It was too absurd to really frighten her at first, for it apeared to
be a boy dressed up as a bandit, and surely any such prank could mean
nothing serious, she thought.

"Good afternoon," Dorothy said, attempting to pass.

A queer growl was her answer, and the figure in the Indian suit, with
a mask of red cloth, and all sorts of trappings hanging about from
belts and straps, actually pointed what seemed to be a real gun at
her.

"Hands up!" came the command.

Dorothy still felt like laughing. Surely this must be a trick of some
boy in the neighborhood, she decided.

"Hands up!" again came the command, this time the gun being
deliberately aimed at her head!

"What do you want?" demanded Dorothy. "Why should you stop me--with
your nonsense?"

Dropping the old-fashioned gun the boy (for such she decided the
person was) jumped at her, and grasped her hands, at the same time
making an effort to tie them, with a bit of rope from the belt
trappings.

"Stop! Stop!" Screamed Dorothy, now thoroughly frightened. "Help!
Help!" she yelled at the very top of her terrified voice.