put the question to Captain Villaire. The Frenchman scowled deeply and shrugged his shoulders. "I had my reason," he said briefly. "Will you come with me?"
Before Randolph Rover could answer there came a shout from behind several trees.
"Look out fo' yourselves!" came in Aleck's voice. "Dis am a trap!"
"A trap!" repeated Dick, when of a sudden a half dozen men rushed at him and Randolph Rover and surrounded the pair. In a twinkle, before either could use his pistol, he was hurled flat and made a prisoner.
"Bind them, men," ordered Villaire sternly. "And bind them well, so that escape is impossible."
"Run for the house, Aleck!" yelled, out Dick, before those on top of him could choke him off. "Save Tom and Sam!
"I will!" came from the faithful black. And off he sped at top speed, with three or four of Captain Villaire's party after him. Cujo also went to the house, bewildered by what was going on and hardly knowing how to turn.
Randolph Rover fought desperately and so did Dick. But the two were no match for the six men who had attacked them, and ere they knew it the Rovers were close prisoners, with their hands bound behind them and each with a dirty gag of grass stuffed in his mouth.
"Now march, or you will be shot," came in bad English from one of the Villaire party. And as there seemed nothing better to do they marched, wondering why they had been attacked and where they were to be taken. Their arms had been confiscated, so further resistance was useless. When Dick lagged behind he received a cruel blow on the back which nearly sent him headlong.
A journey of several hours brought the party to a small clearing overlooking the Congo at a point where the bank was fully fifty feet above the surface of the stream. Here, in years gone by, a rough log hut had been built, which the African International Association had once used as a fort during a war with the natives. The log hut was in a state of decay, but still fit for use and almost hidden from view by the dense growth of vines which covered it.
The men who had brought Randolph Rover and Dick hither evidently knew all about the hut, for they proceeded to make themselves at home without delay. Taking the Rovers into one of the apartments of the dilapidated building they tied each to the logs of the walls, one several yards from the other.
"Now you must wait until Captain Villaire returns," said the leader of the party in French. "He will be here before daylight."
"But what does this mean?" demanded Randolph Rover.
"He will tell you what it means," grinned the brigand, and walked away to another part of the hut, which was built in a long, rambling fashion, and contained a dozen or more divisions.
"We are in a pickle," remarked Dick dismally. "This is hunting up father with a vengeance."
"We won't despair yet, Dick. But I would like to know what this means."
"It probably means robbery, for one thing, Uncle Randolph. And it may mean death." And the youth, shuddered.
"If I am not mistaken I saw some of these rascals hanging around the hotel in Boma."
"That is more than likely. They have been watching their chance to attack us ever since we left the town."
Slowly the hours wore away until morning dawned. The positions of both Dick and his uncle were most uncomfortable ones, and the youth was ready to groan aloud at the strain put upon his shoulders through having his arms tied behind him.
At last they heard footsteps approaching from the opposite end of the rambling building.
"Somebody at last!" cried Dick.
He had scarcely spoken when Captain Villaire appeared, followed by — Dan Baxter!
CHAPTER XVIII
A DEMAND OF IMPORTANCE
Dick could scarcely believe the evidence of his own eyesight as he gazed at the former bully of Putnam Hall and the Frenchman who stood beside him.
"Baxter! Is it possible!" he gasped. "What brought you here?"
"Are you a prisoner, too?" put in Randolph Rover.
"A prisoner!" laughed Baxter. "Well, that's a good one, I must say. No, I am not a prisoner."
"And what brought you here?" went on Mr. Rover.
"Can't you imagine?"
"He is in with these rascals who have captured us," came quickly from Dick. "This is how you repay our kindness, Baxter?"
"Your kindness? Bah! I want none of it. Didn't I refuse your offer, made just before you went away?"
"But you didn't refuse the first money we gave you, Baxter."
At this the bully bit his lip. "We won't talk about that, Dick Rover. Do you realize that you are absolutely in my power? How do you like it?"
"It was not you who captured us, Baxter."
"Well, it amounts to the same thing, eh, Capitan Villaire?" and the big boy turned to the French brigand, who nodded. "We collared you nicely."
"What of Sam and Tom?" asked Randolph Rover anxiously.
"Ve will not speak of zem udders," broke in Captain Villaire. "Ve vill speak apout you."
"Did Baxter put up this plot against us? queried Dick.
"To be sure I did," answered Baxter, who loved to brag just as much as ever.
"And before I let you go I'm going to make you pay up dearly for all that I have suffered. Captain Villaire, have you had them searched?" he asked, turning again to his companion.
"Yees, Baxter, but za had not mooch monish wid zem."
"How much?"
"Only about a hundred pounds."
"Then they left it behind at Binoto's place," was the quick answer. "Now if those others aren't captured — "
"Hush, ve vill not speak of zat," put in the brigand hastily. "Tell zeni what I haf tole you."
"All right, I will." Dan Baxter turned once more to the prisoners. "Do you know why you were brought here?"
"To be robbed, I presume," answered Randolph Rover.
"Or that and worse," said Dick significantly,
"I reckon I have a right to all of your money, Dick Rover."
"I don't see how you make that out, Baxter."
"Years ago your father robbed mine out of the rights to a rich gold mine in the United States."
"That's your side of the story. I claim, and so did my father, that the mine was ours."
"It's a falsehood. The mine was discovered by my fattier, and if everything had gone right he would have had the income from it."
"This is ancient history, Baxter. Come to business. What do you intend to do with us?"
"We intend to make money out of you," was the answer, given with a rude laugh.
"In what manner?"
"First you will have to answer a few questions."
"Zat ees it," put in Captain Villaire. "How mooch morlish you bring wid you from America?"
"We didn't bring much," answered Randolph Rover, who began to smell a mouse.
"How mooch?"
"About two hundred pounds."
"Humph, a thousand dollars!" sneered Baxter. "That won't do at all."
"You must haf brought more!" cried the French brigand angrily.
"Not much more."
"You