Seeing the women and children of his party under safe guidance,
Mr. Carmody turned back to speak to their rescuer.

"Sir," asked the older man, "did you know that, on account of
the failure to raise the ransom money, we were all, even the babies,
to be put to death at sunrise?"

"Yes, sir," Dave nodded.

"Then perhaps you are able to understand the gratitude to which
I shall endeavor to give some expression as soon as we are in
a place of safety."

"It is not my wish to hear expressions of gratitude, Mr. Carmody,"
Dave Darrin answered. "As to safety, however, I fancy we are
safe enough already."

Mr. Carmody shook his head energetically.

"We have twenty men to the nine we saw in that house," Dave smiled.
"Surely they will not endeavor to attack us."

"Cosetta, the bandit, was he to whom you spoke in the house,"
replied John Carmody. "He has but a few men in the house, but
there are twenty or thirty more sleeping in the stables behind
the house. Altogether, unless he has sent some away, he must
have more than sixty men hereabouts."

"Then we must go on the double quick to our boat," returned Darrin.
"Hicks," he called down the straggling line, which was now just