What he was saying, the bandits did not know, for the redmen spoke in their own language. Yet from the jumble of guttural sounds, they occasionally distinguished the words "Jess Jame" and "Kaw-Kaw." But if they could not understand what was said they could see what was happening. The jabberings of the excited bucks had been carried on in loud tones. Scarcely had they begun than the outlaws beheld a bent and bowed figure hobble into the light at the mouth of the cave, leaning on a crooked staff. At her approach, the warriors drew back. In shrill tones the figure, whom they realized must be the witch, Kaw-Kaw, harangued them, waving her staff as her excitement got the better of her. Soon she paused and the bucks replied. Again the piping voice answered. And, as she heard the words, Jesse could feel Dew Drop tremble, so close was she to him. Deciding because of this that whatever the gibberish meant it spelled danger for himself and his men, the world-famous desperado again whipped his hands to his pistol holsters. And this time there was no objection from the Indian maiden by his side. Yet before he could draw them, Kaw-Kaw hobbled from the cave, joining the three braves and vanished from sight with them. As they disappeared, Dew Drop breathed a sigh of intense relief. Ere Jesse could utter the question that was on his lips, the red-skinned maiden whispered: "Quick! Quick! Get um paleface. Dew Drop take um back Kaw-Kaw cave while um 'way." Springing to her feet, the maid seized the hand of the bandit-chieftain and dragged him back into the pall of blackness that enveloped the witch's den. Seeing their leader rise, his pals had followed suit, even before he commanded in a low voice: "Get up, boys. Take hold of one another. Follow me quickly!" Had Kaw-Kaw returned to her den just then, she would have been filled with amazement at the file of men, who threaded their way through the maze of pots, tripods and implements dear to the heart of the sorceress, led by the lithe, slim maiden. But her amazement would have turned to alarm had she seen them enter a second cave, which led from the first, the existence of which she thought she herself alone knew. So low was the opening into the inner den that the bandits were forced to drop to their hands and knees. "This is a fool's stunt, getting in farther instead of--" began Frank. But his words were frozen in his mouth by a terrible, hair-raising growl that sounded from the recesses of the cave. "No 'fraid, no 'fraid!" gasped Dew Drop hurriedly. "Um Wa-Wa, Kaw-Kaw bear. Um no hurt." "Sure not, his growl doesn't sound fierce, I don't think!" ejaculated Wild Bill. But the Indian maiden, laughing softly, quickly allayed their fears by adding: "Wa-Wa no got claw, no got teeth.'" "Well, the growl's the real thing, all right, all right," exclaimed Jesse. "The old hag hasn't removed his hug, too, has she?"