He named a sum and Colonel Edwards agreed to pay it.

"Have them all brought out immediately," the Colonel instructed.

The man bowed and departed after pocketing the money the Colonel gave
him. Colonel Edwards returned to the others.

"It's all right," he said in a low voice. "Our horses are still here and
I have bought three more--one each for Nikol, Ivan and Nicolas."

"Good," said Hal.

He gathered his friends about him, Nicolas in the center, and in a few
brief words explained a plan he had hit upon:

"We'll walk slowly toward the barn," he said. "Nicolas will tell the
others to remain where they are." He eyed the traitor coldly. "Then we'll
dash into the barn and mount. When we are all ready, we'll make a dash
for it, shooting as we do so."

"As good a plan as any, I guess," said Colonel Edwards, after a moment's
hesitation. "Let's get started."

Slowly they moved toward the barn. Nicolas' friends, seeing him moving
away, followed, but still kept at some distance.

The friends entered the barn without being molested. The mountaineer had
just finished with the last horse and Hal gave the word for all to mount.