and
moved toward the south. He was not exactly certain of the location of
the cavern where the fight with the bears had taken place, but he had no
doubt that he could find it by peering into every opening he came to.

He had proceeded but a short distance when the face of Katz peered out
at him from one of the minor caves. Cullen, the fellow's associate stood
not far away with his cruel mouth stretched into a sardonic grin.

"Where are you going, boy?" Katz asked.

Tommy hesitated a moment and a twinkle of humor came into his eyes as he
answered the gruff question of the detective.

"I'm looking after the train robbers you chased up last night."

The two men scowled angrily and drew nearer to the lad.

"I don't believe you told the truth about that train robber!" Katz said.
"I was right on the ground and I saw no one."

"You beat him to it!" laughed Tommy. "You went one way and he went the
other! You're both good runners, I guess, for you never came within a
mile of each other," he added.

"None of your impudence, now!" snarled Katz.

"I think we ought to take this boy in out of the wet," suggested Cullen.
"He's too fresh, anyway."

"You'd better confine your attentions to the train robbers, or the man
you came in here to find," suggested Tommy.

"I don't believe there are any train robbers here!" declared Katz.

"Perhaps not," answered Tommy, "but about half the officers of Fremont
and Sweetwater counties are loafing around these hills! Besides," he
added, "I got a look at the train robbers last night."

The two detectives glanced at each other apprehensively.

"Was there a train robber at your camp last night?" asked Katz.

"Sure there was!"

"Is your camp headquarters for outlaws?"

"Not that I know of," replied Tommy, angrily.

"Don't you know that the boy who stole my property at your camp is
connected with an escaped convict?"

"I don't know anything about the boy," declared Tommy, not telling the
truth exactly. "He looks all right to me!"

"Do you know what I think?" Cullen demanded. "I think you boys came in
here to set up a base of supplies for outlaws!"

"Aw, you don't know what you're talking about!" exclaimed Tommy.

"If you're not mixed up with this escaped convict," Katz demanded, "what
are you doing here?"

"Early this morning," Cullen went on, "we found the cave where Wagner
and his son had been living. That's it back there. The one you entered
and looked over so carefully. Di