Page:The Road to Monterey (1925).pdf/357

 "What would become of these men?" Henderson asked, as steady as if a cannon more or less mattered very little. "Roberto would hang them all."

"Their lives are not worth much," said Felipe, unmanned for the moment by this stunning loss. "The villain who has tricked us is with Roberto before this; he has told him all. Roberto will not wait the promised hour. He will come at once; he will hang us to a tree, and my God! I shudder to be hung!"

"Felipe," Henderson touched his arm, "I got you into it; I give you a free road to go. Take a horse and go, my good friend, and forgive me for bringing you into this peril."

"Not alone—never alone!" Felipe declared, steadied a little by Henderson's earnest plea that he leave him.

"Yes, alone. It's my stake, anyway. I should have gone to the north. Let me play it singlehanded now."

"We have time—we can take to the bosque," Felipe pressed.

"And leave these poor fellows to hang. Calm yourself, Felipe; don't let them know of this little accident to the gun. Go quietly and get your horse; ride out"

"And leave you and Helena to die alone! No, Gabriel, I will not go."

Henderson saw the fire in Felipe's eyes, the color come to his pale face above the black smirch of his