Still with the thought of the Company men in her mind, the girl saw only their usual courtesy.  “Thank you,” she said, “I can handle him very nicely.”

But the man—­whom she had not had time to see, blinded as she had been by the light, and who was now only dimly visible in the darkness—­stepped close to the horse’s shoulder, as if to make himself more easily heard above the noise of the machine, his hand still holding the bridle-rein.

“It is Miss Andres, is it not?” He spoke as though he was known to her; and the girl—­still thinking that it was one of the Company men, and feeling that he expected her to recognize him—­leaned forward to see his face, as she answered.

Instantly, the stranger—­standing close and taking advantage of the girl’s position as she stooped toward him from the saddle—­caught her in his powerful arms and lifted her to the ground.  At the same moment, the man’s companion who, under cover of the darkness and the noise of the machine, had drawn close to the other side of the horse, caught the bridle-rein.

Before the girl, taken so off her guard could cry out, a softly-rolled, silk handkerchief was thrust between her lips and skillfully tied in place.  She struggled desperately; but, against the powerful arms of her captor, her splendid, young strength was useless.  As he bound her hands, the man spoke reassuringly; “Don’t fight, Miss.  I’m not going to hurt you.  I’ve got to do this; but I’ll be as easy as I can.  It will do you no good to wear yourself out.”

Frightened as she was, the girl felt that the stranger was as gentle as the circumstances permitted him to be.  He had not, in fact, hurt her at all; and, in his voice, she caught a tone of genuine regret.  He seemed to be acting wholly against his will; as if driven by some power that rendered him, in fact, as helpless as his victim.

The other man, still standing by the horse’s head, spoke sharply; “All right there?”

“All right, sir,” gruffly answered the man who held Sibyl, and lifting the helpless girl gently in his arms he seated her carefully in the machine.  An automobile-coat was thrown around her, the high collar turned up to hide the handkerchief about her lips, and her hat was replaced by an “auto-cap,” pulled low.  Then her captor went back to the horse; the other man took the seat beside her; and the car moved forward.

The girl’s fright now gave way to perfect coolness.  Realizing the uselessness of any effort to escape, she wisely saved her strength; watchful to take quick advantage of any opportunity that might present itself.  Silently, she worked at her bonds, and endeavored to release the bandage that prevented her from crying out.  But the hands that had bound her had been too skillful.  Turning her head, she tried to see her companion’s face.  But, in the darkness, with upturned collar and cap pulled low over “auto-glasses,” the identity of the man driving the car was effectually hidden.