But with Frank the task was still more difficult.
"Easy there," commanded the bandit-chieftain. "Put him through head first and I will draw him in."
This they did, and though Frank groaned and begged piteously the move was quickly executed.
Dew Drop now led the way again, which Jesse observed led slowly upward and that the air was freshening as they proceeded.
At last the Indian maiden came to a quick stop.
It was the work of a moment for Jesse to strike a match and to his intense satisfaction he discovered a pile of dry limbs in one corner of the chamber where they had halted, and a blazing fire was burning quickly.
The men uttered an exclamation of surprise.
What they saw challenged the admiration of every man present.
Millions of brilliant stalactites hung suspended from the domed arch above them, and gave back scintillating flashes from the light of the flames. For the moment they forgot the real purpose of their presence there.
"Diamonds, by Judas," exclaimed Homely Harry in open mouthed wonder.
"Diamonds, your eye," returned Texas. "Them ain't no diamonds. I know the kind, I've seen them before."
But Jesse had given no heed to their expressions of admiration.
Instantly the fire was started, he dropped down by the side of his wounded brother, making a hurried examination of his wounds.
"Give me a piece of lariat," he commanded.
Tony passed over a strip of tough leather. With this the outlaw-chieftain bound the leg just above the wound, administering a drink from his own flask, and turned to Dew Drop.
"Got any saw bones around here?" he demanded sharply. "That's what I brought you back for."
Dew Drop smiled understandingly, but shook her head.
"Two suns journey," she explained, pointing to the north.
"Got a medicine man in your village, then? We've got to have some one here quick and I guess a medicine man of one color is about as good as another."
"Great Bear him got medicine man," explained the girl. "No get medicine man. Great Bear kill white man; Great Bear kill me."
"We'll kill Great Bear; so, that'll be a toss up. You go get the medicine man. Tell him your Indian beau is down in the canyon so badly wounded that he will die and fetch him here."
"Don't worry, we'll fix him so he won't hurt you. I will follow along behind you to see that no harm comes to you. Two of you men go outside the cave after a while and hide there and when Dew Drop brings the man you jump on him, and carry him in--"