palsied
hand. Even Jim was dazed for a few seconds by this strange apparition,
and then he could have given a yell of joy and of boundless relief. It
was one of the few dramatic moments of his life, which had been filled
with exciting incidents, which is an entirely different thing from being
dramatic.

The first look at John Berwick, wearing the detective's coat and hat,
the latter pulled well over his face, had appalled and paralyzed the
gang of dastards, who were about to execute cold-blooded murder, and as
he advanced upon them this fear was changed into frenzied panic.
Trampling over one another at once they fled by way of a door at the end
of the room, near where they were gathered. The supposed detective gave
up the pursuit after they were utterly routed, and returned to where Jim
stood bound.

"How did you ever think of it, old chap?" cried Jim, as soon as the rope
that bound him had been cut by his friend.

"It chanced that I was prepared," replied Berwick. "I heard that
horrible clatter in the house, and got in as quickly as I could."

"That clatter was Brian de Bois Guilbert tumbling downstairs," said Jim
gleefully.

"Eh?" questioned Berwick, his eyes opening wide as he gazed at Jim in
the dawning belief that the experience he had gone through had unsettled
his mind.

"Oh, I'm not crazy, Chief," exclaimed Jim. "I'll explain later; now for
getting the senorita out of the hands of these villains."

"She is here? Then I'm ready," rejoined Berwick, "but let's get a weapon
or two before we start. We may need them."

Jim had now regained the use of his stiffened muscles, and together the
two comrades went to the end of the long room.

"This is yours, Jim," he said, as he stooped and picked up the weapon
which the Mexican had dropped.

"Sure it is," replied James. "My friend, Manuel, was about to hand it to
me."

"It's poisoned, look out for it," said the engineer, as he handed the
blade to him gingerly.

"Here's a revolver," cried Jim, "that one of the gents dropped in his
hurry. Shy only one cartridge, too," he concluded, after a hasty
examination.

Thus equipped, they started on their quest, and though very inadequately
armed they both felt heartened by the presence of the other. It is a
desolate business, facing danger alone with no one to back you up, or
with whom you can take counsel. True comradeship is one of the best
things in the world.

The two friends move quickly across the floor, b