With a quick movement the boy clasped Fred around the waist and held him firmly until Gus returned.
When the prisoner's hands had been lashed to his side he was led to the camp, where his legs were also bound, and the captors seated themselves in front of him.
"Now tell us where that man is?" Tim said, sternly.
"What man?"
"You know who I mean; the feller what come over to Blacktown with you an' Skip."
"I wish I knew," Fred replied with a sigh.
"Don't lie to us," and Gus shook his fist in the helpless boy's face. "That miner went to a lawyer an' told him I had a hand in stealin' the money what Sam Thorpe lost. Then you an' Skip tried to pump me. Now give us the whole yarn, or things will be mighty hot."
Fred remained silent.
"He's been follerin' us ever since we left the town," Tim said after a moment's thought, "an' it stands us in hand to get outer this lively, or the rest of his gang will be on us."
"Have we got to do more trampin' jest on account of a sneak like this?" Gus asked fretfully.