T'. That means that he wants us to
stay where we are. The system works fine, doesn't it?"

The question now was as to whether the lads should extinguish their
lights. That, of itself, they understood would be suspicious in case
they should be in sight of their enemies. It would simply proclaim their
knowledge of the danger they were in, whatever it was.

"I think we'd better keep the lights going until we hear something
more," Elmer said. "Jimmie will talk again in a minute."

The boys waited patiently for some moments, and then the wig-wag figures
came again. Will read slowly:

"There's a 'V', and an 'E', and an 'N', and a 'T', and an 'N', and an
'E', and an 'R'," he said. "Now the boy's starting it again. He says,
'Ventner is here.' Now wait a minute, there's more coming!"

"The next words are: 'With two others'."

"It's only a question of time when that detective will get next to the
wig-wag game," Elmer declared. "This gangway smells like a match factory
already. I wonder how far Jimmie is away from them."

Directly Jimmie began talking the wig-wag tongue again. This time he
said that Tommy and George were not in sight, and had evidently been
surprised and taken prisoners. He advised Will and Elmer to come on
softly with their lights out.

The boys did as requested, but they had advanced only a few paces in the
darkness when Canfield, accompanied by Sandy and Dick came running up,
showing both lack of breath and profound excitement.

"Boys," Canfield called. "Boys!"

"Will!" yelled Sandy.

"I guess they're going to bust up the whole combination!" declared Will
rather sourly. "I wish I had them by the neck!"

"They may have important news," suggested Elmer. "Anyway, we'll have to
turn on our lights and meet them. If we don't, they'll keep on yelling
all down the gangway!"

Canfield and the two boys came up as soon as Elmer showed a light, and
stood for a moment looking cautiously about.

"I don't think you boys ought to go any further into the mine!" Canfield
exclaimed, breathing heavily from the long chase down the passage. "I
have just received word that two of the most desperate hold-up men in
the country have taken refuge here. There's no knowing how they got over
to the mine, but it is a sure thing that they did get here, for a couple
of breaker boys saw them climbing into the breaker."

"What time was this?" asked Will.

"Oh, I don't know," replied Canfield. "The matter was reported to me
ea