The pursuers had overtaken the man who had been trying so desperately to escape. The whole party were off their horses and gathered under a huge cottonwood tree. The girl had recovered from her faint and was standing with her head leaning on the shoulder of a stalwart young man who supported her tenderly.
"I'll bet that's her brother or her beau," whispered Sammy.
"He seems to be mighty glad to get her back," commented Bob.
"What's become of the fellow who was taking her away?" asked Frank.
"I don't see him," replied George, scanning the group. "Perhaps he's been shot."
"We'd have heard the sound of the shot if he had."
"There he is," cried Sammy, eagerly.
For just then the crowd gathered under the cottonwood had opened up a little, and, in the center of the group, the boys saw the fugitive with his hands tied behind his back.
But it was not this that caused the gasp of horror that came from them all at once.