As soon as he felt that he was safe for the time being, Tom brought his horse down to a walk, in order that he might consider the situation. Where were the others? That was the all important question. He had escaped from the men who wished him harm, but he was now no better off than when he had fallen in with them. "But they are a good deal worse off," he thought grimly. "I don't believe they'll want to travel around very far on foot." It was now sunset, and the youth felt that night would soon be upon him. He did not know which way to turn, although of one thing he was certain--that he wished to keep as far away as possible from those who had held him a prisoner. Presently he gained the entrance to a small wood, and as it was now too dark to go on he determined to rest for the night. He tied up all of the horses and tried to make himself comfortable at the foot of a large tree. For a long time he could not sleep, but at last he dozed off. His sleep was full of horrible dreams, and his awakening was a rude one. CHAPTER XXVIII BILL NOXTON COMES TO GRIEF "We've found him, boys! Here's the hoss thief, with five o' the hosses with him!" "Git up thar, young feller, an' give an account o'yerself!" Tom did not hear these words, but he felt a sharp kick in the ribs and gave a gasp of pain and surprise. "Let up, Sam," he murmured. "Can't you keep your feet out of my--" He broke off short and stared around him. "Wha--what does this mean?" he stammered. Three men stood around him-rough-bearded men, each heavily armed. "It means thet we have collared ye!" answered one of the men sharply. "Git up!" And he kicked Tom again. "See here, keep your toe to yourself!" cried Tom hotly. "If you are Arnold Baxter's tools you can treat me half decently, anyway," and he leaped up and faced the crowd. "Who is Arnold Baxter?" questioned the leader of the men quickly. "I guess you know well enough." "Oh, all right if you don't want to talk. But let me say, young feller, thet you have got yerself in a fine mess. Don't yer know ez how they hang hoss thieves in these parts?" "A horse thief! What do you mean? I am no horse thief, if that's what you are driving at." Tom's straightforward manner appeared to impress all three men. But the leader shrugged his shoulders. "Ef ye aint no hoss thief, how is it ye hev got all these critters with ye?" he questioned triumphantly. "I can explain that easily enough. That horse is my own, purchased in Gunnison from Ralph Verbeck the dealer there. Those horses belong to a set of rascals who captured me and made me their prisoner. I got away from them, and to prevent them from following me I took their horses with me." "Hurmph! Thet's a slick story!" "It's the plain truth. Do I look like a horse thief?" "Not persackly, youngster. But two o' them hosses I know well, an' they war stolen. My pards hyer kin prove it."