We found Frederic and “Captain” Hance just dismounting at the Rock Cabin, and I told the former he was in custody for the present, and asked him where Miss Cullen and Lord Ralles were.  He told me they were just behind; but I wasn’t going to take any risks, and, ordering the deputy to look after Cullen, I went on down the trail.  I couldn’t resist calling back—­

“How’s your respiration, Mr. Cullen?”

He laughed, and called, “Digitalis put me on my feet like a flash.”

“He’s got the most brains of any man in this party,” I remarked to myself.

The trail at this point is very winding, so that one can rarely see fifty feet in advance, and sometimes not ten.  Owing to this, the first thing I knew I plumped round a curve on to a mule, which was patiently standing there.  Just back of him was another, on which sat Miss Cullen, and standing close beside her was Lord Ralles.  One of his hands held the mule’s bridle; the other held Madge’s arm, and he was saying, “You owe it to me, and I will have one.  Or if—­”

I swore to myself, and coughed aloud, which made Miss Cullen look up.  The moment she saw me she cried, “Mr. Gordon!  How delightful!” even while she grew as red as she had been pale the moment before.  Lord Ralles grew red too, but in a different way.

“Have you caught the robbers?” cried Miss Cullen.

“I’m afraid I have,” I answered.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

I smiled at the absolute innocence and wonder with which she spoke, and replied, “I know now, Miss Cullen, why you said I was braver than the Britishers.”

“How do you know?”

I couldn’t resist getting in a side-shot at Lord Ralles, who had mounted his mule and sat scowling.  “The train-robbers were such thoroughgoing duffers at the trade,” I said, “that if they had left their names and addresses they wouldn’t have made it much easier.  We Americans may not know enough to deal with real road agents, but we can do something with amateurs.”

“What are we stopping here for?” snapped Lord Ralles.

“I’m sure I don’t know,” I responded.  “Miss Cullen, if you will kindly pass us, and then if Lord Ralles will follow you, we will go on to the cabin.  I must ask you to keep close together.”

“I stay or go as I please, and not by your orders,” asserted Lord Ralles, snappishly.

“Out in this part of the country,” I said calmly, “it is considered shocking bad form for an unarmed man to argue with one who carries a repeating rifle.  Kindly follow Miss Cullen.”  And, leaning over, I struck his mule with the loose ends of my bridle, starting it up the trail.

When we reached the cabin the deputy told me that he had made Frederic strip and had searched his clothing, finding nothing.  I ordered Lord Ralles to dismount and go into the cabin.

“For what?” he demanded.

“We want to search you,” I answered.