ks as if she had been cutting up tricks."

"You'd ought to have seen her; consarn her old hide--and you'd have
pitied me. She's the blamedest stubborn critter I ever seen. Once she
gets her back up and quits, there's no use trying to go no farther. Look
at the way she left me."

"Pretty sad sight."

"I should say so. She took a sudden notion to stop right here, I coaxed
and cajoled her, but she wouldn't budge. Then my dander riz, I spit on
my hands and hit her a whang on the tail, and she raised up her heels
and kicked out like a battering ram."

"How unfortunate for you."

"It made my blood bile. I then thumped blazes out of her. The more I
soaked her the wuss she kicked, until finally she kicked herself out of
the harness and ran sway."

"And left you here with your load?"

"Yes, sir."

"Have you got far to go?"

"Only to yonder old log hut."

"That isn't far."

"No, not when you say it quick."

"I'll tow you over there with this machine."

"Will you? Oh, thank you! I was just going to ask you to do it!"

"Is that all?"

"Can you help me roll the wagon inside to protect the grain in case it
rains before I can find Eliza again?"

"Certainly we will," laughed Jack.

They hitched a rope to the wagon, and the Terror hauled it over to the
door of the old building.

As the Terror could not get the wagon through the door, Jack and his
companions alighted; each one manned a wheel, and the farmer seized the
shafts.

Ahead they rolled it toward the open door.

But scarcely had they got it started when a dozen men, with masks on
their faces and pistols in their hands, rushed out of the building and
surrounded the four friends.

"The James Boys!" gasped Jack, in startled tones.

CHAPTER XIV.
INTO THE QUICKSAND.

It was evident to Jack that he and his friends had been the victims of a
very shrewd game.

The fact was, that the James Boys had a rendezvous in the log cabin, and
having held up the farmer who owned the wagon, they had stolen his
money, his mule, and his clothing.

Seeing the Terror coming, Jesse concocted the scheme to trap our
friends, rigged one of the gang in the farmer's clothes, and the game
was played according to the bandit king's orders.

It looked as if it was going to be a success, too.

None of the Terror's crew were armed.

And the outlaws had them covered with their weapons.

"Yield!" roared Jesse.

"We're tricked!" gasped Jack.

"Hands up, or die!"

"Don't