er's son was still very sleepy, and he
yawned deeply as he arose.

"As soon as two hours are up you call Abe Blower," said Roger.

"I sure will!" declared Phil. "I'm not half slept out yet!"

Roger was tired himself and was soon in the land of dreams. Phil walked
around the camp several times, to keep himself awake, and then sat down
on a rock to rest.

Alas! that rest was an ill-advised one for the son of the rich
shipowner. As he sat there, Phil's chin sank lower and lower on his
breast and presently his eyes closed and he fell asleep! And thus over
two hours passed.

"Hello!"

The cry came from Abe Blower, as he turned and sat up. It was growing
light in the east and the old miner thought it was time to get up.

He directed his cry at Phil, who was huddled up on the rock. Phil did
not budge, and the old miner leaped up and shook him.

"I say----" commenced the youth, and then stared around him in
astonishment. "Why I--I must have dropped asleep!" he faltered.

"You sure did!" cried Abe Blower. He gazed around swiftly. "Was you on
guard?"

"Yes, and the prisoners----"

"Are gone!"

"Oh!"

Phil's cry awoke all the others in the camp. One after another looked at
the youth and then at the spot where Merwell and Haskers had been tied
to the rocks. The ropes lay there, but the two former prisoners had
vanished!

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE LOST LANDSLIDE MINE

"They cut the ropes! See, here is where it was done, on this jagged
rock!"

As Dave spoke he pointed to a sharp edge of stone. Beneath it were bits
of rope, showing how the fetters had been sawed in twain.

"One of 'em must have got loose and then freed the other," remarked
Roger.

"But who was on guard?" demanded Tom Dillon, sharply. He looked at the
boys and then at Abe Blower.

"I was, but I--I guess I fell asleep," faltered Phil, sheepishly, and
grew red in the face.

"Fell asleep!" cried Abe Blower. "I guess you did!" And his tone of
voice showed his disgust.

"I--I am awfully sorry," continued the shipowner's son. "I--I really
don't know how it happened. It wasn't the thing to do."

"Never mind, it's done and that's the end of it," put in Roger, quickly,
for he could see how badly his chum felt over the occurrence. "I guess
you were pretty tired."

"I was, Roger. Just the same, I had no business to fall asleep. I'm mad
enough to kick myself full of holes," went on Phil, grimly.

"Let us see if they took anything with 'em," ca