This rifle shoots fast." While talking Gato had placed himself to the rear of his captives, who, with hands up, remained facing ahead.
"Do you want us to keep our hands up forever ?" demanded Tom Reade, gruffly.
"To take them down will be the signal for death," replied Gato coolly.

"Take your hands down, or turn this way, if you deem it best.

Possibly you will prefer to die, for to-night's entertainment may strike you as being worse than death.

The matter is within your own choice, wholly, _caballeros_.

Perhaps on the whole it would be far better for you to lower your hands and die." "Cut out the thrills and the mock-comedy, Gato, and tell us what else you want us to do," Tom urged, stiffly.
"Oho! My Gringo wild-cat is much tamer, isn't he ?" sneered Gato.
"But he shall be tamer still before the night is over.