tart to shouting in such a
confined space as a cavern they can make enough racket to cause one to
believe a whole army is coming.

The two men were still struggling with their prisoner, and using more or
less violence in forcing their wishes upon him, when there broke out a
sudden series of whoops that rang through the place.

Half a dozen wildcats engaged in a mix-up could hardly have created more
of a racket than did those three lads as they hurried toward the spot
where the lighted lantern showed them their chum in the hands of two
hard looking customers.

Hank took the alarm immediately. He seemed to be more timid than his
companion, who showed signs of being willing to turn and face the
advancing enemy until he noted that he had been left in the lurch. Then,
growling, and showing signs of temper, he waddled after Hank, who bore
the lantern.

"Paul!" called Jack, as they drew near.

"Here!" came the answer; and then the last match that Jack possessed was
sacrificed in order that he might find his chum.

The first thing that Paul noticed was another lantern on the floor of
the cavern.

"Here, light this, Jack, with that precious match!" he cried, after
shaking the lantern to find out whether it contained any oil.

"What under the sun does it all mean?" gasped the breathless Bobolink.

Joe seemed to be just as anxious as either of the others to know,
although he did not say a single word.

"I happened on two men who were sleeping here," said Paul. "Notice the
blankets and the things for cooking, will you? They must have had a
hold-out here. Perhaps they chased Ted and his crowd out of the cave,
because, if you look, you can see that aluminum frying pan Ward Kenwood
used to carry around with him, and which he must have forgotten in his
hurry to leave."

"Did you know them, Paul?" asked Jack.

Paul turned so that he could watch Joe while he replied.

"I never saw the fellow called Pim before. He was a tough customer,
too; either a regular tramp or a yeggman; and I guess from his looks he
must have been ready for any game, from robbing a bank to stealing a
farmer's chickens."

"How about the other?" Jack kept on.

"Well," said Paul, slowly, "you remember the man who drove past when we
were at the side of the road that day, and whose wheel marks we saw all
the way up here? That was the fellow. I had a good look at him. His
companion called him Hank!"

"Oh! my, then it is really true!" ejaculated Joe C