He looked at both of Nat's hands.
"Where's your ring?" he demanded.
"Never had one," said Nat defiantly.
"No fooling now, give it up or you'll be sorry."
"I tell you I haven't got any," Nat replied impatiently. "You're up the wrong tree."
"Give me that ring or I'll—" began Sid, when his companion broke in with:
"Never mind now. It's getting late and we don't want to be caught out here at night. Bring him along. I guess we'll find a way to make him talk."
Then, having seen that their captives were securely bound, the men attached long ropes to the bridles of the boys' horses, and led the animals back down the trail.
The two men were some distance in advance, and, as the boys rode side by side, they had a chance to converse in low tones without being overheard by their captors.
"Are they brigands, like you read about?" asked Nat.