The figure of Old Broadbrim moved in the grass and the rifle came up against his shoulder.
He covered the group a few yards away, and then advanced upon it.
"Set him free!" came over the gleaming barrel of the leveled weapon.
The bandits looked up and then exchanged glances.
They saw but one man, and he stood in the moonlight with a rifle to his shoulder.
"Release Captain Merle!" repeated Old Broadbrim.
"Shoot the prisoner, that will be release enough," cried one of the robbers of the ranches.
"If you dare!" cried the detective. "It will be worth your leader's life to issue a command of that kind."
Nearer and nearer came the determined detective.
"Quick, we can kill the guard afterward," said one of the band in undertones. "It won't take a minute to riddle him."