The girl calmly surveyed the scene. The half-dozen men appearing at the call of their chief seemed to be well trained, for two of them went to the heads of the horses, two more to either door of the coach, and the others awaited orders. The horseman rode close up to the side of the coach, his hand upon his revolver. "Harding, I see that you meditate resistance if opportunity offers, but let me warn you that you are a dead man the instant you make any attempt to escape or fire upon us. I would kill you now without the slightest hesitation, only I fear it would break up the line and travel to Last Chance, and that I do not wish. Dismount from that box, and, remember, my revolver covers you!" Harding obeyed in sullen silence. "Now, what freight have you on?" "I have the mails, and this lady passenger, but, low as you are, you will not rob her, I hope." "There was money sent through by you to Last Chance." "You pretend to know this, but I have no money for Last Chance." "I know better." "There is the coach, search it; but let me tell you, if you touch the United States mails you will have every soldier stationed at W---- and at Faraway on your track." "I believe you are right about that, and I do not care to fight the Government by robbing the mails; but the money I want." "I have not got any, I told you." "I do not believe you." "Then find it." "I will." A thorough search of the coach was made, and then the driver was searched, but without any money being found. "I know that the sum of thirty thousand dollars was to be sent by you to the miners in Last Chance." "You know this?" "Yes." "How?" "Never mind, but I know it." "Well, you see that your spy misinformed you." "As the money cannot be found it is a dead loss to me, and I hold you responsible." "All right, I am." "But, as I said, if I kill you no man will be found to take your place----" "Oh, yes, Doctor Dick will." "D---- Doctor Dick--I beg pardon, miss, but he refers to one whom I hate, and some day will be avenged upon." "Well, if you kill me you will have the chance, for he will drive." "With even that hope to get even with him, I will not kill you, yet I must have that money or a hostage." "Take me, then." "No, I could not realize the amount on you." "Then do without." "Not I, when there is a hostage at hand." "Who?" "This lady." "Coward! you would not dare." "Won't I? Then see, for that lady becomes my prisoner until I receive that money." "What money?" "The thirty thousand you beat me out of to-day." "How can you get it by taking me with you?" asked Celeste Seldon quietly. "Why, very easily, miss." "How so, may I ask?" "Harding will go on to Last Chance and report that I have you as my prisoner, to hold until the miners pay me the sum of--well, I'll add interest, so call it thirty-five thousand dollars." "The miners have nothing to do with me, sir, they do not even know me."