Part 18 (2/2)

”Have you been following our party?”

”You had better not ask too many questions, captain”

By this ti up One of the latter carried his left arnized him as a felloho had been wounded in the raid on the quarter themselves for a few minutes, and then Captain Moore was ordered to march on

”To where?” he asked

”You'll see when you get there,” answered Fetter ”Now move, or, by the boots, I shoot you dohere you stand!”

Seeing it would be worse than useless to resist, the young officer did as ordered, and the whole partyback to the side of the mountain

Presently they came upon a number of horses, and here they mounted

There were two steeds without riders, and Captain Moore was ordered to the back of one of these All rode off in a bunch, the prisoner being kept in the center of the party He had been searched and his pistol taken frolass, and his money and jewelry

In less than quarter of an hour a split in theof a cave, the entrance overgroith brush and vines At the mouth of the cave the party came to a halt, and were et down,” said Gilroy ”Fetter, I guess we had better bind his hands behind hi to bind me?” queried Captain Moore

”And why not? You are such a nice chap, captain, we don't want to part with you just yet”

”Why are you going to keep et that we hold you responsible for that little s”

”I only did my duty, Gilroy”

”Perhaps; but if it hadn't been for you and yourwould have been about twenty thousand dollars richer than we are to-day”

”And I wouldn't have this larowled the felloho had been wounded

”As I said before, I only did my duty,” repeated the captain calmly

”Even if I hadn't arrived, don't you suppose the quartermaster would have done all he could to defend himself?”

”Certainly; but his party numbered only three However, on't talk now We have other things to do Get into that cave And don't try to escape, or it will be the worse for you”

With a downcast heart the young officer entered the cave, which was an old rendezvous of the desperadoes Inside were a rude table and a couple of benches, and he threw hi, Potts, put hiuard outside, rifle in hand The others separated into two parties, and went off again

”Can they be going after Joe and Darry, or after Benson?” was the question the captain asked himself

He waited until the hoofbeats outside had entirely ceased, then called to Potts