"Firewater. That's it," he exclaimed. "By the great humping snakes. Sure as I am alive, the little savage is filling them up. I wonder what she's got up her sleeve now? If I only was able to get hold of my guns. I'd help her clean 'em out." The sky was heavily overcast and black night had settled down over the scene, when finally labored breathing and guttural snores from without told the desperado that little Dew Drop's medicine had done its work well. Heap big Injun had gone to the happy hunting ground of dreamland. But the bandit's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a voice beside him. "Jesse Jame," breathed the soft, purring voice of the Indian maid. "Right you are, my little Dew Drop--" "S-h-h-h!" cautioned the girl laying a soft, warm palm over his lips. The sensation was peculiarly pleasant to the great bandit. "Me cut um lariats. Um Jesse Jame go back by paleface brothers--" "Where are they?" interrupted Jesse. "Do you know where they are now?" "Dew Drop know. Dew Drop um know too bad chief kill um Jesse Jame morning." "Hurry, little one," he begged, "let me get my guns. I must get out of here now." He heard the girl utter a little startled exclamation as if she had been suddenly surprised by some one from without, then she sped away as silently as she had come, much to Jesse's surprise. "Well, that gets me." He could not understand her peculiar actions. At least the desperado did not propose to remain quiescent when the way to freedom had been laid open to him. Dew Drop too, must have ere this, told the members of his band of his predicament, but by the time they were able to reach him, it might and probably would be too late. Seconds were precious. "I'd be a fool to stay here any longer," muttered Jesse. "The kid fluttered away like a frightened bird. Guess I'll go to." Going, for the great desperado, however, was a far different matter. He could not walk nor could he crawl, and there seemed only one way left open to him, and this he adopted. He rolled. It was not a dignified exit that he made from the wigwam, but it was better than being bound and guarded there with the prospect of further tortures in the morning. He found his first difficulty was in getting out of the wigwam without pulling it down about him. This might attract attention and defeat his plan of escape. But Jesse finally accomplished it by going out head first, wriggling along like a clumsy snake on a frosty morning. His burns tortured him excruciatingly, but the great desperado shut his teeth together savagely and began to roll. His two Indian guards lay directly in his path. Jesse with some misgivings and a greater effort, rolled over them as the quickest way to get on. The Indians grunted but did not wake up, which he was positive would be the case in their condition. But the feel of their bodies against his had stirred the blood lust within him and suggested a new idea to the great desperado.