"Take an arm, Texas," snapped the bandit-chieftain, as he put his own hand under Frank's left shoulder and lifted him to his feet. Quickly the other obeyed and, supporting their exhausted comrade between them, they resumed their progress toward the cliffs. "I reckon we might as well go back into the canyon," asserted the world-famous desperado. "We'll climb up to the table land where we rescued Tony and rest for a few days. We can see all about us. No one can surprise us and the bucks and troopers would never think we'd go back. "We'll be able to find something we can eat." This suggestion met with the approval of the others and the little band bent their steps toward the black cleft that marked the entrance into the rocky defile. Occasional glances behind them told them that none of the pursuers had returned from the chase. Indeed, no moving object could they discover in any direction and, with hearts beating light at their successful escape from the blood-thirsty, revenge-craving savages and the cavalrymen whose ire had been roused by their strategic errors, they were just about to enter the canyon when a lithe figure darted toward them from behind a boulder. "It's more of the red devils," snarled Wild Bill, whipping out his guns. "We _are_ smart--I don't think. While we've been patting ourselves on the back, they've been lying here, waiting for us." Yet the alarm of the outlaws was short-lived. Ere any of them could draw their weapons, a voice cooed, softly: "Don' shoot! Don' shoot! Me Dew Drop!" The relief the words brought to the bandits, who feared the fruits of their desperate escape and retreat were to be snatched from them, was inexpressible and it was turned to outright joy as the Indian maiden continued: "Dew Drop take um Jess Jame to safe cave. Heap food. Heap water in pool. Then Dew Drop leave. Injun move camp, Dew Drop got go." "Then if they're going to take you along, they haven't got wise to your hiding us in Kaw-Kaw's cave, I judge," exclaimed the bandit-chieftain, glad to know the assistance which had been so opportune to his little band had brought no trouble to the girl. "Squaws no know. Bucks forget 'fore get back. Um go on raid. Sojers no be in forts now," returned Dew Drop. "Sorry I didn't pot more of 'em if that's what they're up to," grunted the world-famous desperado. But his good fairy did not understand what he meant and prattled artlessly. Skirting the base of the precipice, Dew Drop passed the mouth of the canyon and led them more than a mile beyond, stopping when she reached a fissure that ran from top to base. Squeezing into it, the bandits were plunged in darkness. Putting his hand on his guide's shoulder, Jesse bade his men hold onto the one in front of him and in single file they advanced till they could feel from the change in the air that they had reached the cave.