Jet was now traveling over a country with which he was not familiar, and to continue on would be to take great chances of losing his way, at least during the hours of darkness.
It was necessary, therefore, or at least he thought so, to get into that section of the woods over which he had previously journeyed.
To do this he was forced to make a half circle around the building, and as he ran, keeping at about the same distance from the house as he and Harvey had gained, the sounds of the conflict could be distinctly heard.
Judging from the noise, one would say at least half a dozen men were engaged, and Jet said to himself:
"The men from Albany are taking a hand in the row, probably firing from the windows. If they could wipe the whole gang out there wouldn't be any need for me to try to strike a telegraph office."
He could not afford to await the result of the contest, however, for if his friends were worsted just so much valuable time would be lost, and he pressed on at full speed until, when he was near the spot where he began his first journey, there was a rustling of the foliage in front of him as a voice cried:
"Hold up or I'll fire!"
That this threat was made by one of the gang from whom he was trying to escape there could be no question, and Jet darted aside quickly as he cocked his revolver.
This had hardly been done when he saw a long tongue of flame leap out of the bushes at the right, not more than ten feet away, and a bullet whistled so near his ear that he could hear it shrieking like a minnie ball.
If he could wound one of these fellows matters would be just so much better for his friends, and jumping behind the trunk of a tree he fired every chamber of his revolver as rapidly as possible.
Not until the weapon was emptied did he start on his course again, shoving cartridges in the chambers as he ran, and followed by a volley of shots.
It was evident he had not done any damage, and once more he wheeled and fired.
There was no reply to this last fusillade, and he continued the flight, straining every muscle to outdistance the enemy in case an attempt should be made to follow him.
At the expiration of ten minutes he was forced to halt in order to regain his breath, and while standing panting and blowing behind a tree he listened for some token of the enemy.
Not a sound, save those made by himself, broke the silence of the forest, and there was every reason to believe he had for the second time given the fellows the slip.
But what about Harvey?
In fancy he saw him lying dead or dying within the shelter of the bushes, while the gang were making a desperate attack upon the house, and this thought nerved him to continue the flight before he had fairly recovered his wind.
The journey was a succession of brief halts and mad races, for every moment might be precious now, and he took no heed of fatigue, save when exhausted nature literally forced him so to do.
In less than half the time it had cost him to traverse the same distance when no one but himself was in danger, he accomplished the task, and stood on the platform of the station at which Harvey's party stopped the night previous.
The building was closed.
While he was rattling at the door in the vain hope that there might be a watchman inside, a resident of the town passed.
"What's going on?" he asked in an unsteady voice which told quite plainly why he was away from home at such an hour.
"I want to send a very important telegram."
"Well send—hic—her if you wanter."
"Where is the operator?"
"At home, I reckon, if he ain't, that's where he oughter be this time in the morning."
"Do you know when he will be here?"
"'Bout midnight, if he counts on lookin' out for the express."
"Can you tell me what time it is now?"
It was rather a difficult matter for the tipsy party to get at his watch; but he was in an obliging mood, and after some trouble succeeded in clutching the timepiece.
"Come here an' see for yourself," he said, after trying in vain to make out the position of the hands. "I reckon I must have bought four or five watches by the looks of these, though I'm blest if I remember anything about it."
"You've only got one there," Jet said, as he gazed over the stranger's shoulder. "It lacks only ten minutes of being twelve o'clock; I shan't have long to wait."
"I'd stay with you if I didn't have to call upon a sick friend," the man replied after some difficulty, and then he staggered on, while Jet paced to and fro as if only by exercise could he control his impatience.
In less than five minutes he was joined by two men, or at least they came on the platform; but seemingly took care to prevent him from seeing their faces.
He could hear them talking in low, earnest tones; but was so engrossed by his own thoughts that he made no attempt to distinguish the words.
