Messenger No. 48 Part 23

"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 pa.s.sed.

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 circ.u.mstances 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 a.s.sist 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, hoa.r.s.ely.

"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 d.i.c.k 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 ident.i.ty 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 circ.u.mstances."

"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."