t through."

"Suit yourselves about that," was the careless reply, as Bill started
toward the store to confer with the superintendent.

"Now is our chance," Sam whispered. "It won't take us more than ten
minutes to run over to your house, and we can get back before Bill
comes."

Fred started at a rapid pace, and by the time the miners had finished
telling their story to Mr. Wright, Mrs. Byram knew of the interview with
Skip.

"Of course I will give you some food," she said, readily. "It may prove
to be the best possible thing for him that he should be so thoroughly
frightened. Can you carry oil enough in a bottle?"

"As much as will be needed until to-morrow. It won't do any harm if he
scrapes along on short rations for a while," Sam replied, with a laugh.
"The only thing is to get him something before Joe an' Bill go back."

A generous package of food, a small quantity of oil, the whole in a
paper parcel, and the good samaritans started for the slope once more,
noting with satisfaction as they passed that the miners had not yet left
the store.

No particular attention was paid to them as they entered the slope, and
screening the package as much as possible from view, the boys went with
all speed to the repentant regulator's hiding place.

So far as could be seen, the cutting through which Fred had fallen
remained as when they ascended, and after letting themselves down this
the task was well nigh accomplished.

Skip was most extravagant in his demonstrations of gratitude when they
entered the chamber and displayed the supplies.

"It'll take me a mighty long while to straighten this thing up; but I'll
do it somehow," he said, and Sam replied, roughly:

"We'll talk about that later. Jest now there's a chance others will find
out where you are, for Joe and Bill have gone after men to help search
for Billings."

"Then they didn't find him?"

"No."

"I reckon he has gone to Taylor's."

"That won't do him much good unless he walks out of town, for now it is
known he's near by, all hands are bound to hunt him down."

"Then they'll be sure to find me."

"We'll hold on in the old drift till they get back, an' try to prevent
them from coming up here by saying we've searched this slope," Fred
said, after a moment's thought. "That's the only way I know of to keep
the secret."

"It won't do any harm to make the attempt," Sam added. "Don't light your
lamp, and keep perfectly quiet."

Skip retreated once mor