were wasted. Those who fired were
possibly more concerned about their own safety just then, than the
chances of cutting down any of the exploring party.

Led by Ned, they swept over the open space and plunged into the
wilderness of rocks and scraggy brush beyond. One look the patrol leader
gave, after they found themselves in the shelter of the screening
bushes.

"Anybody hit?" he asked, anxiously.

"Don't know for sure," spoke up Frank, "but something seemed to burn my
leg, at the time they fired; and, by George! look what happened to my
fine kahki trousers, would you?"

He pointed to a tear that could be plainly seen, showing where a bullet
had gashed the tough material in passing.

"Sure you're not badly hurt, Frank?" asked Jack, solicitously.

"Hardly brought blood!" declared the wounded scout, with a tinge of
delight in his voice, for it was worth while to know that you had been
touched by a bullet, and even have the evidence to show for it, without
any painful consequences to follow.

"Lucky feller!" said Jimmy, somewhat jealous of the honor this was going
to bestow upon the other, when the story of the raid was told later on.

"But we mustn't stay here," Ned told them. "Keep your eyes all around,
and if you are sure you glimpse anybody following after us, give him
your compliments; only remember that you're scouts, and make it as easy
as you can for the poor wretch."

"He won't know it if I hit him!" Jimmy went on to say; nor did anybody
stop to ask him to explain more fully what he meant.

The fact that they were leaving the mine for good did not seem to cause
any of the party the least distress of mind. They had come and looked it
over, and Ned had learned all he wanted, in order to make a
comprehensive report. The sooner they left the vicinity, the better all
of them would be pleased.

To reach their canoes again, they would have to cover considerable
ground; and that caused Jimmy to wince, for he was not reckoned as good
a walker as most of his mates.

Secretly, he was hoping that some other plan might appeal to Ned, such
as hiding their trail, and resting up in some snug retreat over night,
when they would be in good shape to complete the journey in the morning.

It was now a question as to just how they were to conduct their retreat
so as to avoid the risk of being pelted with bullets by the three
miners, reinforced by any others who may have been in the tent village.

Ned was only too gla