rses has carried double," he panted. "See how much
deeper and sharper his prints are than the others. And though he started
off among the first he soon came back to the rear. The others with a
lighter load got on faster."

Bert hastily confirmed this conclusion. There was no longer any room for
doubt. They saw the whole scene now as clearly as though they had been
on the spot when it happened. Dick had come unexpectedly and unarmed
upon this band of guerillas. They had at least been twenty to one, and
he had had not the ghost of a chance. They had carried him off into the
mountains. For what purpose? God only knew.

But at least they had spared his life. There was still a chance. While
there was life there was hope. And they would never leave the trail
until that last spark of hope had gone out in utter darkness.

Now that they had fully settled in their own minds just what had
happened, the next thing in order was to plan the rescue. And this
promised to be a tremendous task. The chances were all against them.
They had no delusions on that score. The odds of twenty to two were
enormous. Mere courage was not enough to settle the problem. With a
heart of a lion they must have the cunning of a fox.

The boys sat down on the grassy bank and cudgeled their brains. The
fierce excitement of the last few minutes had gone down, to be replaced
by a steady flame of resolution. Bert's mental processes were quick as
lightning. He could not only do, but plan. It was this instant
perception and clear insight, as well as his pluck and muscle, that had
made him a natural leader and won him the unquestioned position he held
among his friends and comrades. Like a flash he reviewed in his mind the
various plans that occurred to him, dismissing this, amending that, until
out of the turmoil of his thoughts he had reached a definite conclusion.

He lifted his head from his hands and in short crisp sentences sketched
out his purpose.

"Now, Tom," he said, "we've got to work harder and quicker than we ever
did before. Here's the game. Make tracks for the train. It must be
pretty nearly ready to move now. Go through Dick's bag and get his
revolver. It may come in handy later on. Grab another big bunch of
cartridges. Get the pocket compass out of my valise. Go into the buffet
and cram your pockets full of bread and meat. We might shoot small game
enough to keep us alive, but shooting makes a noise.

"Do the