"Hands up, or take lead straight!"
So cried the leader, and a man on each side of the engine covered the engineer and fireman.
Needless to say, they promptly obeyed the order. At the same moment other members of the band made a dash for the express-car, which was next to the engine.
Still others had sprung up alongside the track the moment the train came to a standstill, and boarded the cars to take care of the passengers while the leader and those with him made their raid upon the car which contained the treasure they were after.
But, were they after any special treasure, or was it only a coincidence that they had chosen that particular train for their prey?
It looked the former.
"Looks like we're in for it," observed the fireman, as he held his hands on high.
"That's what it does," agreed the engineer, in easy manner of speech, taking care to keep his hands well up. "There is no use kicking when they have got us lined with Winchesters."
"That's hoss sense," averred one of the raiders, who stood guard over them. "You fellers keep yer hands straight up, and you won't come to no harm. We don't want to harm nobody, ef we kin help it, so you mind what ye've been told and ye won't git hurt."
"Who is your captain?" inquired the engineer.