A low whistle called Evan Harris from his duty, and the next minute the trio flitted across the cave, and entered the corridor where Jack had disappeared.
The danger of their undertaking was apparent now. At any moment the hunted chief might turn upon them in the darkness, and dispatch all three before an injury could be inflicted upon him.
But Captain Jack did not think of foes on his trail; he was intent upon doing the deed promised at the rising of Mars—the execution of Artena.
Already a spirit of mutiny existed in the Modoc ranks. The Cottonwood branch of the tribe, containing such warriors as Hooker Jim, Scar-faced Charley, and Shack Nasty Jim, were loud in their expressions of disapproval of some of Jack’s actions, chief among which was his leniency toward Artena.
After committing her to the guardianship of Scar-face, the braves exacted an oath from him that she should die at the rising of the planet of war.
His appearance before the guards was greeted with guttural exclamations of triumph, and boldly the chief crossed the threshold and startled the Squaw Spy with his voice.
“Artena ready to die?” he asked.
The spy looked around upon the occupants of the cave, and then riveted her eyes upon the rebel.
“Ready,” she answered, seeing no pity in his dark eyes, for no doubt he had at last reached the conclusion that she was the spy, declared by his warriors.
“How would she die?”