This sneer did not disturb the equanimity of George Melville.
“I should be glad to believe the colonel were as innocent as he claims,” he said, “but his own words, overheard last night, contradict what he is now saying. When we have passed the spot indicated for the attack, we will release him, and give him the opportunity he seeks of leaving our company.”
The passengers resumed their places in the stage, with the exception of Herbert, who again took his seat beside the driver. George Melville had not mentioned that it was Herbert, not himself, who had overheard the conversation between the colonel and the land lord, fearing to expose the boy to future risk.
Col. Warner sat sullenly between the German and Benson. He was evidently ill at ease and his restless glances showed that he was intent upon some plan of escape. Of this, however, such was the vigilance of his guards, there did not seem much chance.
The stage kept on its way till it entered a narrow roadway, lined on one side by a thick growth of trees.
Melville, watching the colonel narrowly, saw that, in spite of his attempt at calmness, his excitement was at fever heat.
The cause was very evident, for at this point a tall figure bounded from the underbrush, disguised by a black half mask, through which a pair of black eyes blazed fiercely.
“Stop the stage!” he thundered to the driver, “or I will put a bullet through your head.”
The driver, as had been directed, instantly obeyed.
CHAPTER XXVII. COL. WARNER CHANGES FRONT.
It may seem a daring thing for one man to stop a stage full of passengers, and require them to surrender their money and valuables, but this has been done time and again in unsettled portions of the West. For the most part the stage passengers are taken by surprise, and the road agent is known to be a desperado, ready to murder in cold blood anyone who dares oppose him.
In the present instance, however, the passengers had been warned of their danger and were ready to meet it.
Brown--for, of course, the masked man was the landlord--saw four revolvers leveled at him from inside the stage.
“Let go that horse, my friend, or you are a dead man!” said Conrad Stiefel, calmly. “Two can play at your game.”
Brown was taken by surprise, but he was destined to be still more astonished.