"What do you mean by this?" burst out Nat, who, as was Jack, had been so surprised by the sudden turn of events that he did not know what to say. "Who are you, anyhow?"
"Now, don't get excited, sonny," spoke Nate. "This is a high altitude, remember, and you might bust a blood vessel. That would be too bad."
"Yes, the fewer questions you ask the better off you'll be," put in
Sid.
"If my uncle hears of this you'll suffer for it," Nat went on. He thought the men might be cowboys out for a lark.
"Don't worry, your uncle will never hear of it," Nate replied. "Now I guess we'll travel."
There was nothing to do but to obey. The boys were fairly tied on their horses, so quickly and so deftly had the men used their ropes.
"Did you get the rings?" asked Nate of his companion.
"Almost forgot it," replied Sid. "I'll do it now."
Before Jack was aware what the man was up to he had grabbed from his finger the curious moss agate emblem.
"Here's one," exclaimed Sid. "Now for the other."