Finally the station agent, who was also the telegraph operator, arrived, and as he unlocked the door Jet asked eagerly, and sufficiently loud for the strangers to hear:
"Can I send a message to Albany?"
"Not now. Come to-morrow morning after eight o'clock."
"But this is very important and must go as soon as possible."
"I'll attend to you in the morning."
"It will be too late then," Jet cried, excitedly. "The chief of police must have the news at once!"
The operator looked at Jet scrutinizingly, and the two men stepped a few paces nearer.
"What's the matter?" the official asked.
"It is necessary detectives be sent here at once."
"Murder, or something of that kind, eh?"
"All I know is that I was sent by a man who said the telegram must go at the earliest possible moment."
"Very well, come in and write it. I'll see if the Albany office will answer my call."
Jet walked into the waiting-room so excited that he failed to notice the strangers, who crowded behind him; but stood where their faces would be in the shadow.
After a moment's reflection he wrote the following:
"TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE,"Albany, N.Y.
"Send more men at once; they have us foul. My messenger will wait at the station until assistance arrives.HARVEY."
It was a simple matter for the strangers to read this by looking over Jet's shoulder, and as soon as they had done so they slipped quietly out of the building where the following conversation might have been heard:
"That's the boy Joe and Bob brought up from New York."
"I thought so, and now he is working for Harvey."
"Who has gone to the house in the woods to pull the boys, and has got the worst of it."
"I don't reckon we could prevent the operator from sending that message?"
"Not without putting ourselves in the hole."
"We can make sure though that the boy isn't here to show them the place when the officers arrive."
"Which forces us to stay here another day, and according to the looks of things I don't think it safe. What made the fools come after agreeing to lay over in the city till we showed up?"
"That's what I can't say. It's enough to know we've got to bear a hand, for if one of the crowd is caught all hands stand a good chance of being sent up."
"Shall we nab the boy as soon as the train passes?"
"No; I've got a better plan than that. We'll wait till the western express arrives, and make him think we're the officers who have come in reply to his telegram."
"Then we must keep out of sight. Let's take a turn around the town where he won't be likely to see us."
The men walked quietly away, and in the depot Jet was congratulating himself upon having been able to give the alarm so quickly.
The operator had been very eager to learn why officers should be summoned from the city; but Jet professed entire ignorance of the matter, repeating again and again that he had only brought the message from a stranger a short distance up the road, and the questioner finally ceased trying to extract information.
There was no difficulty about getting a telegram through, and in a few moments Jet rejoiced at hearing the man say:
"It's done, and now you'll only have to wait until the parties arrive."
"How long before they can come?'
"There's a morning express which leaves Albany in an hour; but it doesn't stop here, so they'll have to wait for the five o'clock train."
Jet was not troubled as to where he should spend the time.
He was so tired that he could sleep anywhere, and walked across the track to the waiting shed, where he laid down on one of the benches, glad of an opportunity to rest his weary limbs.
While paying for the telegram he noticed with surprise that Harvey had intrusted him with twenty dollars, and he said to himself as his eyes were closing in sleep:
"I wonder why he gave me so much? It can't be possible he thought the message would cost all that."
Then he was unconscious of everything around him.
The midnight express arrived, stopped, and with a loud snort from the engine went on again; but the noise barely sufficed to make Jet aware that something unusual had happened.
During the next hour he slept peacefully, and then the two strangers came up the track talking in low tones.
By the glare of the station lamp they saw the sleeping boy.
"What is the use of waiting for the train, when it may be possible the officers will come?"
"The morning express doesn't stop here."
"What of that? The conductor would let the officers off if the chief should ask him as an especial favor."
"Well, how can we hurry matters?"
"He is asleep, and all we have to do is to swear the train has just passed. He probably hasn't got a watch, and can't tell whether one hour or four has passed since he closed his eyes."
"But if he should be suspicious, he might make trouble."
"Say, you're getting to be a regular coward. We've got to take some chances if we want to prevent Joe and Bob from being pulled, and it will be rough if you and I can't handle a boy like that."
