intance I made in the first place,
the time I was pulled out of the hole in the rocks, or if it was old
Bill himself."

"That was the old man himself," replied Nick, smiling.

"And the second time I met him; was that him--or you?"

"That was the old man, also."

"Well, all that I can say is that you have played the part so devilish
well that I find it hard to believe even now that you are not what you
appear to be."

"You're a fool!" said Madge spitefully.

"Oh, I admit the impeachment, Madge. There isn't any doubt of it. I'm a
fool, all right."

"And you are up against it rather hard just now, Handsome; you and
Madge," said Nick.

"I know that, too. I'm no fool as far as that is concerned. What are you
going to do about the rest of the gang?"

"I'm going to capture the whole bunch," was Nick's rather astonishing
reply.

"I don't see how you are going to do it," retorted Handsome. "There is a
cold hundred of them, all told--and every entrance to the cave is
guarded. You attended to that yourself."

"Certainly, I did; because I foresaw this very moment."

"Well, all that I can say is that you can see a cussed sight farther
into a stone fence than I can."

"I'll show you how it is done, if you are interested," replied the
detective. "But, first, I am afraid that I will have to ask you to step
out here a moment, into the other part of the cave, always remembering
that if you make any kind of a break, down you go with a cracked skull;"
and Nick leaned forward and loosened the cords around his ankles.

"Oh, I know when my hands are in the air, Carter. If I make any breaks
it will be because I think I see a chance of winning. What do you
want?"

He rose stiffly to his feet as he asked the question; and Nick looked
him in the eye as he replied:

"I want you to remember, in the first place, that I am more than twice
or three times as strong as you are, and that if you offer to give me
any trouble I shall hurt you; and hurt you so badly, too, that you won't
get over it right away. I am going to take you into the other part of
this cavern, toward the door where we entered. I am going to free your
hands, and then I shall ask you to put on these old togs that Turner has
left here for a change of clothing in case he got wet--for I want these
that I am wearing for Patsy. After you have made the change I shall tie
you up again, and then you will see--what you will see. But, remember,
if you refuse to obey me on t