Dick was lost in amazement. For the life of him he couldn’t imagine what it all meant.
“Who in the world wants me out of the way?” he thought again and again, as he listened to still further conversation about mines and mining, which did not interest him at all.
All this time the two figures on the horses were coming steadily on up the trail.
Mudd was evidently watching through a night glass, for once he made a remark about its being misty. At last he suddenly exclaimed:
“Here they are. Lay low, Tony. You jump in and pretend to seize Bill. I’ll take care of the girl.”
Dick stood up, clutching a heavy stone in each hand.
“Halt, there!” shouted Tony, suddenly springing out of his concealment as the forward horse came around the turn in the rocks.
“Miss Clara, your most obedient,” said Martin Mudd, also stepping out into view. “Sorry to detain you on your way to join your father at the mine, but I have a little business to transact with you.”
The girl screamed.
Bill pretended to resist and did some threatening, but yielded to Tony without a struggle just the same.