e in the camp under absolute surveillance, I took a single
man, and saddling a couple of mules, started down the trail.

We found Frederic and "Captain" Hance just dismounting at the
Rock Cabin, and I told the former he was in custody for the
present, and asked him where Miss Cullen and Lord Ralles were. He
told me they were just behind; but I wasn't going to take any
risks, and, ordering the deputy to look after Cullen, I went on
down the trail. I couldn't resist calling back,--

"How's your respiration, Mr. Cullen?"

He laughed, and called, "Digitalis put me on my feet like a
flash."

"He's got the most brains of any man in this party," I remarked
to myself.

The trail at this point is very winding, so that one can rarely
see fifty feet in advance, and sometimes not ten. Owing to this,
the first thing I knew I plumped round a curve on to a mule,
which was patiently standing there. Just back of him was another,
on which sat Miss Cullen, and standing close beside her was Lord
Ralles. One of his hands held the mule's bridle; the other held
Madge's arm, and he was saying, "You owe it to me, and I will
have one. Or if--"

I swore to myself, and coughed aloud, which made Miss Cullen
look up. The moment she saw me she cried, "Mr. Gordon! How
delightful!" even while she grew as red as she had been pale the
moment before. Lord Ralles grew red too, but in a different way.

"Have you caught the robbers?" cried Miss Cullen.

"I'm afraid I have," I answered.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

I smiled at the absolute innocence and wonder with which she
spoke, and replied, "I know now, Miss Cullen, why you said I was
braver than the Britishers."

"How do you know?"

I couldn't resist getting in a side-shot at Lord Ralles, who had
mounted his mule and sat scowling. "The train-robbers were such
thoroughgoing duffers at the trade," I said, "that if they had
left their names and addresses they wouldn't have made it much
easier. We Americans may not know enough to deal with real road
agents, but we can do something with amateurs."

"What are we stopping here for?" snapped Lord Ralles.

"I'm sure I don't know," I responded. "Miss Cullen, if you will
kindly pass us, and then if Lord Ralles will follow you, we will
go on to the cabin. I must ask you to keep close together."

"I stay or go as I please, and not by your orders," asserted Lord
Ralles, snappishly.

"Out in this part of the country," I said calmly, "it is
c