you know who I am," was the swaggering reply.

Though he was but one man opposed to two, he had no fears. The farmer
was evidently cowed and terrified, while the Quaker seemed, though
large, to be peaceable and harmless.

But in his judgment of Luke the outlaw was very much at fault. When
threatening the farmer he had covered him with his revolver, but as he
was preparing to leave the buggy he carelessly lowered it. Luke, who
was aching to attack him, noticed this.

While Fox, for it was one of the notorious brothers, was standing in
careless security the Quaker sprang upon him like a panther upon his
prey. He knocked the revolver from his hand with one powerful blow,
felled him to the ground, and placed his foot upon his prostrate form.

Never, perhaps, in a career crowded with exciting adventures had the
outlaw been so thoroughly surprised.

"What the mischief does this mean?" he ejaculated, struggling to rise.

"It means that thee has mistaken thy man," answered Luke coolly.

"Let me go or I'll kill you!" shrieked the outlaw fiercely.

"If you try to get up I'll put a bullet through your head," replied
Luke, pointing at him with his own revolver.

In his excitement he had dropped his Quaker speech, and this the
outlaw noted.

"Are you a Quaker? he asked abruptly.

"No more than you are," answered Luke. "Farmer, bring out the rope."

Ezekiel Mason, from the bottom of the buggy, produced a long and stout
piece of clothes-line.

"What do you mean to do?" inquired the outlaw uneasily.

"You will see soon enough. No, don't try to get up, as you value your
life. Now tie him, Mason, while I keep him covered with the revolver."

[Illustration: "Now tie him, Mason, while I keep him covered with the
revolver."]

"We've had enough of this," said the outlaw sullenly. "Let me go, and
I'll do you no harm."

"I don't mean that you shall, my honest friend."

"But if you persist in this outrage, I swear that you will be a dead
man within thirty days."

"Be careful how you talk, or you may be a dead man within thirty
minutes," answered Luke.

While the outlaw was covered by Luke's revolver, farmer Mason, though
his tremulous hands showed that he was nervous, managed to tie him
securely. Fox began to under stand the sort of man with whom he was
dealing and remained silent, but his brain was busy trying to devise
some method of escape.

At length the dangerous prisoner was securely tied.

"What shall we do wi