"Do as you please; of course I'm bound to stand at your back all the time."
The first speaker looked around once to make certain no one was near, and then stepping quickly into the shed shook Jet roughly.
"What's the matter?" Jet cried, as he arose to a sitting posture, and rubbed his eyes.
"Are you the fellow who sent a message to the Albany chief of police?" one of the men asked.
"Yes; has there been an answer?"
"I should say so. Don't we look like a pretty substantial reply to almost any kind of a telegram?"
"But how did you get here?"
"On the morning express. It wasn't much of a job to persuade the conductor to slow up about here when he knew what our business was."
"The morning express?" Jet repeated. "Why, it hasn't been more than ten minutes since I fell asleep."
"You are not awake yet. It's twenty minutes past three," and the man looked at his watch, as if to assure himself that he had made no mistake. "Now, what is the matter, and where did you leave Harvey?"
Jet gazed around him in bewilderment at the thought that he had been sleeping so long; but as the man asked these last questions it seemed certain everything was all right, and he replied, without hesitation:
"I left Mr. Harvey wounded near a house about five miles from here."
Then he told the entire story, the men glancing triumphantly at each other as he proceeded.
"Can you lead us to the place?" one of them asked, when he concluded.
"Of course, that's what I waited for."
"How many men has Harvey with him?"
"Didn't you know he brought two from Albany?"
"So he did; I remember now. And they are shut up in the house?"
"I suppose so."
"Then the sooner we leave the better, for it stands us in hand to arrive about daybreak."
"Are you well armed?"
"Don't worry about us, my son. We know what we are about when we start on a job like this."
"I only spoke because they have been shooting pretty lively."
"Things will be changed when we get there," was the reply in a significant tone.
"If you are ready, we'll tramp along."
Jet leaped to his feet, feeling woefully stiff and sore; but the thought that he was guiding those who would aid Harvey served to make him forget, in a measure, his weariness.
He led the way down the track to that portion of the woods with which he was familiar, and then struck across the country, walking so rapidly that more than once his companions insisted on less speed.
"We must get there as soon as possible," he said, slackening his speed unwillingly.
"A few minutes more or less can't make any difference, and we were mighty nigh used up before we started. The next time Harvey undertakes a job I hope he'll have sense enough to carry it through without calling on all the men in the country."
Jet was about to make an angry protest against this criticism of his friend, but he reflected that it would not be well to get into a controversy, and more especially when he could better employ his breath.
He continued on as rapidly as his companions would permit, stopping to rest only when they insisted upon it, and succeeded in making such good headway that the sun had not yet shown himself when they arrived at a point near the house.
"Here we are," Jet said, as he halted and listened for some sound which would give him an inkling of the position of affairs.
"Where is the building?"
"About a hundred yards in that direction," and Jet pointed toward the east.
"Are you certain Harvey and his men are there?"
"I know the men are inside, if they obeyed orders; but I'm afraid the villains have got Mr. Harvey. Say, we must have walked mighty quick, if it was past three o'clock when you wakened me, for it isn't daylight yet."
"I said you was rushing too fast. Now, how are we to get inside?"
"Go over the wood-pile on this side."
"They'll shoot, not knowing who we are."
"Whistle twice while you are in the woods, and wait for an answer before coming out of cover. That was the signal agreed upon."
"Then, you young cub, I reckon we are through with you," and as the man spoke, he clasped Jet tightly around the waist, while his companion clapped his hand over the boy's mouth.
Jet was taken so completely by surprise that he did not struggle for an instant, and then the humiliating truth began to dawn upon him.
"Where is the rope you brought to tie him with?" the man who was holding Jet asked, and after a moment's pause the other said with a curse:
"It has slipped out of my pocket while we were coming through the woods. Now, what shall we do?"
"You can manage to spoil a good thing quicker than any fellow I ever knew. Why didn't you look out for it?"
