But so great was the power of resistance of the monster that, despite the steel in its most vital organ, it seized Jesse in a mighty embrace, holding him helpless as it staggered.
"T-trip it!" gasped the leader of the outlaws frantically, "I--I've st-tabbed it."
Yet before they could carry out their master's instructions, the bear fell, its embrace unbroken.
Not long did it take the bandits to extricate their chief from his uncomfortable position.
But as they raised him to his feet, they heard the sound of hoarse, excited voices in the outer cave.
"The bucks have come back!" hissed Texas Jack.
"No, no Injun! Um paleface sojers!" gasped Dew Drop in consternation. "No Injun come Kaw-Kaw cave."
In dismay, the bandits gazed at one another, as they heard the portentous words of the Indian maiden.
And in a moment more their own ears confirmed their truth.
No mistaking the identity of the men in the outer cave was there, as a sharp command, in plain English, rang out:
"Search every nook and cranny in the den, men. It's just the place for Jesse James and his pack of cutthroats to hide."
"That pet name'll cost the life of many a soldier, young fellow, if I ever get out of here!" hissed Comanche Tony in a low, harsh voice.
But his pals were too taken up with the peril of their position to make any comment on the blood-thirsty announcement.
No need was there to tell them it was one thing to have the Indians search the cave and quite another to have the cavalrymen.
The superstitious reverence and fear of the bent and bowed sorceress would not sway the troopers or cause them to consider the intrusion of the abode of the witch a sacrilege.
Rather would their contempt for the customs and beliefs of the redmen incite them to unusual effort.
Should they chance to espy the hole leading into the second cave, every one of the six men knew that they would lose no time in exploring it.
And it was to what they should do, in such event, that each man devoted his thoughts.
"Can't we block up the hole?" hazarded Texas Jack, grasping at the most obvious expedient.
"No," returned Dew Drop. "Kaw-Kaw see, Kaw-Kaw get wise. Hole always open for Wa-Wa.
"Dew Drop no see why Kaw-Kaw let sojers come um cave."
"Probably they didn't ask her permission," returned the bandit-chieftain.