It seems to me that, having followed you far till I could walk no more for hunger and weariness, I used my wit and bribed a certain white man, of the sort who would sell their sisters and blaspheme their mothers for a reward, to attempt your rescue.
"I bribed him with a gem of great price--had there been ten of them, that gem would have bought them all--and with the gem I told him the secret of the treasure which is here.

He took the bribe, and being brave and desperate, he drew you out of the clutches of the Yellow Devil, though in that matter also I had some part; and then you loved him.
Ah! could I have foreseen it, Shepherdess, I had left you to die in the slave camp, for then you had died loving me who now hate me and cast me off for the sake of this white thief." Leonard could bear it no longer, and in the interests of their common safety he came to a desperate resolve.

With an exclamation, he lifted the pistol and covered Soa.

Both Francisco and Juanna saw the act and sprang to him, the latter exclaiming, "Oh! what are you going to do ?" "I propose to kill this woman before she kills us, that is all," he answered coldly.
"No! no!" cried Juanna, "she has been faithful to me for many years.

I cannot see her shot." "Let the butcher do his work," mocked Soa; "it shall avail him little.
Doubtless he is angry because I have spoken the truth about him," and she folded her arms upon her breast, awaiting the bullet.
"What is to be done ?" said Leonard desperately.