Frank objected emphatically, to any such proceeding. He argued that they all were worn out with the hardships they had been subjected to, and to such good purpose that Jesse began to lean toward the point of view of his men.
"Well," he began when a sudden thud outside the entrance caused him to wheel sharply, whipping out both his "Colts" as he turned. "What in--"
The desperado chieftain sprang out and was down on his knees in a flash. And the others followed just in time to hear him swear a blood-thirsty oath of revenge.
Without another word he picked up the object that had fallen in front of their hiding place and carried it into the cave. There he laid it down, kneeling beside it with his head bent low.
"It's a girl," marveled Frank, bending over the inanimate body.
"Dew Drop," answered Jesse, in a strange voice of constraint.
He opened the child's mouth gently and peered within.
"The little Indian maiden's tongue has been cut out. She was then thrown over the precipice after me," announced Jesse in a voice that brought a chill to every human being within hearing of it.
All the great outlaw's bodily ills were forgotten now, and in the stress of the moment his strength had come back. He was the man of iron once more and vengeance was written in the stern lines of his face.
"What are you going to do?" demanded Frank.
"Am I the master here or are you?" he demanded, an ugly glitter flashing into his eyes.
"I'll take it back; you are right, Jess," apologized Frank.
"Any of you got any dynamite? I left some in the cave, where is it?"
"I reckon we can't git that now," grinned Tony sheepishly, "But I 'low we can scare up a few sticks."
From various receptacles in their clothing, the desperadoes drew little white sticks of the harmless-looking, but deadly explosive, all of which they handed over to their chief. Next came a coil of fine copper wire and a small compact battery.
Jesse took the collection and examined it closely.
"Are we with you in this?" asked Wild Bill. "I allow the boys would like to pay off a little of your score," pointing to the livid marks on his shoulders, discernible through the bandit chieftain's torn shirt.
"I reckon we would," added Comanche Tony.
Jesse looked at them steadily for a moment, the lines of his face softening almost imperceptibly.