“You are sure of this, Mr. Burke?” he asked, brightening.
“I am positive. See Mr. Bradlaugh, however, and tell him about what has happened. He will take the necessary steps to protect you. How many robbers were in the gang?”
“Two, and they seemed to be young fellows. They had handkerchiefs tied over their faces, and rode out from behind a mass of bowlders, a mile or two north of the place where the road leaves the cañon. Pistols were shown, but not used. The driver had nothing at all in the way of a weapon—which, perhaps, was a most fortunate thing for the driver. I—I really believe I had better be going now. I hope, Merriwell, that you will have no difficulty in getting that vicious quadruped back into his owner’s hands.”
“I’ll take chances, on that,” Frank laughed, and vaulted into the saddle. “Want to ride, Clan?” he asked, of his red-headed chum.
“I love to ride,” grinned Clancy, “especially mules.” With that, he climbed up behind Merriwell.
The professor did not pause to see how quietly Uncle Sam behaved under Merry’s guiding hand. Already the professor was striding off toward the golf links.
Without any ill-natured move whatever, Uncle Sam had allowed himself to be turned around, and had started over the return course to Ophir. His gait was never very rapid, and Burke restrained the impatience of his own mount in order to ride beside the boys.
“That is the first time, to my knowledge, that the Gold Hill-Ophir stage has ever been held up,” remarked the super. “This part of the country has been tolerably free from crimes of that sort. As a rule, we’re about as peaceable a community as you’d find anywhere. Mrs. Boorland was robbed of her money in the gulch—but a sneak thief did that; and then there was that attempted theft of bullion from the mine. Up to the time those two crimes were attempted, nothing of the sort had excited the community since—I don’t know when. Hawkins is getting considerable work during the last few weeks.”
“He didn’t have any luck chasing those fellows who tried to make off with the bullion,” said Merriwell.
“Billy Shoup and that unknown safe cracker he had with him were too many for Hawkins,” said Clancy.