"Now, listen," said Adrian, "both of you. You, Don, sneak as near
the horses as you dare. I'll give you just five minutes by my
watch. Then I am going to give this man one chance for his life.
I am going to take the gag from his mouth and let him give one
call for help. If he makes another sound, it will be his last."
"Then what?"
"Those fellows have waited so long that they are tired. They will
all rush to where they expect to find him. Then you will rush in
and cut the tethers. By the time they find this man I will be
with you. Sabe?"
"Good!" from Donald. "I'm off."
In exactly five minutes by his watch Adrian gave the prisoner a
rough shake.
"You know what I said?"
The man nodded his head.
"Well, I am now going to take out your gag. If you make more than
one cry, or utter more than one word, your own knife will finish
you."
He held the knife before the man's eyes. Then with the knife in
one hand, Adrian pulled the wad of grass from between the
prisoner's teeth.
No sooner had the man drawn one long breath than he let out a
yell that might have been heard half a mile and which he was
about to repeat with variations, when with a swift movement,
Adrian forced the grass back into his mouth and the yell died in
a dismal gurgle.
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