“Yes, it is the belief of the colonel also that Miss Arden did the planning, and from what I know of her she is capable of it,” Major Lester said. “But where is she now?” the captain asked. “Ask the winds, Caruth,” said the major, and then he added: “And, Bill, where is Silk Lasso Sam?” “I surrender, sir.” “Explain, please.” “Well, sir, I followed the trail to the point down the valley there, and from the creek it divided into just seven trails.” “All going the same way?” “No, sir, going off like the fingers from your hand. I followed one, then the other, and then gave it up and waited for the coming of Captain Caruth and my scouts. I sent two men off on each trail, for I borrowed a soldier or two from Captain Caruth, and I turned in to rest, sir.” “Then you delay here until you get the reports from your scouts?” “Yes, sir.” “That is all that I can see to do, Lester.” “Yes, Caruth, you can do nothing else but wait,” was the major’s reply. CHAPTER XXIV. TREACHERY. The coach that carried the prisoner away from the fort progressed on its way until it neared Deep Dell Brook. Then Detective Raymond called out to the driver that the prisoner was not feeling very well, and he would like to give him a seat on top of the coach. This was allowed, and a seat was arranged behind Surgeon Powell and Horseshoe Ned. Then on the coach went once more. Neither Horseshoe Ned nor Surgeon Powell suspected treachery from behind them. They were prepared to resist any attempt at the rescue of the prisoner, should the coach be held up on the way. But behind the surgeon and the driver a plot was going on. The prisoner’s irons were quietly unlocked by Detective Raymond, and he was a free man. Then, at a given signal, the two suddenly brought a revolver down upon the head of the man immediately in the front of each. The coach was just moving out of Deep Dell Brook at the time. The blows were stunning ones, and the one delivered by the detective upon the head of the driver was very severe, for it cut to the bone, and was given with an indifference as to whether it killed or not. The blow received by the Surgeon Scout was less severe, perhaps because the benumbed hands of the outlaw chief were not able to strike so hard or perhaps because the man admired Frank Powell as he had said that he did. Horseshoe Ned fell heavily from his box to the ground, and the team stopped. Surgeon Powell also reeled, clutched at his revolver, and, turning, fired. His shot killed the pretended Detective Raymond, though he received a bullet himself in the shoulder, and dropped from the coach to the ground. Half-stunned as he was by the blow, and wounded, too, while the fall gave him a severe shock, he was no match for the outlaw chief, and the two men who leaped from the coach upon him. He was quickly secured, disarmed, and the manacles taken from Silk Lasso Sam were put upon him.