But further speech was stopped by the sudden appearance of three tall forms, looming in the entrance of the cave.
Crouching low, the bandit-chieftain watched them, stealthily drawing his shooting-irons.
Yet before he could extract them from his holsters, he felt Dew Drop's hand on his arm, restrainingly.
Turning toward her, wondering what she meant, he saw her shake her head vigorously, at the same time pressing upon his arm.
"Evidently doesn't want me to shoot," reasoned Jesse. "I reckon she knows more about what's best in this witch-den than I do."
And he silently dropped his guns back into their holsters.
The old Indian fighter had been a spectator of the pantomime and as he saw his chief relinquish his weapons, he did likewise.
All this had taken but a few seconds, and even while it was transpiring, one of the bucks was jabbering excitedly.
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.
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.
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.