"You give me my woman, I wait," bargained the unseen Cochise. Carmena fairly blazed with anger. She hurled down another bare corncob. "She's not your woman. You sha'n't have her! We'll see what Slade says about that and about your running me across the Basin. You know you can't scare me. Now, is it fight, or do you back up?" The reply was a jabber of hissings and gutturals. Carmena jerked her hand about in swift signs and cried back in uncouth thick-tongued Apache words. The dispute at last ended in a sullen mutter from below and a sudden thudding of hoofs. The Apaches dashed out from under the cliff, loping their horses toward a corral over across to the left of the cornfields. Carmena drew back out of the deep doorway, with a look of profound relief. At sight of Lennon she smiled and caught up his wounded hand. "I've made Cochise back up," she said. "We're safe from the bunch till Slade returns--only none of us can leave the Hole. How's your arm feeling?" The dark eyes were very clear and straightforward in their gaze. Lennon flushed with shame over his black suspicions. These renegade Apaches, and Slade as well, probably were bad men. Farley no doubt was in with them. But he appeared to be an unwilling associate, barred from escape by sickness, drink, and fear. Carmena had begged for help to get him and Elsie out of the Hole. Lennon permitted his hand to linger in her gentle clasp. "It seems to be much better," he replied to her question. "That's good. Let's hope it will be all right before Slade gets back. You heard me bluff off Cochise with the partnership talk?" Farley was backing across the room, gray-faced and trembling like a very old man. "Slade will be angered," he quavered. "I'll lose all--all!" "Leave him to me. I'll handle him," promised Carmena. "Remember what you agreed. Jack is to be a full partner." Lennon felt a sudden rekindling of suspicion. "May I ask you to explain all this about a partnership?" he queried. "Why, of course," replied the girl. She drew close to him and lowered her voice. "Dad refuses to give up everything and leave the Hole. So I've allowed him to think you'll come in with the bunch. My idea is to bring about a split between Slade and Cochise. We'll then have a fighting chance. All we can do now is take things easy and get your hand in shape." "My rifle was taken by your father. I would rather like to----" "Dad, hand over Jack's rifle," called the girl. Elsie glided across to the dark doorway through which Farley was disappearing. Within a few moments the missing rifle was thrust out to her. She brought it to Carmena, who handed it over to Lennon. A seemingly casual examination showed him that it had not been tampered with. His last flicker of suspicion died away. CHAPTER VIII CACTUS CARMENA