k to the other shack.
Harry was awake, and feeling rather comfortable under big Walsh's
ministrations.

Soon after nine that night, the camp lay wrapped in slumber, save
in the partner's shack, where the shaded light burned. Tim Walsh
was still on duty, while Tom sat half dozing in a chair.

For the first time in days the young chief engineer was fairly
contented in mind. He now believed that his chum would surely
recover.

Had Tom been outside, hidden and keeping alert watch over the
surroundings, his content would have vanished into action.

In the deep darkness of the night, Dolph Gage glided about on
the firm snow crust at the further side of the mine shaft. With
him, looking more like two evil shadows or spectres, were his
two remaining companions.

Most of the time since they had been seen last, Gage and his
confederates had been within a mile or so of Reade's camp. They
had found a cave in which they had been passably comfortable.
For food they had depended upon the fact that the commissary at
the Bright Hope Mine was easily burglarized, and that no very
strict account was kept of the miners' food. Thus the three
scoundrels had managed not only to hide themselves from the law's
officers, but to keep themselves comfortable as well.

"Now we can fix these youngsters, and slide back to our hiding
place during the excitement," Gage whispered to his two friends.
"This crowd is broke. If we fix the mine in earnest tonight
they won't be able to open it again. With the dynamite we brought
up from the Bright Hope on this sled we can fire a blast that
will starve and drive Reade and Hazelton away from the Indian
Smoke Range for good and all!"

CHAPTER XXII

DOLPH GAGE FIRES HIS SHOT

"Yes, if we don't blow ourselves to kingdom come in the effort,"
growled the man known as Josh.

"You're talking bosh!" grunted Dolph. "Why should we blow ourselves
up? Is this the first time we've used dynamite!"

"But there's such a lot of the stuff," grunted Josh. "We must
have a hundred and fifty sticks on the sled."

"All of that," nodded Gage.

"If the stuff goes oh accidentally, when we're near-----"

"Then our troubles will be over," said Gage grimly.

"I'm not so all-fired anxious to have my troubles over that way,"
grumbled Josh. The other man said nothing, but he looked extremely
thoughtful.

"The best way to make the thing sure," Gage went on, "is to get
to work before some one comes prowl