ounced.

After a time the four came, without further incident, to the chain of
caverns which Will and Chester had entered some time before.

They paused for a moment in the connecting tunnel, where the fire had
been built on the previous night, and inspected the boulder, which lay a
short distance from the opening to the dry channel.

"He's been here and gone on in," one of the outlaws said.

"Perhaps some one else has been here," the other suggested.

"The man who showed us where to enter this labyrinth is the only man in
the mountains who knows anything about it!" declared the other. "I'm not
certain that we didn't leave the stone out of place when we left this
morning. But, if we didn't, our friend is certainly down stairs at this
minute! I'll drop down and see, anyway!"

"Push the boys in first," advised the other.

"What do you think of this for an elevator?" demanded Tommy as he backed
into the opening. "These fellows seem to be foolish--like a fox!"

George followed Tommy into the tunnel as the latter dropped down, and
then the figure of one of the outlaws blocked the opening.

For only a minute, however, for the boys heard a succession of pistol
shots, and then the sound of voices rang into the cavern they had just
left.

The next instant the outlaws crowded into the tunnel, but instead of
dropping down, waited near the entrance, weapons in hand.

CHAPTER XVII

A MEETING UNDER GROUND

"Some one's got the combination to this channel, all right!" Chester
repeated as he joined Will in the larger cavern.

"Did you see them?" asked Will.

"Can't see anything," was the reply, "it's too dark!"

"Then how do you know there's some one coming?"

"We saw them coming toward the cave, didn't we?" asked Chester.

"Look here," Will exclaimed. "Did you see any one entering the mouth of
this tunnel?"

"When the mouth of the tunnel is clear," Chester replied, "there's a
faint mist of light visible. While I lay up there watching I heard
whispering voices and the entrance was blocked."

"Perhaps they've rolled the boulder in front of it," suggested Will.

"You don't like the idea of being caught like a rat in a trap any more
than I do," Chester said, "but I really believe that if we ever get out
of here alive, we'll have to head toward the west and make our exit on
that side of the range."

"I'd like to know how many people know about this hiding place!" Will
grumbled. "If people walk out of the v