and, watching
his prisoner sharply.

"If you make any attempt to escape," he said quietly, "I shall shoot. Now
you understand and will be guided accordingly."

In spite of his unpleasant situation the outlaw could not help admiring
the coolness and resolution of his guard.

"You would make a capital accession to my band," he remarked.

"If that is meant for a compliment," said Luke dryly, "I thank you."

"You had better think it over. Join my band and I will make it worth your
while."

He fixed his eyes earnestly upon his captor to see whether he had made any
impression upon him.

"When I start on any road," he said, "I like to know where it is coming
out."

"Well, this road will lead to wealth."

"I don't read it that way."

"How then?"

"It will more likely lead to a violent death--or the gallows."

"I have been on that path for ten years and I am alive and----"

"A prisoner."

"Yes, at present; but I can tell you this, my Quaker friend, that the tree
has not yet grown that will furnish a gallows for John Fox."

"Perhaps so, but I don't feel sure of it."

The outlaw's predicament did not appear to interfere with his appetite.
When he had completed his meal Luke called the farmer and requested him to
tie his wrists again.

"You can do it better than I," he said. "Besides, I shall need to stand
guard."

CHAPTER XII

JOHN FOX FINDS A KNIFE

The outlaw was left for several hours alone in the attic of the farmer's
house. He felt far from comfortable, and he experienced great
mortification at the thought that he had been captured by a Quaker.

"I shall never hold up my head again--that is," he added after a pause,
"unless I circumvent him and get away."

Fox dragged himself to the window and looked out.

"If only my brother knew where I was," he reflected, "he would soon turn
the tables on those clodhoppers."

But, as he knew, his brother was twenty miles away on a different
expedition.

John Fox was a man of expedients. In his long career as an outlaw he had
more than once been "in a hole," but he had never failed by some means to
extricate himself.

It was not for some time that he bethought himself of a knife that he had
in his pocket. If he could get it out he would be able to cut the ropes
that bound him and escape, if he were not interfered with.

He looked out of the window again and saw Luke Robbins and the farmer
walking up the road.

"They think I am safe," soliloquiz