"Dew Drop no stay," declared the maid, slipping from the bandit-chieftain's hand. "Mus' join um squaw. Paleface fin' grub, water. So long." And, ere any of the outlaws had the time to protest, the Indian maiden sped from them, leaving them in the unknown cave in pitch darkness. CHAPTER VIII. IN THE FATAL CIRCLE. But Jesse had plans other than to permit the soft-voiced Indian maiden to desert them thus suddenly. Without a word, with the quickness of a panther he sprang after her leaving the others helpless and surprised at the unexpected action of their chief. "Has Jess gone plumb bug house?" breathed Tony, scarcely daring to trust his voice. "Everybody's got wheels in this devil's neighborhood," averred Texas. "And if he ain't he will have in the hole we're in now," added Homely Harry. Frank groaned weakly. "Hey, pard," interrupted Tony, suddenly bethinking himself of their wounded companion, "How you comin' along?" "Give me a drink," returned the elder James brother in a voice scarcely above a whisper. "I feel as if I was dying." "Bosh," retorted Tony. "I know them symptoms. You're been loosin' some red juice. Here, take a pull at the flask. It'll put you right in a jiffy." Frank James gulped down the liquor greedily, so much so that for the instant it nearly strangled him. "How's that," grinned Tony in the darkness, fetching the flask away and restoring it to his ample hip pocket. "B--b--better," coughed Frank. "But I'll be bad again in a minute. Where's Jess?" "Dunno. He vamoosed like a lightning bug. Sloped after the Indian maiden I guess." "Call him back quick," demanded Frank. "You, Texas. Hurry or I'll bleed to death. I'm bad hurt, I tell you fellows." Without an instant's hesitation Texas sprang away to do the wounded man's bidding, regardless of any personal danger to himself. But Texas did not have far to go. Just without the cave he was grasped in a grip of iron. His hand flew to his belt. "Stop, you fool! Where are you going!" hissed Jesse in his ear. "Gad, what a fright you gave me," gasped Texas. "I was going for you. Frank's bad and said you'd got to come right away. Oh there's the girl, eh." "Bad? Come along Dew Drop," and without further parley Jesse led the way into the cave, keeping tight hold on the Indian girl, who though reluctant, made no protest at being dragged back by the man she had just saved. "Somebody strike a light," demanded the great bandit. "No, no," protested Dew Drop with a quick pressure on the outlaw's arm. "Injun smell smoke. Stop um hole up an catch pale face. Jess Jame and other pale faces come with Dew Drop." "All right go ahead and we'll follow," decided Jesse. "Frank can you walk?" Frank groaned. "Pick him up, two of you and follow. Be careful." Not a word was spoken as the strange procession moved silently on, deeper and deeper into the bowels of the mountain.