th Harney and Husty.
But the boy, though strong, was no match for the two men, and they soon
pinned him to the ground and held him there as in a vise, while he was
nearly choked by the big guide, who had clutched him by the throat.

"Let--let go--my--throat!" Tom managed to gasp.

"Will you keep quiet?" demanded Harney.

"Yes--yes."

"All right, mind you do." And then the guide released his hold, but
continued to sit as he was, astride of poor Tom's chest.

"Have you got him?" came from Dan Baxter.

"Yes," returned the big guide.

"All right; then hold him."

"I will."

Leaving Sam to be watched by Jasper Grinder, Baxter ran over to one of
the sleds and procured a long rope.

"Now then, Tom Rover, get up," he said sourly.

Tom was glad to arise.

"What are you going to do with me?" he questioned.

"You'll see fast enough."

"Going to try your old tricks of making me a prisoner, I suppose."

"You're a prisoner already."

"Thank you, for nothing," returned Tom, as coolly as he could.

"Don't you get impudent, Tom Rover. If you try it on, you'll get more
than you bargain for, let me tell you that."

"You always were a first-class bully, Baxter. You like to tackle little
boys, or else somebody who is helpless."

"Shut up! I won't listen to you, now!" roared Baxter, and grabbing Tom's
hands he forced them back and bound them together. Then the ropes was
passed around Tom's waist, so that he could not move his hands to the
front.

By the time this work was accomplished Sam was regaining consciousness.
He gave a moan of pain, and then sat up in bewilderment.

"Who--what's happened?" he stammered. Then he looked around. "Oh! I
remember now!"

He was very unsteady when he got on his feet, and it was Tom who made
the first move toward him.

"Too bad, Sam. They are a set of brutes."

"Don't call me a brute Rover," growled Jasper Grinder. "Neither you nor
your brother have all you deserve."

Sam was bound with a rope, and then both prisoners were told to walk
over to the fire. This they did, and were left in charge of Husty and
Jasper Grinder, while Baxter went off a distance, in company with big
Bill Harney.

"Well, what do you want to do with 'em?" demanded Harney, when he and
the bully were out of hearing of the others, "'Pears to me you've taken
the law in yer own hands."

"I'm glad I've caught them," returned Dan Baxter. "They may help us to
find what I am after."

"Think they've got a be