Then every one could understand the cause of the unearthly pallor in the young girl and the bandit.

A knife was plunged up to the hilt in Rita's left breast.

Every one looked at Carlini; the sheath at his belt was empty.

'Ah, ah,' said the chief, 'I now understand why Carlini stayed behind.' All savage natures appreciate a desperate deed.

No other of the bandits would, perhaps, have done the same; but they all understood what Carlini had done.