your hands," commanded Lopez, for it was he. "Keep 'em up," he
added. "I'll fix youall for this. You done burned my cabin and it's got
to be paid for. I'll settle you." Then lifting his voice he called,
"Doright! Doright! Come yere."

"Comin', Boss," quavered the still frightened negro.

"Doright, did these fellers set fire to my cabin?"

"Yaas, sir, Boss. Dey sure done hit," replied that worthy.

"We might as well arrest 'em now as any other time, then," declared
Lopez. "Take this gun, Doright, and if they try to run, shoot."

"Yaas, sir, Boss," grinned the darky. "Ah sure will shoot."

"Now, boys, get going," commanded their captor. "Walk right up, too, for
we're a long ways from home and I'm tired."

"How did you happen back so soon?" queried Harry. "I thought you had
gone to town to talk with Wyckoff about hanging us."

"I done change my mind," answered Lopez. "I forgot something at the
cabin and now hit's done burned. I have an idee I'd better shoot youall
right now for that trick. Yes, sir, I just believe so."

Knowing his quick and hasty temper as they now did, the boys were not
unprepared for anything that might happen. Gritting their teeth they
marched bravely on even though they felt that at any moment the erratic
man behind them might send a bullet into their backs. They resolved,
however, to show no fear.

Not far along the path they were halted by Lopez, who whispered a short
consultation with Doright. In a moment he ordered the boys to one side
of the road for some distance where he compelled them to lie flat on
their faces and commanded them to absolute silence on pain of instant
death. He kept his rifle at their ears.

"Doright," he ordered, "go back up to that there path and see what them
folks wants. If they're strangers let 'em go on. If they're the fellers
I think they is, toll 'em along and lose 'em. You'll know where to find
me at the factory if I lose you now."

"Yaas, sir, Boss," grinned the negro. "Ah'm named Doright."

Arnold and Harry were compelled to lie with outstretched arms and
fingers digging into the sand while their comrades parleyed with Doright
in plain hearing of their place of concealment. Neither dared to make a
sound or in any way attract the attention of their friends. Lopez was
swinging the rifle muzzle slowly back and forth.

After Doright and the other, party had proceeded to the destroyed cabin
Lopez compelled his prisoners to get to their feet and walk ahead