At the very minute that Snivel was talking to her she was thinking of bringing the weapon into use.
Arietta had heard enough to make her believe that her dashing young lover was not to be harmed for a while, for she had been listening when the men were talking about Cap Roche, and she had not failed to make note of it when they said that he was not due at the cave until some time after the hour of noon.
Before Snivel came in from the rear entrance she had been carefully studying the cave, and she knew just the way to get out.
She thought that the quicker she did it the better it would be for both herself and Wild.
She determined that she would act right now.
"Can I have a drink of water?" she asked, as Snivel was about to pull up a stool near her.
"Sartin," was the reply. "I'll go an' fetch yer one right from ther spring."
There were only two men besides the lieutenant of the band in the cave just then, and they were back near the rear.
Snivel went and got a tin cup and as he turned his back to go and fetch the water Arietta arose and stepped lightly across the cave.
She had almost reached the passage that led out to the pass when one of the outlaws saw her and raised the alarm.