at the men can distinguish the bags.
Then, as they retire, they will pick one up and go up the hill. That's
all clear. Come along."

Ten minutes later they had laid the wealth of the gold-mine at the door
of the stockade, and each man had been brought to the position and been
given full instructions.

"You can trust the matter to them entirely, white chief," said the
leader of the miners. "You must have seen that they are honest, and
besides, all have an interest, and if one happened to be a robber, the
others would soon arrest him."

"Then I will complete my arrangements. I see that the moon is almost
down. Has there been any movement amongst the enemy?"

"They have crept a little closer," was the answer. "We did not fire, as
it did not seem necessary. They have drawn in their circle out here in
front, and I believe that they have brought one or two men from the
crest."

It was comforting news, for if the enemy's position were known, the task
of the defenders would be easier.

"They know that our case is desperate," thought Dick, "and they have
come in closer to keep us in. They will not make a rush themselves
after what I heard them say. Then at the very first our men should be
able to locate them and drive them back. Good! Now for the last
preparation."

He went off to a corner of the stockade, and came staggering back with a
small barrel over his shoulder, while Johnnie followed with a square
case.

"Place it there carefully," said Dick, as they arrived close to the
gate. "Now break it open, and unpack the contents."

The materials in the box were rapidly exposed to view, and one by one
they handled rockets of enormous size, detonators, and fuses, for an
assortment of explosives had been brought to the mines. Dick took the
end of a pick and pried the lid off the cask. Then he tore off his hat.

"Hold," he said to Johnnie. "That's right, and keep well away from the
lamp. It's gunpowder, and would send us up to the sky. That's the way,
Johnnie; now put the barrel down and hold the hat."

He had filled his hat with the shining black grains, and now he arranged
the barrel a few feet within the stockade, covered it with an old cloth
which he had saturated with kerosene, and then placed the rockets and
other explosives on top. Meanwhile the lamp was kept at a respectful
distance. By now the moon had fallen below the tree-tops, and already
the light had faded to such an extent that it was d