Suddenly relaxing herself, she slipped to the granite floor on her knees.
"Please, please," she begged.

"I give in, _senor_, I give in." But as she spoke her right hand closed about a square jagged bit of rock.
"So, my pretty," sneered Cateras, "you have learned that Juan Cateras is not a man to trifle with.

It is well." And, releasing his grip upon her, he allowed the girl to rise.
As she stood there in the half light, her grey eyes flashing, her young bosom rising and falling, she was a vaguely defined but alluring figure.

So Juan Cateras thought, and he took a step nearer, his thick, red lips curling with lust, eager to claim their rich reward.

As they came closer Stella Donovan stiffened.
"Look, _senor_," she whispered--"behind you!" The Mexican in his eagerness was off his guard.