portion of the mine that I apprehend any trouble.
Look here," and Mr. Wright spread on the desk before him a plan of the
workings. "At this point you can see that an old drift runs parallel
with, and not more than three yards from our lower cut. The veins
probably come together farther on."

"It wouldn't take a man very long to work his way through," Joe said,
reflectively.

"And not knowing where an attempt may be made, it will be very difficult
to prevent mischief."

"Unless the old shaft should be guarded."

"To do that we should be obliged to station men entirely around our
works, for here is the abandoned slope, and farther down the hill two or
three places where an entrance could be effected."

"But Billings an' his crowd don't know all this."

"Possibly not; yet there are many of the older men who could tell the
story."

Joe shook his head in perplexity.

[Illustration: "You four are to act as sentinels," said the
Superintendent. "Study this map and you will hit upon a scheme."]

"I am not warranted in hiring a large force of men as guards," Mr.
Wright continued, "and we must do that from the inside. You and Thomas,
with these boys as helpers, shall work on the lower level, and I will
take care that none but true men are near by."

"How will that mend matters?"

"You four are to act as sentinels. It makes little difference how many
loads you take out, for the company will pay day wages."

"Even then I don't see how we can do anything."

"You and Thomas must form some plan. Study this map, and I am confident
you will hit upon a scheme."

"Is there any chance that the drift's choked with gas?"

"Very little."

Joe was thoroughly puzzled, and after several moments of silence Mr.
Wright said:

"Get your supper now, and then talk the matter over with Thomas."

At this intimation that the interview was at an end, the miner left the
office followed by the two boys, and when they were out of the store
Skip Miller came from his hiding place without having been seen by the
superintendent or his clerks.

The leader of the regulators lounged carelessly toward the door until
satisfied no one was paying any particular attention to him, when he
stepped briskly out, and walked rapidly to a groggery situated at the
farther end of the town.

Here, as he had anticipated, was Cale Billings and a select party of
friends, all of whom were discussing their late defeat.

Skip did not care to state the reason