As they entered the town they were met by Officer Dugan, who put his hand on Rand's shoulder.
"I have a warrant for your arrest," he said.
The party were amazed, and the colonel was the first to speak.
"For what?" he asked.
"For robbing Judge Taylor's office," replied the officer.
CHAPTER XVII
THE MESSAGE
For a moment or two Pepper hung at the extremity of the branch to which he was clinging, when all at once there came an ominous cracking and the end broke away, but fortunately it had swung so low toward the ground that he dropped at the foot of the tree, not much the worse for his experience.
It had ail happened so quickly that, before he had time to utter a cry Pepper found himself lying on the ground flat on his back.
"My goodness gracious!" exclaimed Pepper, feeling himself all over to make sure that he was ail there. "The farther I go the worse it gets. This is certainly the worst yet. I think the ground is good enough for me after that."