lkily. "But I don't know
how long they were goin' ter stay there."

"Where were they going to take Captain Moore?"

This question came as a surprise to the desperado.

"Wot do yer know about dat?" he cried.

"Answer the question."

"Goin' ter take him to dat same cave, first."

"And then?"

"Dey was bound fer Lone Creek, up to where old Cimber onct had a claim."

"You are telling me the truth? Remember, if you put me on the wrong
trail----"

"It's the truth, Benson. But, say, don't be rough on me. I aint such a
bad egg. Dat shootin'----"

"I know all about you, Anderson. Now come with me."

Reaching down, the old scout untied the rascal's feet, that he might
walk, and then forced Anderson to journey to the big hole.

Here they found the other two desperadoes sitting at the bottom,
growling over their luck and speculating upon what old Benson intended
to do next.

"If you leave us here we'll die of hunger and thirst," said one.

"No, you won't," answered the old scout. "You've got your hands to work
with, and if you aint lazy you can dig your way to the top inside of
twenty-four hours."

"And our hosses?"

"I'll take care of them, Riley. If you want 'em again you can get 'em by
applying at the fort."

"At the fort!"

"Exactly, and in the meantime we'll keep them in exchange for the
animals Matt Gilroy stole, when I and my friends were stopping at Hank
Leeson's cabin."

With the desperadoes safe for the time being at the bottom of the hole,
old Benson set off without delay for the cave near Bald Top Mountain, as
it was called for years by Rocky Mountain pioneers. He rode his own
horse, leading the others by his lariat, which he always carried with
him.

He fully realized that there was danger ahead, and that if he wanted to
assist his friends he must move with caution. He knew that Captain Moore
had been made a prisoner, but whether or not Joe and Darry had been
captured also was still a question.

Coming in sight of the spot where the cave was located, he dismounted
and tied all the horses in the woods at the foot of a slope. Then he
crawled forward until he was within a hundred feet of the entrance to
the cave.

He was just in time to see Fetter depart on his mission. The desperado
passed within fifty yards of where the horses were stationed, and for
several minutes Benson was fearful that the animals would be discovered.
But Fetter was looking in another direction, and so saw nothing of t