“Give them to me; when I have time I’d like to look them over, and see if the hand of our friend Jules is back of this game. Hello! what’s this. These letters are addressed to M. Armand Marchant, Rue de Rivoli, Paris. Quite a difference between that name and Oscar William Tell, eh? But I’m not surprised a whit. Keep on looking, Josh, especially for more ugly guns.”
Apparently, however, that one weapon was all the man “toted,” for no more could be discovered.
“All right, then,” said Rod when his chum proclaimed the finish of his search; “I’ll change to his own revolver, which I see is nicely loaded. It is more to be depended on than my own tool,” with which remark he held the article in question before the eyes of the prisoner, who turned fiery red with confusion and anger, while Josh and Hanky Panky burst into peals of laughter at the joke.
“Now listen to me,” continued Rod, sternly again, “you are to go with us over the rise here. Remember you are a hostage for our safe conduct. If your friends attempt to attack us your life will be forfeited the first thing. So I’d advise you not to try and signal again, if you know what’s good for you.”
“One thing I’m glad to tell you, Rod,” remarked Josh; “which is that after all the damage to my machine isn’t worth mentioning. I reckon he meant it to be put out of commission, and even took chances of getting hurt himself so as to accomplish it; but the Whitcomb luck stuck by me, all right, all right. Do you think you can move your machine along and attend to him at the same time, Rod?”
“Oh! that’s easily fixed,” replied the other, cheerily, “because Oscar is going to attend to the trundling act for me. It’s the least he can do to make up for the bother he’s given us. And his feet have gotten well in the bargain, just as if a miracle had been wrought. Get busy, Oscar, and start pushing uphill!”
The man did not dare venture any protest. What was the use of his trying to plead weariness or a bruised leg when they knew that he was a fraud of the first water, and had, as Josh would say, “tumbled to his game?”
So he took hold of Rod’s heavy machine, and toiled manfully up the ascent. As he went he cast numerous anxious glances to the right and to the left; but Rod understood now that these were not in hopes of seeing his confederates suddenly dash into view, since that would be the signal for his own troubles to begin; rather was the man mentally praying they would remain in hiding, having grasped the new state of affairs, which could not be to their liking.
They reached the crown of the low hill, but did not linger there, for the position was too exposed. Once down to the level again Rod began to consider dropping the pilot, as they had no further need of his protecting services, with the road level and straight stretching away for miles ahead.