a low tone, "if you don't want the butt of my
rifle on your skull."

The man lay down instantly.

"Tom, go and cut a stake six feet long, and I'll watch these fellows
till you come back."

The stake was soon brought and lashed to the robber's back in such a
manner that he was rendered utterly powerless. The others were secured
in a similar manner, and then the two travellers rode forward at a
gallop.

For nearly an hour they continued to advance without speaking or drawing
rein. At the end of that time, while sweeping round the jutting base of
a precipitous rock, they almost ran into a band of horsemen who were
trotting briskly towards them. Both parties halted, and threw forward
their rifles, or drew their revolvers for instant use, gazing at each
other the while in silent surprise at the suddenness of their meeting.

"Give in, ye villains," at last shouted a stern voice, "or we'll blow ye
out o' the saddle. You've no chance; down your arms, I say."

"Not until I know what right _you_ have to command us," replied Ned,
somewhat nettled at the overbearing tone of his opponent. "We are
peaceable travellers, desiring to hurt no one; but if we were not,
surely so large a party need not be afraid. We don't intend to run
away, still less do we intend to dispute your passage."

The strangers lowered their fire-arms, as if half-ashamed at being
surprised into a state of alarm by two men.

"Who said we were `afraid,' young man?" continued the first speaker,
riding up with his comrades, and eyeing the travellers narrowly. "Where
have you come from, and how comes it that your clothes are torn, and
your faces covered with blood?"

The party of horsemen edged forward, as he spoke, in such a manner as to
surround the two friends, but Ned, although he observed the movement,
was unconcerned, as, from the looks of the party, he felt certain they
were good men and true.

"You are a close interrogator for a stranger," he replied. "Perhaps you
will inform me where _you_ have come from, and what is your errand in
these lonesome places at this hour of the night?"

"I'll tell ye wot it is, stranger," answered another of the party--a
big, insolent sort of fellow--"we're out after a band o' scoundrels that
have infested them parts for a long time, an' it strikes me you know
more about them than we do."

"Perhaps you are right," answered Ned.

"Mayhap they're not _very_, far off from where we're standin',"
continued the