“That settles it,” said the lanky stableman who had so long hoodwinked Captain Jerry Prime. “I understand the whole thing now. He has been taken away with his banjo to make fun at Cheeky Charley’s wedding, which takes place to-morrow morning a few miles distant from here. Captain Prime has given him a little layout, and they’ve captured Pomp to play the banjo for them. Rest easy, and in the morning we’ll pile down upon them while the fun is running high and carry off the darkey before their eyes.”
“That’s all we can do,” said Charley. “Hark! there’s Frank.”
Three shrill whistles rang out on the still night air.
Gorse seized the whistle-cord of his Steam Man and answered.
For a few moments, at intervals, this sort of signaling was kept up, and then the blazing eyes of the Steam Horse appeared in view as the metal steed trotted rapidly up to them over the prairie.
“All over?” cried Frank, as he came to a halt at the grove.
“Yes, all done,” said Barry Brown; “and for a small, private affair it was a real nice selected party, although the side dishes of chopped noses were not to my taste.”
“Where’s Barney?” anxiously inquired the Western boy of his cousin.
“Don’t know,” said Frank, with a shake of his head; “he’s been carried off along with his fiddle.”
“Ha, ha, ha!” laughed the men, for now it was apparent that Jack’s conjecture was correct, and that both men had been carried away on account of their ability to furnish music for the outlaw’s wedding.