ds and thousands of dollars there, Dick!"

"You are right."

"Sack Todd must be very wealthy."

"Unless--" and the eldest Rover paused.

"Unless what?"

"Unless those bank bills are counterfeit."

CHAPTER XVIII

DICK AND SAM BECOME PRISONERS

"Do you really think those are counterfeit, Dick?" gasped Sam.

"More than likely. Don't you remember the machinery? That printing
press--"

"Yes, yes! It's as clear as day. This must be a regular den, and Sack
Todd--"

Sam got no further, for, at that moment, he felt himself seized from
behind. A pair of strong arms were thrown around him, so that he
could scarcely budge.

Dick was attacked in a similar fashion, and, though both of the Rovers
struggled desperately, they found that their assailants had the
advantage.

"Caught you good and proper, didn't we?" came in the voice of Sack Todd.

"Let me go!" cried Dick.

"Not much, young man. Have you got the other one, Jimson?"

"I have," answered the second man, a fellow with a long nose. "And
he won't get away in a hurry. I'm thinking."

"We had better take 'em inside," went on Sack Todd.

"Just as you say," answered Andy Jimson. "I reckon you boys remember
me," he went on with a grin.

"You are the man who was on that lumber raft that came near running
down our houseboat," said Dick.

"Struck it, fust clip. Didn't expect to meet me ag'in, did ye?"

"I did not."

"Wanted to shoot me, didn't ye?"

"Didn't you deserve it?" asked Sam boldly. "You came mighty close to
sinking us."

"Oh, that was only a bit of fun on the part o' the feller who owned
the raft. He knew what he was doin'. But I reckon you didn't know
what you were doin' when you spied on Sack and his outfit," continued
the long-nosed man sarcastically.

"They'll know what they were doing before I am through with 'em,"
said the owner of Red Rock ranch.

"What are you going to do with us?" demanded Dick.

"That remains to be seen."

"You had better let us go."

At this, Sack Todd set up a laugh of derision.

"You'll not leave here yet awhile, young man I heard what you and
your friend said just before we closed in on you. Do you suppose I
am going to let you get out and blab about what you have discovered?"

His harsh tone made both Dick and Sam shiver. They felt that they
were dealing with a hardened criminal and, most likely, one who would
stop at nothing in order to attain his object.

"I must say it was a fool move to let th