"Well, 'tis an unpleasant subject to dwell upon, and I hasten on as fast as possible, yet telling all that is necessary for you to understand the matter. We--Mabel and I--were taken to the hill retreat of this Yellow Jack, and were, for a time at least, treated reasonably well. Then, however, as Mabel gave no signs of softening her manner toward him, he began to show his devilish nature by torturing her with fears for me. Finally, he gave her two days to decide; either to become his bride or see me murdered before her very eyes. "But we had a friend that he little suspected, in his wife--a beautiful woman who appeared to fairly worship the monster. The fear that Mabel would entirely supplant her in Yellow Jack's love, gave her the courage to foil his purpose by a daring stroke. In the middle of the night she set us both free and led us beyond the line of guards, then giving us the clue to finding the trail, she bade us begone--to suffer death rather than recapture, for after this her hands would be tied. She gave me these pistols, and a small package of food. Then she left us. "We journeyed by night, and lay hid among the rocks by day, well knowing that we would be pursued, and that the entire country would be scoured. To-day, for the first time, we ventured forth during daylight. You know the rest--how we found you, and how warmly we were welcomed by all," concluded Guilford, evidently deeply affected. "Then, if this band is so near, this train is in danger!" uttered Mitchell, in a troubled tone. "No, I think not. The band is not strong enough to openly attack such a train, and they would scarcely dare to form an ambush along the _regular_ trail. We only suffered through our traitorous guide. You are safe so long as you keep the main trail and see that your sentinels do not neglect their duty. True, you may chance to lose some stock, and care must be taken that stragglers do not wander far from the train, else the outlaws might wreak their spite upon them." "But our guide is gone--has deserted. How do we know whether we keep the right trail or not? Indeed, we may be straggling from it this very moment!" "You are right so far. The only danger of straying will be during the next two or three days. After that the route is plain and broad. But do you mean to say that you are _all_ new hands--that there are none here who have ever passed over the trail before?" "That is the fact." "Well, we must do the best we can. Though I have made one trip before this, I paid comparatively little attention to the trace, and don't suppose my judgment is much, if any, better than yours. Still, between us, I think we can manage to pick out the right course." Meantime the two maidens, Lottie Mitchell and Mabel Guilford, had already become fast friends, and picturing great enjoyment in each other's company during the remainder of the journey. CHAPTER V. WHERE WAS JACK TYRREL? Over a bed of gold.