Just then Cap Roche slipped the rope, and down he came in a heap.
Before he could get upon his feet our hero stood over him.
"Surrender!" he cried. "It is the easiest way out of it. If you fight it out there won't be one man left of you, Roche!"
"I'll never surrender!" was the defiant shout. "Go ahead and shoot me, if you want to. I am going to die fighting."
He rolled over and got upon his feet, regardless of the fact that the finger of the young deadshot was upon the trigger of the revolver that was aimed at him.
Roche had lost his revolvers when he tumbled down, but he still hold his knife.
Jerking it from the sheath, he prepared to make a rush at the boy, who stood covering him with a revolver.
Just then several shots rang out from inside the cave, following by yells of triumph.
Arietta now slid down by means of the lariat Jim had hold of.
Then Jim dropped the distance himself.