h. After investigating and finding that it connected only with the
cavern they had just left, the boys turned back.

Tommy, who was in the lead, sprang back when he came to the main cave
with a suddenness which almost threw his chum to the floor.

"Now we've gone and done a fine thing!" he cried. "The bears are out
there in the cave we're shut in good and tight!"

CHAPTER IX

LYNCHING IS THREATENED

"Spies!" repeated Will, indignantly, as the cowboys gathered around.

"Yes, spies!" exclaimed the leader of the party excitedly. "You thought
you pulled the wool over our eyes down at your camp the other night, but
you didn't! We have good reason to believe that the robbers have visited
your camp every day and that you fed them!"

"That isn't true!" declared George angrily.

"If you're not in with these bandits, what are you doing here?" demanded
another member of the party.

"Why, we came in search of--"

Will closed his teeth with a snap as he realized that on no account must
he reveal the real motive for this night visit to the cavern.

"Go on!" shouted the leader.

Will glanced significantly at George and remained silent.

Chester seemed about to speak, but George gave him a nudge with his
elbow and the boy remained silent.

"You said you came here in search of some one!" the leader demanded.

"I didn't say anything of the kind," Will contradicted.

"Well, out with it! What did you say?"

"I was about to say that we were prowling around just for the fun of the
thing."

"Prowling around in the ante-room of a robbers' den in the middle of the
night just for the fun of the thing!" laughed the leader.

"That story is so bald that it's funny!" laughed another member of the
party. "You ought to make up something better than that!"

"It's the truth!" answered George.

"Look here!" the leader exclaimed. "If you boys'll tell us where those
three men went to, we'll take you into Green River and see that you have
a fair trial. If you don't, we'll string you up right here in the
mountains!"

"We don't know where they went!" answered Will.

A member of the party who had been called Seth by his companions now
stepped forward and began an examination of the Boy Scout badges which
adorned the coats of the two lads.

"Where did you get them?" he asked.

"Chicago," was the reply.

"The Beaver Patrol, I see," the man went on.

"Yes, sir!" replied Will.

"You look like a young man," George cut in.