k I know where my money is!" shouted Carson.

"I wish I knew!" returned Sandy.

In the moment of silence which followed the boys heard the call of the
Beaver Patrol ringing down the second level.

"George seems to be alive anyway!" laughed Tommy.

A moment later a snarling sound which seemed to emanate from a whole
pack of Wolves reached the ears of the boys.

"Why didn't you tell me there were wild animals in the mine?" shouted
the cashier. "Let me into that cage immediately!"

"Don't be in a hurry," advised Tommy. "All the Wolves and Beavers you'll
find in here won't do you any harm!"

While Carson and Elmer's father continued to call from below, and while
the Boy Scout challenges rang in the second level, two pistol shots were
heard not far away from the shaft.

The cashier and the miner both broke for the cage, but were turned back
at the point of Sandy's automatic revolver.

"You stopped here because you thought you might be of some assistance,
you know," the boy said. "Now you just remain here long enough to help
out."

"But there are people being murdered in there!" cried the cashier.

Two more shots came from the gangway and then the stout figure of the
detective came staggering into the circle of light around the shaft. He
had evidently been wounded seriously, for he fell as he drew near to
where the boys were standing and raised his eyes in a piteous appeal for
help. Will stooped over and felt of his pulse.

"You're about done for!" the boy said in a husky tone. "Who did it?"

"Those two hold-up men," was the faint reply.

"Where are they now?" asked Will.

"I fired back," replied the detective with a grim smile, "and I guess
they're lying on the floor of the passage!"

Will bent closer over the wounded detective while Tommy and Sandy
started down the gangway on a run, closely followed by Elmer.

"Why did they shoot you?" asked Will.

"I found the money," Ventner replied, "and hid it in a crevice in the
wall, and they found it. When we managed to escape by cutting the ropes
I saw them take the money and disappear in the darkness. I followed on
and accused them of the act and they shot me! Then I shot back, and I
guess it's a pretty bad mess, when you take it altogether!"

"Where is the money?" asked Will.

"They have it in their possession," was the reply, "if they haven't
hidden it again."

Before the wounded detective could continue, George, Jimmie, Dick,
Canfield, Sandy and Tommy c