you I am not thinking
of offering resistance; and it might be your finger it would slip, to my
everlasting regret."

Josh lost no time in commencing work. As Rod had said, of late the other
had been having considerable experience at this sort of business, and
boasted of being quite an expert.

"Whee! here's a nasty looking gun, Rod!" he speedily announced.

"Hand it here, then, and I'll take possession of it," the other told
him; "then keep on feeling in every pocket, Josh."

"Some papers, Rod--letters they look like," came another announcement
presently.

"Give them to me; when I have time I'd like to look them over, and see
if the hand of our friend Jules is back of this game. Hello! what's
this. These letters are addressed to M. Armand Marchant, Rue de Rivoli,
Paris. Quite a difference between that name and Oscar William Tell, eh?
But I'm not surprised a whit. Keep on looking, Josh, especially for more
ugly guns."

Apparently, however, that one weapon was all the man "toted," for no
more could be discovered.

"All right, then," said Rod when his chum proclaimed the finish of his
search; "I'll change to his own revolver, which I see is nicely loaded.
It is more to be depended on than my own tool," with which remark he
held the article in question before the eyes of the prisoner, who turned
fiery red with confusion and anger, while Josh and Hanky Panky burst
into peals of laughter at the joke.

"Now listen to me," continued Rod, sternly again, "you are to go with us
over the rise here. Remember you are a hostage for our safe conduct. If
your friends attempt to attack us your life will be forfeited the first
thing. So I'd advise you not to try and signal again, if you know what's
good for you."

"One thing I'm glad to tell you, Rod," remarked Josh; "which is that
after all the damage to my machine isn't worth mentioning. I reckon he
meant it to be put out of commission, and even took chances of getting
hurt himself so as to accomplish it; but the Whitcomb luck stuck by me,
all right, all right. Do you think you can move your machine along and
attend to him at the same time, Rod?"

"Oh! that's easily fixed," replied the other, cheerily, "because Oscar
is going to attend to the trundling act for me. It's the least he can do
to make up for the bother he's given us. And his feet have gotten well
in the bargain, just as if a miracle had been wrought. Get busy, Oscar,
and start pushing uphill!"

The man did not