"There were two accomplices in this business," the Tiger was saying, "one a trader, Murguía----"
"Killed him my very first shot," lied Tiburcio. He would save his golden goose of the golden eggs.
"Got away with the others, señor." Again Tiburcio's reason was obvious. The American, if taken, might tell things.
"And"--Dupin gripped his cigar hungrily--"and Rodrigo?"
For answer the scout waved a hand vaguely up the trail.
"None went that way?" and the Colonel jerked his head toward the ravine.
"No, none. Your Mercy saw me driving them back."
"Quick, then, on your horse! We're losing time."
Don Tiburcio was reluctant. He had not yet recovered his money from the American. "But the women, mi coronel? They are there, in that shack. Hadn't I better stay----?"
"Jacqueline, you mean? Of course the little minx is in trouble, the second she touches land. But you come with me. She shall have another protector."
Tiburcio knew the Cossack chief. He obeyed, and both men galloped away after the chase.
[Illustration: "COLONEL DUPIN" "The Tiger of the Tropics ... the chief of Contra Guerrillas"]
They had not gone far when they passed Michel Ney swiftly returning. He was the protector Dupin had in mind. He had seen Jacqueline in the doorway of the hut as he stormed past with the Contra Guerrillas, but he had been too enthusiastic to stop just then. He was a Chasseur d'Afrique, and to be a Chasseur d'Afrique was to ride in a halo of mighty sabre sweeps. And Michel had fought Arabs too--but the good simplicity of his countenance was woefully ruffled as he turned back from that charge of the Cossacks.
"Michel!" cried Jacqueline, stepping over the forms of men before the hut, and forgetting them. The natty youth was torn, rumpled, grimy. The sky-blue of his uniform was gray with dust. But to see him at all proved that he had escaped Fra Diavolo's web in Tampico. And the relief! It made her almost gay. "Ah, Michel--le beau sabreur!--and did you enjoy it, mon ami?"
He alighted at her feet, and raised her hand to his lips.
"Monsieur," she demanded quick as thought, "my trunk?"
"Mon Dieu, mademoiselle, I did well to bring myself."
"You should have brought my trunk, sir, first of all. Deign to look at this frock! No, no, don't, please don't. But tell me everything. What could have happened to you last night? Why did you not meet me this morning?"