"Oh, you are stealing the gold--"

She was wildly frightened, yet stood still while the lookout
anxiously divided his attention between her and the tents above
until his companions signalled him that they were through and the
horses were loaded. Then he spoke:

"I don't know what to do with you, but I guess I'll tie you up."

"What!" she said.

"I'm going to tie and gag you so you can't holler."

"Oh, don't you DARE!" she cried, fiercely. "I'll stand right here
till you've gone and I won't scream. I promise." She looked up at
him appealingly, at which he dipped his head, so that she caught
only a glimpse of his face, and then backed away.

"All right! Don't try it, because I'll be hidden in those bushes
yonder at the bend and I'll keep you covered till the others are
gone." He leaped down the bank, ran to the cavalcade, mounted
quickly, and the three lashed their horses into a run,
disappearing up the trail around the sharp curve. She heard the
blows of their quirts as they whipped the pack-horses.

They were long out of sight before the girl moved or made sound,
although she knew that none of the three had paused at the bend.
She only stood and gazed, for as they galloped off she had heard
the scrap of a broken sentence. It was but one excited word,