Quickly Hal stepped behind the prisoner and out of sight of the
strangers, his revolver was pressed into Nicolas' back.

"No foolishness," he said in a low voice.

"Rather risky for you in these parts, isn't it, Nicolas?" said another of
the strangers.

Nicolas heeded Hal's advice.

"I'm with friends," he returned. "There are enough of us here to look out
for ourselves."

"Where are you bound?"

"Not far. I have a little business a couple of miles farther on."

"Want any company?"

Nicolas hesitated a moment and there came a queer gleam into his eye. And
before Hal could say a word, he replied:

"Well, you can come along if you want to."

This reply staggered the others a bit, but it was too late now. Hal saw
that he had not acted promptly enough, but to order Nicolas to change his
decision would have aroused the suspicion of the others. There was
nothing for it but to make the best of a bad situation.

"All right, we'll come along then, Nicolas," said the man who