"And he took your money without setting your son free?"
"He did."
"Did you tell him it was all you had in the world?"
"I told him that a score of times."
"What did he say?"
"Told me to raise more, or have the pleasure of receiving my boy in pieces."
"How long ago was that?"
"Three days."
"Near here?"
"Yes."
"How long have you been in Mendoza?"
"Two days, and during that time I have received this from Pacheco."
He took something from his pocket--something wrapped in a handkerchief.
With trembling fingers, he unrolled it, exposing to view----
A b.l.o.o.d.y human finger!
CHAPTER IV.
UNMASKED.
Hans and Professor Scotch uttered exclamations of horror, starting back from the sight revealed by the light that came from the window set deep in the adobe wall.
Frank"s teeth came together with a peculiar click, but he uttered no exclamation, nor did he start.
This seemed to affect the old man unpleasantly, for he turned on Frank, crying in an accusing manner and tone:
"Have you no heart? Are you made of stone?"
"Hardly," was the reply.
"This finger--it is the second torn from the hand of my boy by Pacheco, the bandit--Pacheco, the monster!"
"Pacheco seems to be a man of great determination."
Professor Scotch gazed at Frank in astonishment, for the boy was of a very sympathetic and kindly nature, and he now seemed quite unlike his usual self.
"Frank, Frank, think of the suffering of this poor father!"
"Yah," murmured Hans; "shust d.i.n.k how pad you vould felt uf you efer peen py his blace," put in Hans, sobbing, chokingly.
"It is very, very sad," said Frank; but there seemed to be a singularly sarcastic ring to the words which fell from his lips.
"Have you seen your son since he fell into the hands of Pacheco, sir?"
asked the professor.
"Yes, I saw him; but I could scarcely recognize him, he was so changed--so wan and ghastly. The skin is drawn tightly over his bones, and he looks as if he were nearly starved to death."
"Did he recognize you?"
"Yes."
"What did he do?"
The man wrung his hands with a gesture of unutterable anguish.
"Oh, his appeal--I can hear it now! He begged me to save him, or to give him poison that he might kill himself!"
"Where is he now?"
"In a cave."
"Where is the cave?"
"That I cannot tell, for I was blindfolded all the time, except while in the cave where my boy is kept."
"It is near Mendoza?"
"It must be within fifty miles of here."
"Perhaps it is nearer?"
"Possibly."
"But you have no means of knowing in which direction it lies?"
"No."
"Your only hope is to raise the five hundred dollars?"
"That is my only hope, and that can scarcely be called a hope, for I must have the money within a day or two, or my boy will be dead."
"Hum! hum!" coughed the professor. "This is a very unfortunate affair--very unfortunate. I am not a wealthy man, but I----"