“What! with all of them carrying guns? I’m afraid not. They could easily shoot our horses, even if they didn’t want to shoot us.”
The boys, bruised and bleeding from the atrocious attack made upon them, thought the ride along the mountainside would never come to an end. The horses had to proceed with care, for the rocky trail was full of perils, and before the ride came to an end Fred was so dizzy and weak he could hardly see. Randy’s back hurt him, and he would have given almost anything just to lie down.
Presently they reached a place where the underbrush among the trees was heavy. Here the whole party came to a halt and the men dismounted. One after another the boys were unlashed and the ropes binding their feet were released. Then, somewhat to their surprise, they were led into a long, low cave shaped somewhat like a dumb-bell with a narrow opening in the center. At this opening some rough timbers had been placed, held securely by several chains. At one side one of the timbers could be pushed away, forming something of a door.
“Now then, in you go!” cried Davenport, and one after another the lads were thrust into the back section of the cavern. Then the log door was pushed again into position and chained, and the four Rover boys found themselves prisoners in the cave.
CHAPTER XXVI
THREE DEMANDS
On the morning following the capture of the four Rover boys, Miss Jennie Corning, on getting up to prepare breakfast for her brother and Tom Rover, was much surprised to find a letter that had been thrust under the front door of the house.
“Well, I declare, it’s a letter for Mr. Rover!” she exclaimed to herself. “I wonder why they didn’t knock? Perhaps they thought we were all asleep and didn’t want to wake us up.”
She heard Tom stirring in his room, and, going to it, knocked on the door.
“A letter for you,” she said as he peered out through a crack. “I found it shoved under the front door.”