"Because I didn't," was the surly reply. "If I'd had my way, these fools would have been left to take care of themselves."
"Don't turn rusty now when our work is about done. Use a stick of wood for a gag, and tie it in with your handkerchief."
When this had been done, and it required several moments, owing to the shortness of the impromptu rope, Jet's hands were secured with another handkerchief, and his body lashed to a tree with a pair of suspenders. In this position he was unable to make any outcry; but he felt positive he could release himself from the bonds after two or three attempts.
"Now, listen to me," one of the men said, in a low tone, as he shook his fist unpleasantly near Jet's nose. "I reckon you're made fast here; but if by chance you should find anybody fool enough to untie you, and undertake to run away, it will be a case of shooting you on sight. You've been too fresh altogether, and both Joe and Bob are to blame for not having taken the wind out of your body long ago."
Jet made no reply, for the very good reason that it was impossible for him to speak, and the men walked hurriedly away in the direction of the house.
That he had suffered himself to be thus fooled caused the boy more distress of mind than did the fact of his being powerless at the very time when he was most needed.
The real officers would soon arrive from Albany; but if no one met them at the depot they could do nothing, since they had no idea of the location of the house.
His whole night's work had resulted only in bringing aid to the enemy, and what made the situation worse was the fact that he had explained how the villains could gain access to the house without a struggle.
"If Mr. Harvey knew what I had done he'd give over trying to help me along, in case we ever do get out of this scrape," he said to himself. "I ain't fit even to carry a message, let alone trying to help a regular detective."
Then came the thought that Mr. Harvey might no longer be alive, and this caused Jet such mental distress that several moments passed before he was sufficiently composed to make any attempt at effecting his own rescue.
He began by stiffening his muscles and throwing his body forward, with the idea of stretching the suspenders to such an extent that he could crawl out of them; but was suddenly stopped by hearing sounds as of some one coming through the underbrush.
The only thought in his mind was that one of the enemy was coming to kill him, and he redoubled his efforts until a familiar voice whispered:
"Jet, Jet! Is it you?"
He could not reply in words; but he managed to give vent to a faint moan, at the same time moving his feet over the dead leaves to make a yet louder noise.
"It's me, Harvey," the voice continued. "I heard a couple of men talking about having left some one tied up, and thought it must be you."
While he spoke the detective continued to advance, drawing himself along the ground by the hands, as if his lower limbs were useless, and on reaching Jet raised his body with an effort until he could feel the bonds which held the boy.
It was but the work of an instant to remove the gag, and untie his hands, after which he could finish the work without assistance.
"Did you send the message?" Harvey asked, eagerly.
"Yes, and made a fool of myself afterward," Jet replied, quickly.
"Tell me what you mean, and speak quickly, for there is no knowing how long we may be able to talk with each other."
In the fewest words possible the boy related the events of the night, sparing himself not one whit, and when he had finished the detective said, soothingly:
"An older hand than you might have been taken in. They probably got a glimpse of your telegram, and were thus able to deceive you, so don't feel badly."
"But they will now be able to get into the house."
"I'm not so sure of that. Those there must fancy that one or both of us were hurt in the scrimmage, and would look mighty close before letting two enter without a struggle."
"Are you wounded badly?" Jet asked.
"My leg is useless, and I lost considerable blood before I had time to get a bandage around it."
"How did you give them the slip?"
"After you left I fired two rounds, and then crawled into the bushes. They didn't dare to hunt me out while it was dark, because I could have killed the first who came near, so I had a chance to circle around the clearing. I wanted to be here when you came up with the reinforcements."
"Have the fellows in the woods done much firing?"
"No; they have kept mighty quiet, and I'm hoping that some of our bullets hit the mark by chance. We must get out of here as soon as possible. Can't you find something that would answer as a crutch? Thus far I've hunted in vain."
"I'll do better than that, Mr. Harvey, if you'll get on my back."
