with that miner who was with them. Nat, what caused him
to write to you? I thought you told me that you had destroyed his last
letter without answering it."

"So I did destroy it, Dave, without answering it," returned the
money-lender's son. "I was as surprised to hear from him as you would
have been. I thought he would know enough to let me alone."

"What did he have to say, Nat?" questioned Ben. "Of course you haven't
got to tell us if you don't want to," he added, hastily.

"That's all right. Didn't I tell you I was coming to see Dave? I was
going to show him the letter. I've got it in my pocket. Here it is," and
Nat brought forth the communication.

The letter was a long and rambling one which need not be reproduced
here. In it Link Merwell told something of how he had been caught in the
landslide, and how he had escaped and had been carried by some miners to
their camp. A search had been made for Job Haskers and the man named
Blugg, but without results. Then Merwell had obtained some money
(probably from his father), and had come East, where he expected to
obtain a position. He added that he was still as bitter as ever against
Dave and his chums, and would do his best some day to "square accounts."
As in his previous communication to Nat, he wanted to know if the
money-lender's son would not aid him in making trouble for our hero.

"The same old Link Merwell!" remarked Dave, after he had read the
letter, with Ben looking over his shoulder.

"Wouldn't you think a fellow who had been so close to death would want
to reform?" said his chum. "But I suppose Link doesn't know what the
word, 'reform,' means."

"Oh, Dave, aren't you afraid he will make you a lot of trouble?" cried
Jessie, and her face showed her deep concern.

"I never was afraid of Link Merwell, and I don't believe I ever shall
be," returned Dave, quickly. "At heart I think that fellow is a big
coward."

"Yes, but you must be careful," warned his sister. "Even cowards know
how to strike in the dark, and that would be Link Merwell's way of
attacking you."

"I don't know how he is going to hurt Dave when he is away off in
Boston," was Ben's comment. "The chances are he has got to go to work
and earn his living. