The three desperadoes went away as soon as the prisoners were in the hole back of the cabin; but Juniper Joe and Tim Benson informed Uncle Sam that they would be back in a short time, and “board” with him. The blond-haired man watched them through his darkened window as they melted out of sight down the hill; then he took up his lamp, unlighted, and unlocked the door which had been closed on the prisoners. Not until he had passed into the prison and had locked the door behind him did he light the lamp. The prisoners were lying on the floor, bound again hand and foot. “This is rough!” he said, holding up the lamp and looking at them. “You gan bedt idt iss!” the baron exploded. “Now, I’ll tell ye what I’ll do; I’ll take these cords off o’ you if you’ll give me your solemn word that you won’t try to get out and cause me to lose the money I’m to receive for holding you? What say?” “Ach! Cut ’em off!” “It seems to me that I can’t stand them on any longer,” spoke up the woman. Laughing, the man began to untie the cords. “I don’t want to cut ’em,” he explained, “and this takes time; but if you’ll have patience off they will come soon. Ye see, I may want to put ’em back on you, just as they are now.” “Donder und blitzen!” the baron sputtered, when once more he was free of the bonds that had chafed him. “Feels good, eh?” “Vot iss idt you ar-re going to do mit us now?” “You’ve promised to be good children, you know; which means that you won’t try to get away; and I’m goin’ to treat you accordingly. If any of that crew comes back, I’ll have to tie you up again; but until then I’m jest going to hold you on your word of honor.” “Idt iss der limidt.” “You mean _I_ am the limit?” “Idt iss yoost vot I mean.” “Had anything to eat lately, you two?” “Nodt anyt’ings.” “Well, you stay right here and be good, and I’ll bring you something.” “Why can’t we go out into the other room?” asked the woman. “It seems to me I’d give anything for a breath of fresh air.” “Well, you see, you couldn’t eat out there without a light, and a light might tell tales; so you’d better do the eating act in here.” “Yaw! Dot iss so,” the baron agreed. “How longk do ve haf to sday here?” The blond-haired man laughed. “Wow!” he gurgled. “I’ll have to keep you here as long as I get that thousand dollars a week. Unless,” he added, “you could make it fifteen hundred, and buy me off. I’m on the make.” He went out of the room, laughing. What he was doing seemed a joke. Ten minutes later, having supplied them with food, he left the cabin, locking the door on the outside. But he had not secured the hidden door leading from the cabin to the excavated room that was occupied by the baron and the woman. This door was pushed open, as Uncle Sam went away; and the woman, coming out for a “breath of fresh air,” stood at the one window, watching him as he disappeared down the hill. “Der ouder door iss locked, huh?” asked the baron. “Tightly locked,” she told him.