hen Bill
should join him.

During the evening Gus and his companion appeared to be very jolly; they
told stories, sang, and laughed as if there was nothing in connection
with this "camping out" to be concealed, and the watcher in the bushes
wondered why the miner did not come.

Half a dozen men might have walked around the encampment without being
observed by the boys, and Bill's delay seemed very singular.

Fred did not dare to leave his place of concealment, and even if it had
been perfectly safe to do so, he knew not in which direction to look for
his friend, therefore nothing could be done save exercise patience.

The hours passed without any change in the condition of affairs. The
camp-fire burned itself out. The supposed culprits retired to rest, and
Fred, who had slept but a short time during the previous night, found it
absolutely impossible to prevent his eyes from closing.

Lower and lower his head drooped upon his breast until slumber came, and
he remained unconscious for many hours.

The glare of the sunlight aroused him after the occupants of the camp
were astir, and he sprang to his feet in alarm.

The noise made by this sudden movement startled those whom he had been
detailed to watch, and before Fred could collect his scattered senses
both the boys were upon him.

For a single instant the three stood surveying each other, and then Gus
and his companion seized the bewildered spy by the arms, rendering
useless his frantic struggles to defend himself.

"Can you hold him, Tim, while I get something to tie his hands?" Gus
cried, and Tim replied:

"I can take care of three or four jest like him. Get the rope outer the
bag; that'll be strong enough."

With a quick movement the boy clasped Fred around the waist and held
him firmly until Gus returned.

When the prisoner's hands had been lashed to his side he was led to the
camp, where his legs were also bound, and the captors seated themselves
in front of him.

"Now tell us where that man is?" Tim said, sternly.

"What man?"

"You know who I mean; the feller what come over to Blacktown with you
an' Skip."

"I wish I knew," Fred replied with a sigh.

"Don't lie to us," and Gus shook his fist in the helpless boy's face.
"That miner went to a lawyer an' told him I had a hand in stealin' the
money what Sam Thorpe lost. Then you an' Skip tried to pump me. Now give
us the whole yarn, or things will be mighty hot."

Fred remained silent.

"He's