Her thoughts, rapid as they had been, were interrupted by the fellow's sudden exclamation.
"My God!" he cried in a high voice, "I--I thought I was seeing things.
You are really a woman--and alive ?" Miss Donovan hesitated a moment before she answered, wondering whether to tell him of her narrow escape.

This she decided to do.
"Alive, but only by luck," she said in a friendly voice, and then recounted the insults of Cateras, her struggle with him, and capture of his cartridge belt and revolver, and how finally she had left him bound and gagged in the adjoining cell.

The man listened attentively, though his mind seemed slow to grasp details.
"But," he insisted, unable to clear his brain, "why are you here?
Surely you are not one of this gang of outlaws ?" "I am inclined to think," she answered soberly, "that much the same cause must account for the presence of both of us.

I am a prisoner.
That is true of you also, is it not ?" "Yes," his voice lowered almost to a whisper.

"But do not speak so loud, please; there is an opening above the door, so voices can be heard by any guard in the corridor.