Then the thieves went to work with the next victim.
"Dr.Therne," whispered Emma Becker, "you have a pistol, do you not ?" I nodded my head.
"Will you lend it me?
You understand ?" "Yes," I answered, "I understand, but I hope that things are not so bad as that." "They are," she answered with a quiver in her voice.

"I have heard about these Mexican brigands.

With the exception of that priest and myself they will put all of you into the coach and push it over the precipice." At her words my heart stood still and a palpable mist gathered before my eyes.

When it cleared away my brain seemed to awake to an abnormal activity, as though the knowledge that unless it was used to good effect now it would never be used again were spurring it to action.

Rapidly I reviewed the situation and considered every possible method of escape.
At first I could think of none; then suddenly I remembered that the driver and his companion, who no doubt knew every inch of the road, had leaped from the coach, apparently over the edge of the precipice.