当山谷入口打开的时候，早已藏在附近的肯尼思跳出来，迅速将塔托抓住，爬到一块大卵石上。同时贝丝用枪瞄准了闻声追出来的瓦尔迪。孩子们能否成功地用塔托交换出约翰叔叔和费雷尔呢？
No sooner had the notes ceased than Kenneth sprang from behind a rock that had concealed him and grasped the child in his strong arms，trying to cover her mouth at the same time to prevent her from crying out.
Tato developed surprising strength.The adventure of yesterday had so thoroughly frightened her that when she found herself again seized she struggled madly.The boy found that he could scarcely hold her，so he enfolded 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 from rock to rock until he came to a broad boulder twenty feet or more above the path.Here he paused，panting，and awaited results.
The rock doors had opened promptly.Even while Kenneth struggled with the brigand's daughter Patsy could see straight through the tunnel and into the valley beyond.The child had dropped her bundle in the effort to escape，and while Kenneth was leaping with her up the crags Patsy ran forward and secured the money，returning quickly to her position facing the tunnel.
And now they heard shouts and the sound of hastening feet as Il Duca ran from the tunnel，followed closely by two of his brigands.They paused a moment at the entrance，as if bewildered，but when the father saw his child in the grasp of a stranger and heard her screams he answered with a roar of furyand prepared to scramble up the rock to rescue her.
That was where Patsy showed her mettlea.She hastily covered the brigand with 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.Leaning against the entrance to his valley he glared around to determine the number of his foes and the probable chance of defeating them.
Kenneth laughed boyishly at his discom？tureb.Kneeling down，the youth grasped Tato by both wrists and lowered her body over the edge of the rock so that her feet just touched a little ledge beneath.He continued to hold fast to her wrists，though，and there she remained，stretched against the face of the rock fronting the path，in full view of all，but still unable to move.
From this exasperatingc sight Il Duca glanced at Patsy.She was holding the revolver rigidly extended，and her blue eyes blazed with the excitement of the moment.It was a wonder she did not pull the trigger inadvertentlyd，and the thought that she might do so caused the brigand to shudder.
Turning half around he beheld a third enemy quietly seated upon the rocks directly across the path from Kenneth，her pose unconcerned as she rested her chin lightly upon her left hand.
It was Beth，who held her revolver nonchalantlya and gazed upon the scene below her with calm interest.
The Duke gave a cough to clear his throat.His men hung backb of him，silent and motionless，for they did not like this absolute and dangerous de？ance of their chief.
"Tell me，then，Tato，"he called in English，"what is thecause of this trouble？""I do not know，my father，except that these are friends of Signor Merrick who have secretly followed me here."The carefully arranged programme gave Patsy a speech at this point，but she had entirely forgotten it.