y boy knew the whole story.

"Billings' gang won't be able to do anything till after the day shift go
on, an' I think it would be a good idea to let the superintendent know
what has happened. Why not stay here till I tell him part of the story?"

"Go ahead," Brace replied. "We'll wait for you."

"Will you tell my mother that I am all right?" Fred asked.

"She shall hear of it first," Sam said, as he stole out into the open
air, as if fearful of being seen.

"Why didn't we go with him?" Fred asked when he was alone with Brace.

"Because nobody knows how far the plan to flood the mine may have gone,
and by showing ourselves the villains may begin the job too soon to be
prevented."

It was yet dark. Instead of having been imprisoned in the tunnels
twenty-four hours, as Fred had believed, less than eight were passed
there.

That Mr. Wright believed the news Sam brought to be of vital importance
was shown by his coming with the boy with the utmost speed, and on
entering the shaft he said to Brace:

"Tell me all you know about the plan to flood the mine."

The story was given in detail, and at its conclusion Mr. Wright asked:

"How do you happen to know so much about this thing?"

"Because I belonged to the party till I found they meant murder."

"Are you acquainted with all the members?"

"No, sir; wasn't allowed. Billings allers let us understand there was a
big crowd, but wouldn't let any besides the officers know about it; he
said the men might give themselves away by talkin' if they found who was
members."

"Why do they wish to throw all hands out of employment by flooding the
mine?"

"Some of the bosses are too hard on 'em, sir, an' a good many think it's
like sellin' theirselves to deal at the company store."

"They should have come to me with their grievances; but it is too late
to talk of that now, and immediate steps must be taken to prevent the
mischief. It won't be policy for you to show yourself until my plans
have been perfected, otherwise they would take alarm. The boy can go
home, and I want him to be in the breaker this morning as if nothing had
happened. Where can you remain in hiding for a few days?"

"I don't know, sir, unless I leave town."

"That will not do, for I may wish to talk with you again."

"He can come with me," Fred said quickly. "We do not know any one here,
and there's no danger of his being discovered."

"It's a good idea. Go with the boy, Brace, and I can let you k