Turning his eyes in the direction whence the sound proceeded, he saw just below him a noble horse, madly rearing and plunging among a cluster of bushes, while near by lay the prostrate form of a man apparently much injured, judging from his repeated cries and shrieks.
Without a moment’s thought, except that of helping a suffering fellow-being, Mr. Ellerton put spurs to his horse and clashed recklessly down the narrow path of the cliff—out of sight of the village, out of the reach of help—on, on into danger and treachery, and into the hands of a set of vile and heartless villains!
Oh, why did he not heed that timely warning?
He quickly gained the side of the prostrate man, and sprang to the ground to his assistance.
Scarcely had his foot touched the earth when the man sprang to his feet, and covering Mr. Ellerton’s heart with a heavy revolver, shouted:
“Stand, or your life is the forfeit!”
Like a flash of lightning his situation rushed upon him, and he realized all too late how necessary had been the warnings he had that morning received!
He knew he must have been followed and watched every step of the way from the hotel, and that the farce of the dismounted and injured rider had only been an ingenious trap, into which he had so readily fallen.
His own hand involuntarily sought for his weapons of defense, but at that moment a slight rustling caused him to glance up, and he saw three more ruffians surrounding him.
He realized at once how utterly vain and useless would be any attempt at resistance, and without a word he submitted to have his hands bound behind him.