"What do you mean?" "He didn't lead us into a trap, did he? Bought off by the enemy, you know. He's part Indian, and you never can trust an Indian. Maybe these men hired him to fetch us this way. You know he acted sort of queer, lately." "Never!" said Jack, in as loud a whisper as he dared use without being overheard. "I'd trust John Smith with my life, Indian or no Indian. He's not in this game." "Then what made him run away and leave us?" asked Nat. "I don't call that sticking by your friends." "Maybe he went for help," suggested Nat. "I'll believe that when we see the help," Nat responded, in no gentle tones. "It looks queer." In fact the whole proceeding was a mystery to both boys. They could not imagine what the men would want to hold them captives for. Only Jack had an inkling. He believed the men were members of the band that had tried so long to get his father so they might play a trick on Mr. Tevis and gain the land. He believed they had been on his trail and that of his companions for some time, and had seized the first opportunity of capturing them. The seizure of his ring showed that, though he could not understand how they had mistaken Nat for John. However, that was natural, seeing the three boys were alike in general appearance, and Nat was almost as brown as John, from exposure to the sun. Down the trail for some miles the men led their captives and then they turned and ascended another way. The boys' hands and legs were beginning to get numb from the pressure of the thongs, and they were very tired. It was getting quite dark, but still they were led on. Suddenly, from the gathering darkness, there sounded a challenge: "Who's there?" CHAPTER XXXII THE ESCAPE "Two kings," was the answer from one of the men. "What kings?" was the query. "King Nate and King Sid," replied the first named, "and they have two loyal subjects with them." "Let the kings and their subjects proceed," the unseen voice went on, and a moment later the boys found themselves in front of a sort of cave in the mountain side, from the depths of which a fire glowed, disclosing the figures and shadows of several men. "Had luck, eh?" asked some one, and Nate replied with a grunt, at the same time asking if "grub" was ready. "Of course it is," one of those grouped about the fire replied. "But you might tell us how you made out." "Couldn't be better," replied Sid. "We got the two boys and one of the rings. We don't need two. I guess I can fix up a duplicate that will fool Tevis." "What you going to do with the kids?" another man inquired. "They're going to be a nuisance." "No, they won't," Sid answered. "We'll keep 'em here until we get what we want, and then we'll turn 'em loose. I'm not going to harm 'em."