Tanner and Mendoza rise amazedly and stare at one another with scattered wits.
Straker sits up to yawn for a moment before he gets on his feet, making it a point of honor not to show any undue interest in the excitement of the bandits.
Mendoza gives a quick look to see that his followers are attending to the alarm; then exchanges a private word with Tanner.
MENDOZA.
Did you dream?
TANNER.
Damnably.
Did you?
MENDOZA.
Yes. I forget what.
You were in it.
TANNER.
So were you.
Amazing
MENDOZA.
I warned you. [a shot is heard from the road].
Dolts! they will play with that gun. [The brigands come running back scared].
Who fired that shot? [to Duval] Was it you?
DUVAL. [breathless] I have not shoot.
Dey shoot first.
ANARCHIST.
I told you to begin by abolishing the State.
Now we are all lost.
THE ROWDY SOCIAL-DEMOCRAT. [stampeding across the amphitheatre] Run, everybody.
MENDOZA. [collaring him; throwing him on his back; and drawing a knife] I stab the man who stirs. [He blocks the way.
The stampede it checked].
What has happened?
THE SULKY SOCIAL-DEMOCRAT, A motor—
THE ANARCHIST.
Three men—
DUVAL.
Deux femmes—
MENDOZA.
Three men and two women!
Why have you not brought them here?
Are you afraid of them?
THE ROWDY ONE. [getting up] Thyve a hescort.
Ow, de-ooh lut's ook it, Mendowza.
THE SULKY ONE.
Two armored cars full o soldiers at the end o the valley.
ANARCHIST.
The shot was fired in the air.
It was a signal.
Straker whistles his favorite air, which falls on the ears of the brigands like a funeral march.
TANNER.
It is not an escort, but an expedition to capture you.
We were advised to wait for it; but I was in a hurry.
THE ROWDY ONE. [in an agony of apprehension] And Ow my good Lord, ere we are, wytin for em!
Lut's tike to the mahntns.
MENDOZA.