"You can't carry me."
"Indeed I can for a while, and at a good pace."
At that instant a shrill whistle sounded twice, and Jet said, in a mournful tone:
"Now they are trying to get into the house."
"There's the answer," the detective said, a moment later. "We shall hear some firing soon, whether they are successful or not."
He had hardly ceased speaking when the sound of firearms rang out on the still air, and Harvey exclaimed, as he pointed toward the sky:
"We'll hope they tried their plan too late. Day is breaking, and in the clearing it should be possible to distinguish the forms of men quite distinctly. If our fellows are fooled, I fancy we shall never see them again."
"Are we to leave without making one try to give them warning?"
"It is too late now, and was when I first found you. I'll see if you can carry me a short distance, and then we must find a hiding-place, for whether they are successful in this scheme or not, the counterfeiters will soon be on the hunt for me."
For Harvey to attempt to walk, however good a crutch might be found, would have been foolhardy, for it was only with the greatest difficulty he could stand upright.
Jet understood this quite as well as did the detective and he also knew there was no time to be lost, if they expected to find a hiding-place before the day had fairly dawned.
"I am going to take you on my back," he said in a decided tone, "and we mustn't fool around here talking about it. Will you climb up without making a row, or must I use force?"
"I will obey," Harvey replied with a smile, as Jet backed toward him, and a few seconds later the boy was making his way through the underbrush.
Jet's burden was heavier than he had anticipated, and he staggered from side to side before twenty yards had been traversed, causing Harvey to say firmly:
"It is no use for you to try anything of the kind, Jet. This will only result in both of us being overhauled."
"Here's a place where we can stop for a rest," and Jet halted in front of a thick clump of fir bushes. "By crawling in there we shall soon be out of sight, and I'll start back for the depot as soon as you think it is safe."
He lowered the detective gently to the ground, aided him in making his way through the tangled underbrush to the center of the clump, and then returned to the outside of the little thicket, in order to replace the branches and foliage generally to their ordinary position, that those who should come in search might not be able to see the trail.
This done he skirted around to the opposite side, and entered in a manner which would have done credit to an Indian.
"Now you've got a chance to tie up your leg as it ought to be," he said. "Shall I take that handkerchief off?"
"I don't think it will pay to disturb it, my boy. The flow of blood has been stopped, and might start again if the compress was removed. Besides there is no water with which to wash it."
"How long are you counting on staying around here?"
"Until you can get to the town, and send some one back to help me in. I couldn't crawl that far in a month."
"Then the sooner I go the better," and Jet rose to his feet, despite the fatigue which almost overpowered him.
"Wait a while. In the first place, you need rest, and secondly, those men will soon come back to find you, after which a hunt is certain to be made for both of us. Hold on until we see what they are going to do, in order to the better decide upon our own course of action."
Jet was not sorry to sit down again, although, in view of the desperate situation, he knew he could afford to halt but a short time.
"Do you think you can make another round trip to-day?" Harvey asked after a short pause.
"It has got to be done, so there's no use in thinking anything about it. What troubles me is how you are going to get along without food or water while I am gone."
"Probably in the same way you will keep on your feet after having walked nearly all night—by sheer force of will."
"But suppose——"
Jet ceased speaking very suddenly, for at that instant the sound as of some one coming through the underbrush was heard.
Harvey drew his revolver, and Jet followed his example.
Both weapons were fully loaded, and those in hiding knew it must be a fight to the death, if they were discovered.
By parting the bushes in front of him slightly, Jet could see through to where the foliage was less dense, and, as he did so, Joe, the tall man who had been the cause of all his trouble, came in view, walking slowly, and peering from side to side.
That he was searching for Harvey there could be no doubt, and, seeing him alone, a bold plan came into Jet's mind.
Without making any sign to his companion he began to move noiselessly toward the new-comer on his hands and knees, arriving at the edge of the bushes just as Joe had passed.
