her take anything from you?"

"Yes."

"Money?"

"No, bonds."

"You are a sensible boy. You answer my questions freely. You are a smart
boy, too. It isn't every lad of your age who would have managed to effect
an escape from the cave. Do you remember the entrance?"

"No; I was carried into it blindfolded."

"I thought my brother would be prudent. So you couldn't find it again."

"No, I don't think so."

"Still I cannot run any risk. You will have to come with me."

"Where do you want to carry me?" asked Ernest, much disturbed.

"I will carry you back to the cave."

"Let me go free. I will promise not to reveal anything that I have
discovered."

"I am sorry, boy, but you were made prisoner by my brother, and I owe it
to him to prevent your escape."

It was intolerable to Ernest to think of having his captivity renewed. He
determined that he would at least make an effort for freedom.

Accordingly he did not hesitate, but started to run, hoping that in this
way he might save himself. He had always the reputation among his boy
companions as a sprinter, and resolved to see whether this was a lost
art.

"So that's your game, is it?" exclaimed the outlaw. "It will go hard with
me if I don't catch you. Stop, or it will be the worse for you!"

But Ernest had no intention of giving up so soon. He only exerted himself
the more.

The contest was not so unequal as might have been supposed. Ernest was
tall for his age, and the outlaw was rather below the average height. So
there was in reality only about an inch difference in their height.

On the other hand, John Fox had, as might be supposed, more strength and
endurance. He was not over weight and therefore not scant of breath.
Ernest got the start and this was an advantage. One ran about as fast as
the other, so it settled down into a contest of endurance.

The outlaw, however, was irritated at the unexpected difficulty of his
undertaking. He had thought that Ernest would surrender.

"I wish I had my revolver," he muttered.

Had the outlaw been aware that Ernest had in his possession the packet of
bonds which had impelled his brother to make him a captive his zeal would
have been increased. He knew, of course, that the bonds would be taken
from him and he could conceive of no chance of the boy's recovering them.

They flew over the ground, maintaining the same relative distance. But
there was an unexpected contingency that worked to the disadvantage of
E