yards the advantage, and
before this could be overcome they were within sight of the store, from
which, attracted by the shouts, came Mr. Wright and a number of
employees.

All of these latter were armed, and the pursuers halted at a respectful
distance, while the boys dashed into the building breathless and nearly
exhausted.

It was several moments before Fred could repeat the message Donovan had
sent, and this was hardly done when a message from the governor arrived,
stating that no troops could be sent until the following day.

"I'm afraid those at the mine will have to take care of themselves," Mr.
Wright said, when he learned of the condition of affairs there. "If we
should leave here, or even divide our force, the store as well as the
offices might be sacked."

"But the mine will be flooded if Billings succeeds with the tunnel."

"It can't be helped now. We should need, at least, fifty men to effect
an entrance, and eighteen is the full number who can be trusted."

"Those who are there may be drowned."

"There is no danger of that since all hands are on the alert for the
first signs of trouble."

"Then Sam and I may as well go home."

"It would be a good idea to tell Brace that he must try to get here
unobserved. The men already believe he is in town, and I am afraid they
may discover his hiding place, when there's bound to be mischief done."

Disheartened, because after incurring all the danger no real good had
been done, Fred motioned to Sam, and left the store.

The streets of the village presented an unusual appearance. Nearly every
house was open and lighted as if for a general illumination, while the
sidewalks were crowded with throngs of excited women and children.

"This would be a good time for Skip to pay you off," Sam said, as they
walked swiftly along. "While so much is goin' on they could do pretty
near as they pleased without fear of being stopped."

"What he might do seems to be of little consequence compared with the
danger which threatens the poor fellows at the mine. If the lower level
should be flooded while they were guarding the drift there's every
chance all would be drowned."

"It don't do to think of such things when there's nothing which can be
done to help them. It might be worse, an' there's some comfort in
that."

"I fail to see anything very cheering in such an idea," Fred replied,
and then the two were at Mrs. Byram's home.

The door was locked; but the lightest of