“Marse Mainwaring, I wouldn’t go dar out ob sight o’ de odders,” said the thoughtful Ben. “I ’clar’ to goodness, I wouldn’t! You dunno what dar is in dem rocks. Maybe painters--maybe wolves.” There were wolves, indeed--but they were wolves in human shape, and Mainwaring soon found them, as he hurried on, despite of Ben’s entreaties. “You can go back if you’re afraid,” he said, most unjustly, to the faithful fellow. “I’se mighty ’fraid, Marse Mainwaring,” was the response. “But I’se comin’ with you.” Ben followed doggedly, willing to share the danger if he could not get Mr. Mainwaring to shun it. Just where a small chasm opened in the rocks, and Mainwaring stepped in to see if there was any sign of the girls there, he was confronted by half a dozen men, with leveled guns. Ben cried out from behind: “Look out, Marse Mainwaring! Dere’s men wid shootin’ irons!” Sure enough they were caught in a trap. A man of tall stature, with all of his face hidden except his nose and eyes by a tremendous black, bushy beard, cried out: “Stranger, you’re caught in a trap! If you’ve got any prayin’ ter do, do it quick--an’ then shell out! I see you wear a watch--an’ some diamonds. We’ll take them first an’ yer life afterwards!” “It might pay you better to think twice about taking my life,” said Mainwaring, growing suddenly calm, though at first he had been momentarily startled. “I can’t see that!” growled the leader of the gang. “Boys, knock that black man on the head! He’s not doing any good standing there!” “Don’t do dat, Marse White Man! Don’t do it! You’ll spoil dat gun if you do!” Ben’s expostulation--his look and his words--spoken as one of the men raised his rifle to strike him down, created such a roar of laughter from the gang that the man could not strike. “An’ it’s no use killin’ such a good cook an’ servant as I is. ’Fore de wah I’d have brought a heap o’ money--you bet I would!” Another laugh showed that Ben’s appeal had put his captors in something like a better humor, or else the rich spoil they had taken from Mainwaring had done it. For the man who seemed to lead the gang had found a full set of diamond shirt studs on the rich young rancher, a diamond ring, a fine watch, and a wallet full of money. “Rich--this chap sure is rich!” said the outlaw leader gleefully, as he showed the plunder to his mates. “Maybe he’s got more that could be reached, Bill Harkness. Let’s keep him till we find out about that,” suggested one of the men. “Well, I’ll agree to that,” said the leader. “We can make use of this black man, anyway, when we get to the cave. He says he can cook.” “I jest kin do dat, Marse White Man!” “Well, move on! We can’t stay here long, for some of your gang may likely be on our track.” The next moment a cry of surprise broke from the lips of Mainwaring and one of real joy from those of Ben. Two young girls, very pale and fatigued, but, even so, very beautiful, stood near some horses guarded by three or four armed men.