t bandit's limp body, and the
car, spinning before his eyes, went blank.

* * * * *

When Blake came around, he was stretched out full length on the floor, a
pillow under his head. He looked up into Dauna's eyes.

"If you're wondering about the silver masked man who struck you," she
said, "There are dozens of them on the train. They have us all under
guard."

He sat up a little weakly, felt his head clear. Ferrell and O'Toole sat
across from his make shift bed.

"They won't let me make a dash for the door, Jeff," O'Toole said in an
unhappy voice. "Once in the hall, I could clean up on a snag of those
black devils."

"And get your head bashed in, like Jeff did," Ferrell added. "You're
sitting right here with me, _Mr._ O'Toole until we find out what this is
all about."

Ferrell turned to Blake.

"You asked for trouble, Jeff," he said tersely. "You've got it. These
are the same Silver Masks that have practically ruined my business.
Looks as though this might do it. Wade was told to clean out this tribe
of black devils six months ago. I detailed fifty men to work with him.
I'll bet you a ten spot that at this moment Wade Blake is at South
Station watering his flower bed, or some equally insane occupation."

Dauna was on her feet, arms akimbo, cheeks blazing.

"That's not fair, Dad," she flared. "He just isn't the type of boy to
handle this problem. You saw what happened to Jeff...."

"Wait a minute," Blake begged. "O'Toole is all for knocking Wade's head
against his garden wall. Ferrell, you want him to keep us out of trouble
when he's eight thousand miles away, and Dauna is protecting him when
I'm not altogether sure he deserves it. For the time being let's worry
about what is to become of us. Later, there'll be time to fight over
Wade."

Ferrell looked abashed.

"You're right," he admitted more quietly. "But you're a better man than
I am if you can make sense out of this. Why don't they take what they
want, kill us and be on their way?"

Blake looked out of the window. The sky was clear now. The rain had
stopped and the moon and stars were visible.

"I think I can answer that," he said. "From my following the stars, we
are now heading directly east, into the heart of the mountain country.
If I'm correct on directions, the monoline runs directly north and
south. Right?"

O'Toole pushed past him and strained his face to the glass. He turned,
face shining.

"By golly," h