So night came on, and still they went forward. Frank wondered what their destination could be; but he saw they were taking a course that must bring them nearer the Queen Mystery Mine.
He wasted no words in seeking to engage any of them in conversation. All the while, however, his thoughts were busy. He wondered much if he could come safely through this perilous mischance and how it was to be accomplished. For Frank had not given up, and he had confidence that somehow he would find a way, or one would be opened to him.
CHAPTER IV.
IN THE OLD HUT
In a valley amid the hills that lay at the base of the barren mountains stood an old hut. Who had built it there? It seemed that it had, beyond doubt, been erected by some prospector. What fate had befallen the builder no man knew. The hut remained, weather-worn and falling to pieces.
The coming of another day found Frank Merriwell a captive in that hut, closely guarded. The ruffians had stopped there, for in the vicinity could be found wood and water, and feed for the horses.
Some time during the night they had been joined by Big Monte and the others who had turned back to secure the horses beyond the barrier in the ravine.
In the morning the men lay about in the vicinity of the hut. Two fires had been built, and breakfast was preparing.
Inside the hut an armed man kept guard over the captive. At intervals the guard was changed, but always a man was near with a pistol ready to shoot Merry down if he offered to make a break for freedom.
But Frank seemed strangely contented. After the ride through the night, he asked for a blanket to make himself comfortable, suggested in a pleasant way that it would be agreeable to have the cords about his wrists loosened a little, as they were chafing him and his wrists were swollen, and, when the ropes were entirely removed, then lay down on the blanket and went calmly to sleep.
Merry slept until one of the men brought him some breakfast. This fellow kicked him to awaken him, whereupon Frank looked up and observed:
"Gently, partner – gently! You don't have to kick in a rib in order to get my eyes open."
"Ef it wasn't fer ther boss," said the fellow, "I'd take a heap o' satisfaction in kickin' ev'ry dern rib outer ye!"
"Then I am thankful for the boss."
"Hush! Mebbe ye thinks so now; but wait till he gits round ter deal with ye. I opines he'll disterb ye some."
"Well, don't lead me into worriment before it is necessary," entreated Frank, with a smile. "As long as I'm comfortable, I see no reason to disturb myself over what may happen – for there is always a chance that it may not happen."
"Waal, not in this case. Ye've robbed us outer a clean two hundred dollars apiece by sendin' off them papers."
"Only that? Why, you seem to be cheap men! I should fancy it would take at least five hundred each to hire men to go out to commit robbery and murder."
"Thar ain't no robbery about it."
"Now, you don't tell me? Perhaps you are right, but the object was robbery, all right enough."
"Nary robbery! Ther papers belongs to ther gents what wants to git 'em an' what engaged Bill to do the job."
"Possibly I might convince you to the contrary if I had time; but just now I will admit that I'm remarkably hungry. Put down the feed right here on the floor, and I'll turn to directly."
As the man stooped to put down the stuff, as directed, he brought his head quite close to Frank's lips. In the fellow's ear Merry whispered:
"I'll make it one thousand dollars in your fist if you find a way to help me out of this scrape."
The man started a little, gave Frank a look, then glanced toward the armed guard, who had heard nothing.
Merry touched a finger to his lips, thus enjoining silence.
"Ha!" he exclaimed. "Thank Bill for me! This coffee smells most satisfactory. It will serve finely to wash down the hard bread and beef. To a healthy appetite, like mine, this will be a feast fit for an epicurean."
The ruffian looked at him in apparent wonderment.
"Fer a cool galoot, you sure are the limit!" he exclaimed.
Then he went out.
Frank wondered if his proposal to the fellow would bear fruit. He knew well enough that these men stood in great awe of Cimarron Bill; but would the greed of this one overcome his fears of the chief and lead him to attempt to set Frank at liberty?
That was a serious question.
Having eaten heartily, Merry once more made himself comfortable and slept.
When next he was awakened, Cimarron Bill himself was sitting near, smoking a Spanish cigarette.
"Good morning," said Frank.
"It's a long distance past morning," said the leader of the ruffians. "You've slept away the whole morning. You seem to be takin' it a heap easy and comfortable like."
"Just bottling up a little sleep in case of need," said Merry, sitting up and placing his back against the wall. "There's no telling when I may have to keep awake a whole lot, you know."
"Instead of keeping awake," said Bill, in a sinister manner, "you're a heap more likely to fall asleep some of these yere times an' never wake up."
"In that case, it will be of no consequence, so I am not losing anything by sleeping while I may."
The man surveyed Merry long and intently, as if trying to probe the nature of this cool youth. At last, he turned to the sentinel and dismissed him.
The sentinel went out, closing the door.
Bill lighted a fresh cigarette.
"Young man," he said, "I want to inform you right yere and now that it will do you no good whatever to try to bribe any of my men."
"Possibly not," said Frank noncommittally.
"You bet your life it won't!" said Bill emphatically. "Thar ain't one of them but what knows me, an', knowin' me, thar ain't one what would dare play me crooked. Savvy?"
"It's quite plain."
"It's straight goods, Merriwell. A while ago you offered one of 'em a thousan' dollars if he would find a way to get you out of this."
"Correct," admitted Merry immediately. "And had he accepted the offer and accomplished the job, I should have congratulated myself on getting off very cheap."
He had seen at once that it was useless to try deception or denial with Bill, and so he spoke frankly.
"That's right," nodded Bill. "A thousan' would be small money fer such a job; but it ain't no use, for none of them will take the job at that or five times as much. 'Cause why? 'Cause they knows me, Cimarron Bill, right well. They know I'd sure settle up with 'em if they done any crooked work. They have seen the notches in my guns. Some of 'em has seen me shoot."
"Well, my dear sir," smiled Merry, "I don't presume you fancied I would remain here like a man in a trance without trying to get away in some fashion?"
"I hardly opined that would be your style. But I has to warn ye that you has about one chance in fourteen million of gettin' off with a hull hide. I keep a guard inside and outside, besides another over the hosses. I don't want to shoot ye – now – but it sure will be done if you breaks an' runs fer it."
"Of course I'd have to take chances on that."
"Don't! But your offer to Jake has set me thinkin'. Somehow I kinder take to your style."
"Thanks!" laughed Merriwell.
"You has a heap of nerve for a youngster."
"Thanks again!"
"And I opine we'd make a pretty strong team together. Such bein' the case, I has a propersition to make to ye, whereby, in case you accepts, you gits outer this scrape in a hurry an' none the worse for