hole leading into the second cave, every one of the six men knew that they would lose no time in exploring it.