ss that goes for all of us," rumbled Divver's throaty bass.

Harding's footsteps could now be heard clambering up the bank. From
below his companions shouted encouragement to him.

"Ef they be in thar, yew let me take fust crack at 'em, by chowder,"
admonished Rafter's voice from below.

"You'll all get a turn," came from Harding, in his lightest, most
flippant tones.

"How can men be such ruffians?" wondered Jack to himself, as he heard.
He knew now why he had instinctively mistrusted Harding from the first.
Yet they had saved his life that very morning. Was Harding going to
return evil for good, by betraying them to their merciless enemies? It
looked so.

The former West Pointer's feet were close to the cave mouth now.
Crouching back in the dark, the lads awaited what the seconds would
bring forth. Jack's active brain, in the brief time he had had for
revolving plans to avert the catastrophe that seemed impending, had
been unable to hit upon one hitherto. Suddenly, however, he gave a
sharp exclamation, and muttered to himself:

"I'll do it. It can do no harm, anyway."

"Well, is it a cave?"

The question came up from below, in Ramon's voice. The ruffian's
accents fairly trembled with eagerness.

"Don't know yet--this confounded brush. What!"

Harding, who had crawled in among the chapparal, started back, as
Jack's voice addressed him, coming in low, tense accents from the
interior of the cave:

"Remember, Harding, we saved your life this morning--are you going to
betray us now?"

"Is that you, Merrill? You see I know your name. That was a shabby
trick you worked on us."

"Shabby trick! Our lives were at stake," retorted Jack.

"Hurry up thar, young feller," came from below in Rafter's voice; "by
hemlock, I thought I hearn horses up ther canyon apiece."

"All right; I'll be there--just investigating," flung back Harding.
"What do you want me to do, Merrill?"

"What your own conscience suggests," was the reply.

"But, if they ever found out, it would cost me my life," almost
whimpered Harding, all his craven nature showing now.

"But they never will. Don't let them know we are here, and ride on.
We will escape, if possible, and if we are caught, your secret is safe
with us."

"You--you'll promise it?"

"On my honor."

"I'll--I'll do it, then, Merrill; but for Heaven's sake, don't betray
me."

"You need not fear that," rejoined Jack, with a touch of scorn in his
voice. "I have