He stooped, almost as soon as he had cleared himself, to help up a fourth man, who rose with a naked knife between his teeth.

She saw then that all were armed, and something stealthy in their bearing, something cruel in their eyes as the light of the lanthorn fell now on one dark face and now on another, went to her heart and chilled it.

Who were they, and why were they here?
What was their purpose?
As her reason awoke, as she asked herself these questions, the fourth man stooped in his turn, and gave his hand to a fifth.

And on that she lost her self-control, and cried out.

For the last man to ascend was La Tribe--La Tribe, from whom she had parted that morning.
The sound she uttered was low, but it reached the men's ears, and the two whose backs were towards her turned as if they had been pricked.