When Nick's hand was pressed over her mouth to stop the cry that rose to
her lips, Patsy was there to seize her, also; and he did it; and,
although she struggled fiercely, she was quickly overpowered, and a gag
was thrust into her mouth.

Then they tied her, hand and foot, with cords with which Nick had
provided himself, and together they carried her far back into the recess
behind the rock.

"There is a big room here," said Patsy. "And it is stocked with
provisions, and a stream of pure water trickles through it. One could
live here a month without going out."

"Good!" said the detective. "Carry her in there. Then when we have made
her safe, we will wait for Handsome, and serve him in the same manner.
And after that, I have got a plan which will work the whole thing out to
a finish."

Madge was glaring at him venomously all this time, for she could not
speak. But her eyes were terrible to see in their utter ferocity.

She knew now what the game was that had been played against her. She
knew now that the man she had supposed to be old Bill Turner was all the
time no other than Nick Carter himself.

She could have bitten her tongue out with rage and chagrin. She fairly
writhed in the ecstasy of her impotent anger.

But they laid her gently upon the rocky floor, where there were some
blankets over leaves--it was evident that Bill Turner had used this
place as a retreat of his own, and had provided it for that purpose,
like a schoolboy who finds a cave and makes a cache--and then Nick spoke
to her.

"You see, Madge," he said, "it is all up with you and your gang; or very
nearly so. We are going out now to capture Handsome, and bring him here
to keep you company. After that I will show you a trick that will make
you green with envy, and that will finish up this hobo business of yours
once and forever. Come on, Patsy."

They left her there and returned to the entrance.

"Now," said the detective, "there is only one way to make Handsome fall
into the trap. We must leave this entrance open for him to discover when
he returns. He will first miss us. Then he will see the hole behind the
rock. Then he will step forward to look inside. Then no doubt he will
call out. I will stand here and remain silent; and then Handsome will do
one of two things--he will either come inside to search for Madge and
me, or he will set up a yell for the others to come to him."

"Suppose he brings some of the men back with him?" asked Pat