ountebank. "Let's go
and entertain the revolutionists. Let's be neutral."

"I'm afraid we are already belligerents," laughed Adrian. "We
have had one brush with them."

The mountebank heaved a sigh.

"Of course, if you have declared war, we shall have to fight to a
finish, unless," with a grin, "we can intrench."

"It is they who are intrenched," explained Billie. "They are at
the bottom of the old mine, although I don't know how they got
there."

"So," laughed the mountebank. "Suppose we go and find out."

Arrived at the shaft house, for that is what the gable-roofed
building was, the boys and their new-found friend approached and
listened to the sound of voices which still arose to the top of
the shaft.

Evidently considering themselves free and safe, the bandits were
preparing their evening meal, for it was now well on toward
sunset. They were singing and joking as though they had not just
lost half or two-thirds their number.

From a few remarks made now and then, it appeared that they
proposed on the following day to recruit the band up to its
former strength.

"That is the thing we must prevent," declared Donald.

"A very easy thing," said the mountebank, "if we had enough
provisions to remain here for twenty-four hours, or more."

"How so?" asked Billie.

"Why, they will doubtless send out two or three to do the
recruiting. We can capture them as they leave the ruins."

Billie glanced at the man from under his broad-rimmed sombrero as
he asked: "How did you know they came out through the ruins?"

The mountebank smiled.

"Now, don't go to mistrusting me, young fellow, for I'm on the
level. But I've been in this place before, and I know that the
only way to where your friends down there are camping is through
the ruins."

"Have you ever been down there?"

"Yes. They are only about sixty feet below the ground, in a
chamber which was originally a gallery in the mine. The shaft
over which this house is built is over two hundred feet deep."

"I'd like to explore it," remarked Adrian.

"Do you think you have the nerve?" and the stranger bent upon him
a penetrating gaze.

Billie laughed softly.

"Say, stranger," he finally said. "I guess you never heard of the
Broncho Rider Boys. We've got the nerve to do anything that any
other human being dare do."

"Then we'll get rid of these bandits in short notice," declared
the mountebank emphatically. "You are just the chaps I have been
looking fo