ain the true cause of the stoppage, and
in this last speaker Fred recognized one of the men who had helped make
Joe Brace a prisoner.

"They want to find him before Mr. Wright orders an examination," he
whispered to Sam, and the latter replied:

"In less than an hour they'll have force enough to do as they please.
It's time we were out of this; you go home to tell Joe, and I'll see Mr.
Wright if possible."

Fred was all the more willing to follow this advice because Skip and his
party were in the immediate vicinity, and the lawlessness of the men
might render them bold enough to administer the promised flogging then
and there.

The streets of the little town were crowded with knots of miners, some
of whom seemed to think the superintendent had acted for their good,
while others were indulging in the most extravagant threats.

Mrs. Byram was standing in the doorway when her son arrived, and it
could readily be seen by her face how relieved she was to have him with
her once more.

"You mustn't leave the house again to-day," she said in a tremulous
voice. "Go up stairs and tell Mr. Brace what has happened."

The miner was impatient to learn the cause of the excitement, for he
could hear the hum of voices on the street; but did not care to look out
of the window for fear of being seen.

Fred's story was not a long one, and he had to repeat it several times
before Brace was satisfied.

"I s'pose Wright knows his own business best; but it looks mighty
dangerous to shut down so sudden."

"Perhaps it was the only course to pursue," Fred suggested. "Billings'
crowd may have been so near carrying their plot into operation that
there was no time for anything different."

"That might be; but take my word for it, there's going to be trouble at
Farley's before this fuss is settled."

"Do you think Billings would dare to force his way into the mine?"

"He'd dare do anything with men enough at his back."

"Suppose they got in and didn't find you?"

"I ain't thinkin' of myself, for it would be easy to get out of town."

"If they have an idea you've escaped from the drift all hands will be on
the watch, knowing you could expose their plot."

"Everything is correct so long as they don't find out where I am, an'
when it's time to move I'll agree to give 'em the slip. Go down stairs
so you can see if the trouble is about to begin."

Before Fred could obey, Sam Thorpe burst into the room.

"There's a regular mob on th