Here Louis was compelled to dismount, while his horse was led away with those of the mountaineers. With Jacks on one side of him and Hogwell on the other he was forced to enter the deserted and half-tumbled-down mill. The rain, which had let up for a bit, now came down as hard as ever. “Fetch a rope, boys, and we’ll bind him,” were Jacks’s next words, and this order was speedily obeyed, and in spite of a desperate struggle Louis was made a prisoner. He was then searched, and four dollars and his silver watch were taken from him--“as payment on thet insult at Lee Run”--so Jacks put it. Then the mountaineer began to question him closely about what he had seen and heard while in and about the town mentioned. But Louis was on his guard and revealed nothing, and this so angered the mountaineers they abused him roundly. “I’ll tell you what we’ll do, boys,” said Jacks, suddenly. “We’ll leave him bound up here until to-morrow morning. A night of cold and hunger will bring him to terms.” This was agreed to, and, as they did not wish to take along the extra horse, Jess was tied up in the mill beside Louis. Then with mocking adieus the rascals withdrew, leaving the lad to his fate. CHAPTER IV THE PROGRESS OF THE UPRISING It would be hard to put Louis’s feelings into words when he found himself alone once more. Here he was bound hands and feet to a corner post of the old mill, robbed of his valuables, and with the prospect of even harsher treatment in the morning. “They are thorough rascals, if ever there were any,” he thought, bitterly. “I believe they would murder me if they thought they could get anything more out of me by doing it. I’m in a scrape and no mistake. What’s to be done, Jess?” For reply the faithful mare bent her soft eyes on him and gave an unsatisfactory whinny. Evidently she felt something was wrong. On her back rested a rusty brown saddle, which one of the mountaineers had “swapped” for Louis’s new trappings. “It’s a shame the way they treated us,” went on the youth. “But never mind, only let us get away and some day we’ll get square, won’t we? I wonder how strong this confounded rope is?” Louis found it much stronger than expected--far too strong to be either stretched or broken--and a half-hour’s work upon it only sufficed to chafe his wrists and ankles to the blood-drawing point. He stopped his struggles and drew a long breath. “They understand tying a fellow up,” he murmured. “Is it possible I must remain in this dismal place all night?” It was not long before Louis was shivering, for he was wet to the skin, and the wind that was rising swept through every opening in the old mill. Jess, too, began to grow impatient, wanting her blanket and her noonday meal. Slowly the hours dragged by until nightfall. Louis had about given up all hope of getting free when through the wind he heard a broad, negro voice singing loudly: