dge out yonder to take care of itself. I hope none o' them
ruffians o' street-boys'll find it and get helping themselves."

"Then Redbeard has got away again," said Abel.

"Don't know yet, my son, till the others come back. They may have had
better luck than I did."

At that moment Scruff burst out in a deep-toned bark from the back of
the hut.

"Look out," said Tregelly sharply, as they halted, having reached the
front. "We may get a shot if he's only wounded."

"Spread out, and let's take both sides together."

They separated in the darkness, and advanced with finger on trigger,
ready to fire. "Stand!"

"Stand!"

"Oh, it's you!"

"Oh, it's you!"

"Yes, my son; it's me. Where's the game I shot?"

"We have not seen him," said Dallas. "He must have crawled away."

"Wounded beasts are dangerous," said Tregelly, "so look out."

"But where's the dog?" said Abel, in a hoarse whisper. "Hi! Scruff!
Scruff!"

A sharp bark came from close at hand in the darkness.

"Look here," whispered the big Cornishman; "you two get your pieces to
your shoulders and be ready. I'm going to chance it and light a match.
Ready?"

"Yes."

"Then come on!"

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

THE HELP THAT CAME LATE.

There was a momentary pause, and then--

_Scratch_ went the match, and the tiny flame feebly lit up the place, to
show them the great dog sitting at the edge of the shaft, looking down.

Then the light went out.

"All right, my sons," said Tregelly coolly. "Let's go in and get the
lantern. The beggar has rolled about, and dropped down the pit. Sorry
we can't cover him up. But we can't, on account of the gold."

Just then there came a hail, and another, and another, while when the
lantern was lit and held up it served as a beacon to bring six men up to
the hut door.

"Got the other one?" cried Tregelly.

"No; he got away in the darkness," said Norton. "But what about the one
you shot at?"

"He's yonder," said Tregelly. "Rolled down into the shaft."

So it proved, for by the light of the lantern the body of one of the
marauders was hauled up.

"Stone dead," said Tregelly.

"Well, it has saved him from being hanged."

"And others from having to do it," said another.

"But no one will be safe till his mate's in the same state," said
Tregelly.

"And he soon will be," said another. "Glad we all came in time to help
you two."

"We are most grateful, gentlemen," said Dallas. "Leave the unh