.

Directly a group of men came dashing over the summit and hastened down
into the valley. The boys were certain that they recognized Will in the
company. It was certain that Sheriff Pete was there, and the boys were
positive that the two men who had been found in the camp on their return
from the midnight expedition were also there.

The men separated at the foot of the slope and scattered up and down the
gulch. It was clear that George's wig-wag signals had been seen, and
that the men were in search of the two boys.

"Those signals of yours must be effective," snarled Katz as the members
of the party across the gorge began exploring the caverns.

"You're right, they are!" answered George. "That's the Boy Scout
wig-wag! You have to learn those things when you join the Boy Scouts!"

"What did you say?"

"I explained that we had been captured by the train robbers!" replied
George, telling the untruth with a great deal of satisfaction as he saw
the effect produced on the detectives.

"What'd you do that for?" demanded Cullen. "Because we want the cowboy
officers to get hold of you fellows, and beat you up!" answered George.
"They'll do it, too, if they lay hands on you! Those fellows are our
friends!"

"Where's that boy who stole my property?" demanded Katz.

"He was down in the camp when I left," replied George.

"Do you think he's with that crowd on the other side of the gulch now?
Or would he stay at the camp?"

"He probably would come out in answer to George's signal," Tommy cut in.

The detectives whispered together for some moments. Although the boys
could not hear a word they were saying, they understood very well what
all the whispering was about. They were discussing the possibility of
capturing Chester and forcing him to lead them to his father's hiding
place. They did not, of course, know that the father was wandering over
the mountains in a demented condition.

After a time the party passed on down the valley much to the disgust of
the two captive lads, and disappeared from sight. Then the detectives
left the angle of the ledge which had concealed them and motioned the
boys down the slope. The lads obeyed wonderingly.

Arrived at the bottom of the gulch once more, the detectives halted for
another long consultation. Katz seemed to be in favor of following the
party which had gone down the valley in the hope of getting hold of
Chester, while Cullen was of the opinion that they might be able to