--" he began.

"Yes, it's us," said Scott, drily. "We've made a haul and we're bringing
it in. Suppose you wait for that horse of mine, will you, Tom, and see
that he gets home all right? Thanks to this gentleman and his friends
we've only got three head of cattle left, so we'd best be careful of
them."

"You bet," responded Johnson, heartily. "How'd you do it, old man?" he
asked.

"I didn't, the lady in the case did it," responded Scott. "She'll tell you
about it later. Whoop her up, will you, senor? It's getting chilly around
here."

CHAPTER VIII

THE PRISONER

Athens was dark and lonely-looking as the big machine reentered it. There
was the usual light in the store and one in the house occupied by Mrs. Van
Zandt and Polly. Scott motioned to Pachuca to draw up in front of the
cabin. Mrs. Van Zandt came out as the machine stopped; evidently she was
in doubt as to whether or not it was another invasion, for she stopped in
the doorway and peered out anxiously.

"It's all right, Mrs. Van!" cried Scott, cheerfully. "I've brought her
back."

Polly jumped out and ran to the astonished woman. "It's all right," she
reiterated.

"Yes, I see it is; but where did you get that car?"

"It's Senor Pachuca's and we've got him, too," replied the girl, in an
undertone. "And we've brought back some of the things they took."

"Has Hard come back?" demanded Scott, as Mrs. Van came out to the
machine.

"No, and I wish he would. I'm worried about Jimmy Adams. Where are you
going to put that chap?" asked Mrs. Van, eyeing Pachuca resentfully.

"I think I'll ask him to spend the night in Hard's office," replied Scott,
thoughtfully. "It's the only place we've got that isn't on the ground
floor, and I guess nobody wants to put in the night doing sentry duty.
Just bring over a couple of blankets, will you, Mrs. Van?"

Mrs. Van Zandt and Polly went into the house and Scott with his prisoner
walked across to the office where they fell in with O'Grady, who grinned
pleasantly when the state of affairs was explained to him.

"Come back to spend the night with us? Sure we can make him comfy!
Up-stairs, son. You can have the engineer's office to yourself," he added,
hospitably.

"I don't like leaving you here, Pachuca," said Scott, as he threw open the
door of Hard's office. "It's not my idea of entertaining the aristocracy,
but it's the best I can do for a gentleman of your peculiar habits."

"What is your idea?" remarked