here you are in the very first one," explained Susie.

"You hauled us out of the abandoned mine one day, and now we are going
to fish you out of a prospect hole," exulted Billiard, much relieved to
find the two girls unhurt, but unable to resist crowing a little over
their mishap.

"How?" asked Tabitha, a frown of anxiety gathering in her forehead.
"Don't get too near the edge there, or some of you may join us in our
retreat. You must go for help. You can't get us out all alone."

"Mercy has gone for the assayer," began Inez.

"And here he is now," Billiard interrupted. "He has got a long board
and a rope. Stand back, Irene, so you won't be in the way. There,
now, Tabby, tie up the baby, and we'll lift her out first."

In a surprisingly short time, both girls were hoisted from the sultry
pit and landed laughing gaily among their mates.

"Well," said the assayer, shaking his gray head in a puzzled fashion,
"I don't understand how you kids work the stunt."

"What stunt?" they all inquired.

"Why, tumbling into every hole you come across and not getting hurt.
You aren't hurt, are you?"

"No, indeed!"

"And Kitty finded a whole sack full of gold pennies down there, but her
won't div Janie any," volunteered the baby quite unexpectedly.

"She--what?"

"Gold pennies!"

"What does she mean?"

The children lifted questioning eyes to Tabitha's crimson face, and
even the assayer looked down at her curiously. She had not meant to
let the children know about the money; at least, not until she had
consulted older and wiser heads than theirs; but now that Janie had
betrayed her secret, she displayed her find, and explained how it had
come into her possession.

The assayer's eyes grew thoughtful, as he examined each coin minutely,
and counted the treasure, to make sure that Tabitha's figures were
right. "What shall you do with it?" he finally asked, as he dropped
the last piece into the sack and returned it to Tabitha.

"Take it to the bank. I thought it might be part of the money the
robbers got."

He glanced at her quickly, keenly; then answered, "That's the thing to
do, all right, and I don't believe your surmise is far off, either.
But see here, children, don't you dare lisp a word to a single soul
about this money until we know for certain whose it is."

"We won't," hastily promised the wondering, round-eyed flock, for they
stood much in awe of the silent, almost taciturn man who worked wonders
with