going to do?" demanded Sandy. "We've got to do
something right away, and that's no story out of the dream book!"

"I don't suppose it would be of any use to rush them," suggested Elmer.

"They'd mow us down like rats!" declared Dick.

"It strikes me," Sandy said, "that we'd ought to get back further and
keep out of sight until we can decide upon some definite plan of
action."

"I've got an idea wandering around in the back of my brain," Will said.
"If the situation is exactly as I think it is, we may be able to get the
best of those hold-up men after all."

CHAPTER XIX

THE MONEY IN SIGHT

"Not while they have possession of the boys," Canfield declared,
dolefully. "They'll murder those boys if we shut off their supplies!"

"Oh, I don't know about that!" suggested Dick. "We've been mixed up in a
great many awkward situations, but we've always managed to save our
necks. We'll get the boys out in some way!"

"Look here, Mr. Canfield," Will said, "how well do you know this mine?"

"Every inch, of it!" was the reply.

"Every inch of every level," asked Will.

"Yes, sir!" replied the caretaker, rather proudly. "I can go into any
part of it without a light!"

"Then look here, Dick," Will directed. "You chase back to the old tool
house and bring back a long rope. And when you return, stop at the
second level. Some of us will meet you there."

"I hope you don't expect to pull these boys up through fifty or a
hundred feet of shale?" asked the caretaker.

"I don't know whether my scheme will work or not," Will answered, "but
it's worth trying! We shall have to leave at least two here, well armed,
and take the others with us. You'll have to act as guide, Mr. Canfield,
and we'll meet Dick when he comes down to the second level with the
rope. As soon as we get the boys out of their trouble, we can leave the
three outlaws in full possession of the mine. If we watch the shaft at
the old tool house, they can never get out without our knowing it!"

"I don't understand what you have in mind," faltered Canfield.

Leaving Sandy and Elmer in the gangway from which the wig-wag signals
had been shown, the others hastened up the ladder to the second level.
Then Dick ran away to bring the rope, while Will questioned the
caretaker regarding the fall between the two levels.

"You remember the old shaft, cut through years ago, and doubtless
deserted when the vein ran out, which at one time connected the two
levels, don