fore he lets himself be captured, for he knows what it
means to him to be sent back to prison. With a new sentence tacked on to
the old one it'll probably mean that he'll be in for life."

In a little while they reached the scene of the proposed robbery. They
were well in advance of the time set by the plotters, and the chief took
his time in carefully disposing his forces, availing himself of Frank
Brandon's advice in doing this.

The bridge stretched between two hills at the bottom of which was a
small stream, about a hundred feet below. On each side, almost down to
the bridge itself, extended trees and shrubbery that afforded excellent
hiding places. The only trouble was that both the outlaws and the
officers who were trying to apprehend them were likely to seek the same
shelter and might in this way stumble across each other before the trap
was ready to be sprung.

This, however, was a contingency that had to be faced, and preparations
were made accordingly. The men were placed at strategic points on both
sides of the bridge. Whether the attempt at hold-up would be made at the
entrance to the bridge or on the further side was a matter of
speculation. The chief went on the theory, however, that it would
probably take place at the entrance, and there he placed the majority of
the men under him.

The radio boys hinted that there was where they would like to be also,
but in this the chief was adamant.

"I've stretched a point in letting you young fire-eaters come along at
all," he said. "As it is, I may have a hard time explaining to your
parents. And I hate to think what my position would be if anything
happened to you. So I am going to put you where I think you'll be
comparatively out of danger. You're just to be lookers on at this
shindig. And if the bullets begin to fly, you just lie flat on the
ground behind the trees until they stop. It may not be so glorious, but
it's likely to be a mighty sight more healthy."

So, much against their will, the boys were compelled to obey orders and
take the place assigned to them which was on the further side of the
bridge.

"Putting us up in the gallery when we ought to have seats in the
orchestra," grumbled Joe, as the boys ensconced themselves in a thicket
behind a big clump of trees.

"Cheer up, you old gloom hound," chaffed Bob. "We may get in on this
yet. At any rate, if we are in the gallery, we have a good view of the
stage. Or at least we shall have, when the s