CHAPTER XXV
TURNING THE TABLES
No sooner had the notes ceased than Kenneth sprang from behind a rockthat had concealed him and grasped the child in his strong arms, tryingto cover her mouth at the same time to prevent her from crying out.
Tato developed surprising strength. The adventure of yesterday had sothoroughly frightened her that when she found herself again seized shestruggled madly. The boy found that he could scarcely hold her, so heenfolded her in both his arms and, letting her scream as she might,picked up her tiny form and mounted the slope of the hill, leaping fromrock to rock until he came to a broad boulder twenty feet or more abovethe path. Here he paused, panting, and awaited results.
The rock doors had opened promptly. Even while Kenneth struggled withthe brigand's daughter Patsy could see straight through the tunnel andinto the valley beyond. The child had dropped her bundle in the effortto escape, and while Kenneth was leaping with her up the crags Patsy ranforward and secured the money, returning quickly to her position facingthe tunnel.
And now they heard shouts and the sound of hastening feet as Il Duca ranfrom the tunnel, followed closely by two of his brigands. They paused amoment at the entrance, as if bewildered, but when the father saw hischild in the grasp of a stranger and heard her screams he answered witha roar of fury and prepared to scramble up the rock to rescue her.
That was where Patsy showed her mettle. She hastily covered the brigandwith her revolver and shouted warningly:
"Stop, or you are a dead man!"
It was wonderfully dramatic and effective.
Il Duca shrank back, scowling, for he had no weapon at hand. Leaningagainst the entrance to his valley he glared around to determine thenumber of his foes and the probable chance of defeating them.
Kenneth laughed boyishly at his discomfiture. Kneeling down, the youthgrasped Tato by both wrists and lowered her body over the edge of therock so that her feet just touched a little ledge beneath. He continuedto hold fast to her wrists, though, and there she remained, stretchedagainst the face of the rock fronting the path, in full view of all, butstill unable to move.
From this exasperating sight Il Duca glanced at Patsy. She was holdingthe revolver rigidly extended, and her blue eyes blazed with theexcitement of the moment. It was a wonder she did not pull the triggerinadvertently, and the thought that she might do so caused the brigandto shudder.
Turning half around he beheld a third enemy quietly seated upon therocks directly across the path from Kenneth, her pose unconcerned as sherested her chin lightly upon her left hand. It was Beth, who held herrevolver nonchalantly and gazed upon the scene below her with calminterest.
The Duke gave a cough to clear his throat. His men hung back of him,silent and motionless, for they did not like this absolute and dangerousdefiance of their chief.
"Tell me, then, Tato," he called in English, "what is the cause of thistrouble?"
"I do not know, my father, except that these are friends of SignorMerrick who have secretly followed me here."
The carefully arranged programme gave Patsy a speech at this point, butshe had entirely forgotten it.
"Let me explain," said Beth, coldly. "You have dared to detain in yourrobbers' den the persons of Mr. Merrick and Count Ferralti. You havealso demanded a ransom for their release. That is brigandage, which isdenounced by the laws of Sicily. We have appealed to the authorities,but they are helpless to assist us. Therefore, being Americans, we havedecided to assist ourselves. We command you to deliver to us on thisspot, safe and uninjured, the persons of our friends, and that withoutany unnecessary delay."
The Duke listened with a sneer.
"And if we refuse, signorina?"
"If you refuse--if you do not obey at once--I swear that I will shootyour child, Tato, whose body yonder awaits my bullet. And afterward Ishall kill you."
As she spoke she levelled the revolver and aimed it carefully at theexposed body of the child.
The brigand paled, and grasped the rock to steady himself.
"Bah! No girl can shoot from that distance," he exclaimed, scornfully.
"Indeed! Take care of your finger," called Beth, and a shot echoedsharply along the mountain side.
The brigand jumped and uttered a yell, at the same time whipping hisright hand underneath his left arm; for Beth's bullet had struck one ofhis fingers and then flattened itself against the cliff.
That settled all argument, as far as Il Duca was concerned; for he nowhad ample evidence that the stern-eyed girl above him could shoot, andwas not to be trifled with. All his life he had ruled by the terror ofhis threats; to-day he was suddenly vanquished by a determination hedared not withstand.
"Enough!" he cried. "Have your way."
He spoke to his men in Italian, and they hastened through the tunnel,glad to escape.
Following their departure there was a brief silence, during which allstood alert. Then, Tato, still half suspended against the cliff, said ina clear, soft voice:
"Father, if you think you can escape, let them shoot me, and keep yourprisoners. The money for their ransom I brought to this place, and theywill pay it even yet to save their friends from your vengeance. Do notlet these wild Americans defeat us, I beg of you. I am not afraid. Saveyourself, and let them shoot me, if they will!"
Kenneth afterward declared that he thought "the jig was up" then, forthey had no intention whatever of harming Tato. It was all merely a bitof American "bluff," and it succeeded because the brigand was a coward,and dared not emulate his daughter's courage.
"No, no, Tato!" cried the Duke, brokenly, as he wrung his hands inanguish. "There is more money to be had, but I have only one child. Theyshall not harm a hair of your head, my pretty one!"
Patsy wanted to yell "bravo!" but wisely refrained. Her eyes were fullof tears, though, and her resolution at ebb tide.
Fortunately the men had made haste. They returned with surprisingpromptness, pushing the amazed prisoners before them.
Uncle John, as he emerged from the tunnel, looked around upon the tragicscene and gasped:
"Well, I declare!"
Count Ferralti was more composed, if equally surprised. He lifted hishat politely to Beth and Patsy, and smiled with great satisfaction.
"You are free," said Il Duca, harshly. "Go!"
They lost no time in getting the brigands between themselves and themouth of the tunnel, and then Kenneth gently drew Tato to a place besidehim and assisted her to clamber down the path.
"Good bye, little one," he said, pleasantly; "you're what we call a'brick' in our country. I like you, and I'm proud of you."
Tato did not reply. With streaming eyes she was examining her father'sshattered hand, and sobbing at sight of the blood that dripped upon therocks at his feet.
"Get inside!" called Beth, sharply; "and close up that rock. Lively,now!"
The "girl who could shoot" still sat toying with her revolver, and themountaineers obeyed her injunction. The rock promptly closed, and thegroup of Americans was left alone.
Then Beth came slowly down to where Patsy was hugging Uncle John in awild frenzy of delight, and Count Ferralti was shaking Kenneth's handwith a face eloquent of emotion.
"Come," said she, her voice sounding faint and weary, "let us get awayfrom here. It was a pretty game, while it lasted, but I'll feel saferwhen we are home again. Where's the money?"
"I've got it," said Kenneth, holding up the package.
"What! didn't you pay?" demanded Uncle John, astounded.
"Of course not, dear," said Patsy, gleefully. "Did you think your nieceswould let you be robbed by a bunch of dagoes?"
Ferralti caught hold of Beth's swaying form.
"Look after your cousin," he said, sharply. "I think she has fainted!"