"Why should I jump back?" demanded Nora, turning a flushed face to her companions. What she saw, however, caused Nora to take a few slow steps backwards. Three revolvers were pointed over her head at the mountaineer. The revolvers were in the hands of Grace Harlowe, Lieutenant Wingate and Elfreda Briggs. The mountaineer saw the weapons at the same time. "Drop it!" bellowed Hippy. "Drop it or I'll bore you full of holes!" The mountain man permitted his grasp on his rifle to relax and the weapon fell to the ground. "Back up!" commanded Hippy. "Don't play any tricks, and keep your hands away from your holster. Keep him covered, Grace, while I dismount. You, fellow! Take notice! We know how to shoot, probably better than you do. If you try any tricks you'll get what's coming to you. Turn around and stand still with your hands as high above your head as they will go. Good!" Hippy dismounted and, with revolver at ready, stepped over to the man who was now standing with his back to the Overland Riders. "Don't make a move! I'm going to take your revolver," warned Lieutenant Wingate, pressing his own revolver against the mountaineer's back. He then jerked the fellow's weapon from its holster and tossed it behind him. Nora picked it up. "Turn around!" The mountaineer faced him, his face contorted with deadly rage. "I'll kill ye fer this 'ere!" threatened the man. "Not this evening you won't. Listen to me, Mister Man. We are not here to interfere with you or with your business, and we wish to be let alone. So long as we are let alone, we shall move along peaceably. When we are not, some one is going to get hurt right smart. Get me?" Hippy thrust out his chin pugnaciously. The mountaineer did not reply, but his eyes, and the malignant scowl on his face, voiced the thought that was uppermost in his mind. "Now turn around, face up the gully and sprint when I give the word. Don't you show up in this vicinity until to-morrow. You will find your rifle and revolver right here where I am standing. We don't want any such antiquated hardware. Don't stop until you get to the other end of the gully, if you value your life. Go!" The mountaineer started away at a brisk trot, never once looking behind him. "Shoot! Make him dance," urged Emma Dean excitedly. "No!" replied Grace incisively. "We are not savages." "Why didn't you 'con-centrate' on him and save us all this bother?" demanded Hippy. "Nora darling, I am proud of you," he said, turning to her smilingly. "But never do a crazy thing like that again. Even Emma Dean could do no worse. What's the next thing on the programme, Grace? Do we go on or do we camp here?" "I don't like the climate of Spring Brook at all. It is too warm and malarial for me," interjected Miss Briggs.