"No; take his revolver, and search him for other weapons, as far as you can do so without disturbing the fellow and putting him in more pain. We'll let that hiding train crew move the casualties to the baggage car." So Noll completed his search, while the conductor, baggage-master and some of the brakemen, noting that the firing had stopped, ventured forth. "You trainmen take care of the dead and wounded," directed Major Davis crisply. "Terry, rejoin your comrade. I shall have to trouble you two men to stand guard over the prisoners in the baggage car until we reach Salida." Both recruits saluted. Noll returned to the track in time to find that the first man whom he and Hal had bowled over was just coming back to his senses. CHAPTER XII THE ROOKIES REACH FORT CLOWDRY ONCE more the train was under way. The engineer had taken his uncoupled engine some distance up the track, but had returned when sent for, and now the train, twenty additional minutes late, was crawling up the steep grade. The wounded men lay on the floor of the car, receiving the attentions of a physician who had been found among the passengers. The unwounded ones stood in a corner at the forward end of the car, Private Hal Overton, revolver in hand, watching the men closely. Noll, a revolver in either hand, stood a little past the middle of the car, looking wholly businesslike. Major Davis, having gone back to make sure that his own belongings were safe, now returned to the baggage car. "Fellow," he asked of the tall prisoner, "what on earth made you stop this train?" "Hard up," replied the man sullenly. "And a friend told us that the last time he held up a mail train, he and his pal found twelve thousand dollars in the registered mail pouches." "You'll find at least twelve years in the mail pouches this trip," retorted Major Davis grimly. Half an hour later a stop was made at a little tank station, to enable Major Davis to wire ahead to Salida for officers to be in readiness when they arrived. Then the train crawled on again through the inky darkness. Noll relieved Hal, presently, though there seemed little need of alertness. The two prisoners capable of fighting looked pretty well cowed. Down at the rear end of the car, covered with a rubber blanket, lay the rigid remains of the man killed by the major. Something more than an hour late the train pulled in at Salida. There was a crowd on hand, including four sheriff's officers. These latter came to the baggage car just before the train stopped. "Will you take full responsibility for the prisoners now?" asked Major Davis of one officer who led the rest and who displayed his badge. "Yes, sir," replied the deputy sheriff. "Then I'll go and have something to eat," smiled the major dryly. "My men, do you eat here, too?" "Yes, sir," Hal answered, saluting. It was not an invitation to join their officer. Both recruits fully understood that. The gulf of discipline prevents officers and men eating together.