t up."

Both boys were exhausted, but were too much disturbed to take a good
sleep. Yet, as they sat on a bench, the eyes of each closed, and he
took a series of naps, arousing at every unusual sound that penetrated
to the underground cell.

Overhead, everything had become unusually quiet, but toward morning
came heavy footsteps, and they heard the opening and closing of an
outer door.

"Somebody has come in," said Sam. "I wonder if it is the party that
went to look for Tom and the others?"

"More than likely. I wish I knew if they discovered anything, or if
Tom managed to keep out of sight."

Again there was silence, and once more the boys dozed off, not to
rouse up until there came the unlocking of the cell door. Sack Todd
stood there, lantern in hand, and beside him Andy Jimson.

"Hope you had a good night's sleep," said the owner of Red Rock ranch.

"Fine," answered Dick sarcastically. "Your feather beds can't be beat."

"And the quilts were extra warm," put in Sam, catching his cue from
his brother.

"Humph! Your night here doesn't seem to have tamed you down much,"
growled Sack Todd.

"I said they were gamy youngsters," came from the long-nosed man.
"They showed that when they were on the houseboat."

"I want to question you," said Sack Todd, setting down his lantern.
"How many were there in your party?"

"How many did you catch?" questioned Dick, at the same time pinching
his brother's arm to make Sam keep quiet.

"You answer my question, boy!" growled the owner of the ranch.

"Why don't you answer mine?"

"I am not here to answer questions."

"Who said I was, then?"

"You are a prisoner."

"You had better answer up, if you know what's good fern you," broke
in Andy Jimson. "Sack doesn't stand for any nonsense."

"Tell me, how many were in your party?" repeated the owner of the ranch.

"Something less than half a hundred."

"What!" The owner of Red Rock ranch leaped to his feet, and then sat
down again on a bench opposite the two Rovers. "You are fooling."

"All right; then don't question me."

"They must have organized a regular searching party," burst out the
long-nosed man. "If they did, Sack, we are in for it."

"It's all talk, Andy. They couldn't get up such a party around here.
Folks know better than to bother me. Besides, they know I am a good
spender, and they like to help, not hinder, me," and the ranch owner
winked.

"Are you boys going to tell me the plain truth, or not?