Harvey laid his hand on Jet's leg as a signal for him to come back; but the boy paid no attention to the mute command.
Joe had halted about three feet from the edge of the bushes, and was evidently trying to decide in which direction he should go, when Jet rose up behind him so noiselessly that not even the rustling of a leaf could have been heard.
By reaching up, he could just touch the back of the man's head, and, suddenly pressing the muzzle of the revolver against the fellow's neck, he said quickly:
"Throw up your hands or I'll fire!"
Under such circumstances there was but one thing for Joe to do.
He raised both hands, not daring to so much as turn his head, and Jet continued, sternly:
"Stay where you are, or a bullet goes into your head. I ain't sure, anyway, but what it would be better to shoot first and talk afterward."
Harvey understood from the words exactly what had been done, and Jet heard him crawling out from the bushes, in order to assist at the capture.
"Take your time, sir," the boy said, calmly. "I've got this fellow where he won't care to run the chances of wiggling very much."
"I'll kill you some day," the man growled, hoarsely.
"You won't try it for quite a while yet. Look out. Hold your hands higher!"
This last remark was called forth as Joe lowered his arms ever so slightly, probably for the purpose of learning if his captor was on the alert.
By this time Harvey had managed to crawl from his place of concealment, and, at the expense of severe pain, raised himself to his feet directly in front of the prisoner.
"Keep your revolver where it is, and fire at the least show of resistance," he said to Jet, as he proceeded to search Joe's pockets.
"Now, lower your hands, but don't take a step forward," he said when the man's weapons and money had been thrown on the ground.
Joe obeyed sullenly, and Jet heard the dick of a pair of handcuffs as they were fastened on the former's wrists, with his arms behind his back.
"Now sit down," the detective said, as he gathered up two revolvers, an ugly looking dirk-knife and a well-filled pocket-book.
Joe obeyed in silence, but if a glance could have killed, his captors would soon have been lying lifeless before him.
"Hadn't we better take him into the thicket?" Jet asked.
"No. Stand in front of him while I write a note. Now, you must start for the town without delay."
"And take this fellow along?"
"Certainly; we can't afford to run the chances of a rescue."
It was such a job as Jet did not fancy, but he made no protest.
When Harvey had ceased writing on a leaf of his note-book, he handed it to Jet as he said:
"March your prisoner into the first town you come to, and demand to be shown to a magistrate. Give him the letter, which will explain the outlines of who this fellow is, and tell him all of the story save such as is connected with the murder. That we will keep secret for a while. Then telegraph to the inspector to send an officer without delay to carry him to the city."
"Is that all, sir?"
"Except as to the manner of traveling. Keep your prisoner in advance, and do not hesitate to shoot if he fails to obey every reasonable order. Above all, do not allow him to face you."
"Suppose some of the gang should overtake us?"
"Put this fellow in front and let them shoot through him if they choose. Aim to kill or seriously disable if you are attacked, and in order that there be no lack of ammunition, take one of his revolvers in addition to your own. By dividing his cartridges we shall each have enough to stand quite a siege."
"What about sending help to you?"
"I hope the officers from Albany will wait around the depot until you arrive, when they can decide what is best to be done; but don't make another mistake as to the identity of those you want to see."
"I reckon I shan't fall into the same kind of a trap for a long while to come."
"Get something to eat while you are in town, and take a short rest. Matters won't be very serious here until nightfall."
"I shan't stop long, for it would be a pretty poor sort of a fellow who couldn't walk twenty miles under these circumstances."
"Do as you choose; you have money enough for all expenses, and it may be as well to hire a saddle horse to carry me back."
"I'll attend to everything," Jet replied, "and the sooner I leave the better."
"You are right. Remember what I said about shooting the prisoner if he shows a disposition to turn rusty, and keep him in front of you."
"I won't forget, sir."
"Then good luck to you."
