"Let me explain，"said Beth，coldly."You have dared to detain in your robbers'den the persons of Mr.Merrick and Count Ferralti.You have also demanded a ransom for their release.That is brigandage，which is denounced by the laws of Sicily.We have appealed to the authorities，but they arehelpless to assist us.Therefore，being Americans，we havedecided to assist ourselves.We command you to deliver to us on this spot，safe and uninjured，the persons of our friends，and that without any 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 shoot your child，Tato，whose body yonder awaits my bullet.And afterward I shall kill you."As she spoke she levelled the revolver and aimed it carefully at the exposed 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 ?nger，"called Beth，and ashot echoed sharply along the mountain side.
The brigand jumped and uttered a yell，at the same time whipping his right hand underneath his left arm；for Beth's bullet had struck one of his fingers and then flattened itself against the cliff.
That settled all argument，as far as Il Duca was concerned；for he now had ample evidence that the stern—eyed girl above him could shoot，and was not to be tri?ed with.All his life he had ruled by the terror of his threats；to—day he was suddenly vanquisheda by a determination he dared 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 all stood alert.Then，Tato，still half suspended against the cliff，said in a clear，soft voice：
"Father，if you think you can escape，let them shoot me，and keep your prisoners.The money for their ransom I brought to this place，and they will pay it even yet to save theirfriends from your vengeance.Do not let these wild Americans defeat us，I beg of you.I am not afraid.Save yourself，and let them shoot me，if they will ！"Kenneth afterward declared that he thought "the jig was up"then，for they had no intention whatever of harming Tato.It was all merely a bit of American "bluff，"and it succeeded because the brigand was a coward，and dared not emulatea his daughter's courage.
"No，no，Tato！"cried the Duke，brokenly，as he wrung his hands in anguish."There is more money to be had，but I have only one child.They shall not harm a hair of your head，my pretty one ！"Patsy wanted to yell "bravob！"but wisely refrained.Her eyes were full of tears，though，and her resolution at ebb tide.
Fortunately the men had made haste.They returned with surprising promptness，pushing the amazed prisoners before them.
Uncle John，as he emerged from the tunnel，lookedaround upon the tragic scene and gasped："Well，I declare！"Count Ferralti was more composed，if equally surprised.He lifted his hat 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 themselvesand the mouth of the tunnel，and then Kenneth gently drew Tato to a place beside him and assisted her to clamber down the path.
"Good bye，little one，"he said，pleasantly；"you're whatwe call a 'bricka 'in our country.I like you，and I'm proud of you."Tato did not reply.With streaming eyes she was examining her father's shattered hand，and sobbing at sight of the blood that dripped upon the rocks at his feet.
"Get inside！"called Beth，sharply；"and close up thatrock.Lively，now！"The "girl who could shoot"still sat toying with her revolver，and the mountaineers obeyed her injunctionb.The rock promptly closed，and the group of Americans was left alone.
Then Beth came slowly down to where Patsy was hugging Uncle John in a wild frenzyc of delight，and Count Ferralti was shaking Kenneth's hand with a face eloquent of emotion.
"Come，"said she，her voice sounding faint and weary，"let us get away from here.It was a pretty game，while it lasted，but I'll feel safer when 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，astoundeda."Of course not，dear，"said Patsy，gleefully."Did you think your nieces would let you be robbed by a bunch ofdagoes？"Ferralti caught hold of Beth's swaying form.
"Look after your cousin，"he said，sharply."I think she has fainted ！"