big Swede down and was pummelling him over head and
face with his fists. Anderson was rolling, twisting about, striving
ineffectually to wriggle loose. From behind Paul Jones was doing his
best to drag the robber back. Paul had him by the hair and collar. When
Chip came back, he had managed to hit Paul with one right-handed fist and
the boy was gasping.

All this went through Chip like a flash of lightning out of a clear sky.
Seizing a good sized fragment of rock, he began pounding Murky about the
head.

"Blame ye!" roared the thief. "Will ye quit? I--I'll--"

Further utterance was checked by Murky's turning and flinging himself
full length upon young Slider. Bearing him to the ground, the lad was
soon knocked into unconsciousness by Murky's powerful blows.

"Git outer my way!" he shouted, rising and making a break for the same
place where Chip had seen him stooping not ten minutes before. "Blame me!
I--I'll--where is it? What have ye done with it? Ye will, will ye?"

By this time, blinded by baffled rage, Murky proceeded--as Chip afterwards
expressed it--"to wipe up the earth" with his opponents.

CHAPTER XVI

CONCLUSION

Through the nearer passages under the leaning rocks, approaching footsteps
were heard, hurried steps, that even Murky had to heed. Then came Link
Fraley, followed by Phil, Dave, Billy--the Auto Boys. Behind those was
Mr. Beckley, breathing heavily as if tired by undue haste.

No sooner had Murky seen who they were than he sprang up from the scramble
wherein he, the Swede and Paul were engaged, and made a break for another
passage. But Link, who happened to be nearest, thrust out one long leg.
With another cry of rage Murky went prostrate.

For a few minutes--or was it seconds?--a struggle went on. But Murky's
day of probation was at last over. Actually weeping with anger, Anderson
strove to reach his late opponent. Paul, though somewhat bruised from his
own struggles, also tried to do his bit in securing the scowling man.
But it was not necessary. In another short space of time Murky lay there
helpless. His arms were bound behind his back, his legs and feet also
secured.

One of the first things Mr. Beckley did was to walk up to Anderson and
shake his nerveless hand with great vigor. Then he did the same thing to
Paul, who was also being congratulated by the other boys. Then Beckley
turned to Anderson, saying:

"It was brave and faithful of you, Nels, to start out all by yoursel