Harvey held out his hand, Jet grasped it for an instant, and said to his prisoner:
"Get up now, and go ahead at your best pace. You have heard the advice given me, and I shall act upon it without hesitation."
Joe looked sullenly around and then obeyed, asking as he set out:
"Which way shall I walk?"
"Straight ahead. I reckon you know the road better than I do."
"That's a fact. There is a short cut after we get down here a bit, which will save nearly two miles of distance."
"Don't let him guide you," Harvey shouted, he having heard the remark. "Keep on the course you are familiar with."
"Never fear I'll let him show me anything," Jet replied cheerily, and he ordered the man to step out more briskly.
During the next ten minutes the two walked at a rapid pace in silence, and then Joe said without turning his head:
"I suppose you count on making a big pile by taking me to prison?"
"That's where you are mistaken. I'm only trying to square things after the scrape you got me into."
"Would you like to make five thousand dollars?"
"Of course I would."
"Then unfasten these handcuffs, and I'll guarantee to give you that amount within the next three days."
"More likely you'd give me a clip over the head. But even if I was certain of having the money, you couldn't get away, so walk on briskly and don't let me hear you speak again."
Joe glanced savagely around at the boy, and there was that in his face which told what desperate chances he would take in order to effect his escape.
"He's studying mischief," Jet said to himself, "and I've got to look sharp, or find myself in the soup as I was this morning."
At the best it was a difficult task to walk at any degree of speed through the woods; but the labor was more than doubled by having a prisoner over whom it was necessary to keep the strictest watch.
During the first hour Jet thought it would be impossible for him to hold out to reach the town; but the knowledge of what the result would be, not only to himself, but to those whom he had left behind, enabled him to battle against the fatigue which threatened to overpower him.
Not a word had been spoken since Joe made the proposition to purchase his liberty, until fully an hour passed, and then he said in a meek tone:
"Don't you think it is about time to take a rest? I'm pretty nigh played out."
Jet was only too willing to do so, and said:
"Sit down at the foot of that tree; I'll stay in the rear as Mr. Harvey advised."
"What damage do you think I could do with my arms handcuffed behind me?"
"That is exactly what I don't know, and shall take good care you haven't a chance to show me."
"I don't deny that I would run a good many risks rather than be taken to jail; but at the same time I'm not such a fool as to kick when there isn't the least show of getting the upper hands."
"You are wasting your breath talking to me in that manner, for I intend to follow Mr. Harvey's advice to the letter."
Joe's face was contorted with a grimace of rage as Jet thus showed that it would be impossible to wheedle him into carelessness, and, suddenly changing his tone, he said, angrily:
"You don't have any idea of the trap you're running into. There's more belonging to our gang than that fool detective fancies, and the minute we show up in town you'll be marked."
"That won't hurt I reckon."
"It will be enough to cause your death."
"Then I'm to be murdered, eh?"
"That is exactly what will happen when any of our crowd get the chance, and you may make sure they won't lay down till you're out of the way."
"Well?"
"That's all, unless you're willing to make a trade with me. There'll be more in it than by sticking to Harvey, who'll throw you over as soon as this job is finished."
"Get up and make another start," Jet said, abruptly. "If you have rested enough to talk, I reckon you can push ahead."
"You'll regret not having listened to me while there is a chance."
"Get up!"
The man obeyed with a very bad grace, and once more the two were traveling at a fair rate of speed toward the village.
Twice again during the journey did Joe attempt to bribe or frighten his captor, and desisted from his efforts only when they were within sight of the town.
This walking through a settlement behind a man at whose head a cocked revolver is held, naturally created considerable excitement, and Jet found himself surrounded by a curious throng before he had reached the main street.
The thought occurred to him that among these people might be friends of his prisoner, and his anxiety became even greater than while they were in the woods.
He was overwhelmed with questions; but refused to make any explanations, asking simply that some one would show him the nearest magistrate's office, and his silence served to anger the crowd.
