"Yes, sir," replied Tad modestly. "But I'll admit that it was a pretty tough job. He nearly got us."
"Tell me about it."
Tad did so briefly, making as little of his own achievement as possible.
He related also, how the prisoner had gained possession of Professor
Zepplin's revolver and of the latter's narrow escape from death.
"Boys, you've done a big thing. The captain will be interested in you," said Mr. Withem. "He's been wanting this man for a long time."
"You haven't told us who the fellow is, yet," reminded Professor
Zepplin.
"He is Dunk Tucker, sir, one of the most dangerous customers infesting the border. We have been on his trail for weeks, but he's managed to give us the slip every time. We never expected to capture him alive. We expected to have to shoot him on sight, which we probably would have done."
"Is it possible?" murmured the professor. "I did not suppose such conditions existed on the border at this late day."
"They do not, ordinarily."
"What has the man Tucker done?"
"Done? It would be easier to tell you what he hasn't done. He's committed pretty nearly every crime in the calendar and some that aren't in the almanac. He is one of a band of thieves that has been operating on the border for months. They are smugglers and thieves. They have even gone back to the old style of stock stealing. Up to date it is estimated that they have run across the border into Mexico several hundred head of stock. The ranchers are up in arms. The Rangers have been called in to put the Border Bandits out of business. This is the first one of the gang that we have captured. And, after all, we didn't capture him. That was left for a bunch of plucky young tenderfeet—-two of them, to be exact.