ther. Holmes wasn't there, but who but
Holmes or someone working for him could have any such sinister interest
in keeping an eye on the camp as was implied by that sly remark?
Evidently luck had favored them once more, and they had stumbled again
on early evidence of another coming attack.

But they took little time--could take little time, indeed--to think of
the meaning of what they had heard. It was too important for them to
find out as much as possible from these men. They dared not speak to one
another; the men were so close that they were almost afraid that the
sound of their own breathing would betray them.

And, dark as it was, they could see that these were men of a type who
would stop at little if they felt they were in danger of failure. They
were big, burly, ugly-looking men, rough in speech and manner, and,
though they masked their movements, and went about their business,
whatever it might be, as quietly as possible, their quietness was
furtive and assumed and by no means natural to them.

"They won't run away to-night, Jeff," grumbled one of the men. "You
ain't a-goin' to stay here and watch them, are you?"

"No, I'm not--but you are," growled the one addressed as Jeff. "See
here, my buck, the boss don't want any slip-up on this job--see? He's
been stung once too often. I'm goin' back to the boat, but you and Tim
will stay here till daylight--right here, mind you!"

"Aw, shucks, that's a fine job to give us!" growled Tim. "Larry's got
the right dope, Jeff. They won't run away to-night."

"Listen here--who's giving orders here? What I say goes--do you get
that? If you don't, I'll find a way to make you, and pretty quick, too.
I don't want none of your lip, Tim."

"What's the game, Jeff?" asked the man Larry, in milder tones. "We'll
do as you say, all right, all right, but can't you tell a guy what's
doin'?"

"I don't know myself, boys, and that's a fact," said Jeff, seemingly
mollified by this submission to his orders. "But the boss wants them two
gals--and what he wants he gits, sooner or later."

"Guess he does!" laughed Tim. "You said something that time, Jeff!"

"There's money in it, I know that," Jeff went on. "Big money--though I'm
blowed if I see where! But we'll get our share if we do our part."

"I can use any that comes my way, all right," said Larry, with a
smothered laugh. "Always broke--that's what I am!"

"How about the morning, Jeff?" asked Tim. "We can't stay here when it
gets