"Are we going to let a boy walk through this town with his revolver at a man's head?" one of the party shouted, angrily, and Joe's face lighted up wonderfully.
"I'm an innocent man whom a party of villains are trying to down," he cried. "If there are any here who like fair play, take me along decently, rather than in this style. I can explain who and what I am."
"Shove that boy out of the way!" another member of the crowd shouted, and Jet believed his prisoner was about to be rescued.
Drawing his second revolver, he held it in his left hand, as he said firmly:
"This fellow has nearly killed a detective who was sent to arrest him, and I have the proof of that in my pocket, which I will show to the magistrate. My orders were to deliver him up to justice, and make sure he didn't give me the slip. If any one interferes, I shall fire first at the prisoner, and then at him who dares try to help him."
Just for an instant the crowd fell back, and then the man who had first spoken, cried angrily:
"Hasn't somebody got the nerve to knock that cub down? I'll see to it that the prisoner is taken before the magistrate in a proper manner."
"That's a fair offer," Joe said, eagerly. "I'm willing to go along peaceably; but I don't want to walk with a revolver at my head, as if I was too dangerous to be in a town with my hands behind my back."
"Knock the boy down!"
"Shoot him!"
"Don't let such an outrage be committed in our town!"
"Will you let a cub like that play the part of desperado in a quiet village?"
These and similar shouts were heard as the throng drew nearer Jet, who now understood that Joe's friends must be making the row for the purpose of releasing the prisoner, and he looked around in vain for a friendly face.
"Will no one help me do my duty?" he cried.
"We'll take the man to the magistrate decently," some one replied.
"That simply means that a few of you are determined on a rescue."
He would have said more; but Joe's pals, fearing the influence his words might have upon the crowd, drowned his voice by angry shouts.
Jet realized that the crisis was at hand.
He and his prisoner had just turned down the main street, and the plot must be carried out at once.
Half a dozen men had crowded so near that they could easily have thrown him to the ground before he would have an opportunity to use his weapons.
It was high time to carry his threat into execution; but he knew that the instant he fired for the purpose of keeping the nearest back, his prisoner would be torn from him.
"I have failed at the moment when I thought the work was done," he said to himself, despairingly, and at that instant two men ranged themselves either side of him.
"Have you been sent here by Harvey?" one of them asked, and Jet could have shouted for very joy, for he understood these must be the officers who had come from Albany.
"Yes, and this is one of the men he was so anxious to arrest."
"Where is he now?"
"Hiding in the woods, wounded so badly that he can't walk."
"And the others?"
"Penned up in the building with a prisoner."
During this short conversation the crowd had grown more unruly, and were now clustered around Joe so closely as to impede his progress.
The officer who had been speaking to Jet motioned to his companion, and the two sprang in front of the prisoner, as the former shouted:
"Make way, or I shall do more than the boy promised," and he drew a revolver.
"Who are you?"
"Officers from Albany who have come to assist in the arrest of this man. The first who interferes shall be taken in custody, and I warn you that it is a serious matter to try to rescue a prisoner."
This short speech had a decidedly good effect upon the majority of the crowd, who fell back at once; but Joe's friends had not yet despaired of success.
They faced the officers boldly, trying to force their way between the prisoner and Jet, and in a twinkling two of them were seized by the strangers, who clasped bracelets on their wrists without delay.
"If there are any more who want to try the same, we've got plenty of time to attend to them, for all we ask is a chance to pick out this fellow's pals."
The street was now cleared, each member of the throng endeavoring to be the first to escape suspicion, and the officers called to Jet:
"Start your man along lively. We'll lead you to a magistrate, and then come back for a few of those who were shouting the loudest."
Ten minutes later Jet's work was accomplished. The prisoners were confined in the village lock-up, and a message sent to the inspector, detailing what had been done.
Before Jet had finished the meal he was so much in need of, an answer came.
It read as follows: