p came in sight.

There were twenty or more of them, and they were all armed to the teeth.

When they saw the girls they broke into a cheer, but a motion from Hop
quickly silenced them.

"Don't makee no noise," he said. "Misler Wild no git tee outee yet, so
be."

Then he told them just how things were, and the men agreed to wait with
the girls until they received orders from either Charlie on Jim.

Hop now clambered up the cliff to find Arietta and Jim.

Once at the top he looked around, but could see nothing of them.

He quickly made his way over to the other side and cautiously peered
over.

The outlaws had just brought Wild out of the cave, and on a ledge about
twelve feet above him were Arietta and Jim, hiding behind a rock.

"Young Wild West," said Cap Roche, as the boy was led out to the post,
"are you ready to give your promise that we will not be interfered
with?"

"I can't give a promise like that until I know for certain that I am to
be freed," was the reply.

As Wild spoke the words he caught a glimpse of Arietta and Jim on the
ledge.

But he was so well trained that he did not let the villains know that he
had seen anything out of the ordinary.

"Tie him to the post, boys," said Roche. "I reckon we've got to figure
this thing out right before we do much. I'll see if we need any more in
the way of toll."

He pulled out the roll Hop had given him, and the men, eager to see the
money, did not proceed to tie Wild right away.

The moment Roche opened the roll he saw that it was not good money.

An oath escaped his lips.

"Where is that rascal of a Chinaman?" he demanded. "This isn't money. It
is nothing but the rankest kind of counterfeit bills."

It was just then that our hero saw his sweetheart getting ready to do
something.

At the same moment Hop was hurrying to the edge of the cliff on the
other side to tell the miners to rush into the cave.

The critical moment had arrived.

The villains had just finished tying Wild to the post when a lariat
whizzed through the air and settled over the head and shoulders of the
leader.

"Here is the way we are going to pay the toll!" cried Arietta.

Up the side of the cliff went the man.

The brave girl held a revolver pointed at Snivel, and, in a ringing
voice, she added:

"Release the prisoner, or your captain will die!"

CHAPTER XV.

CONCLUSION.

Cheyenne Charlie was just thinking of making his way out of the cave
when a shout ran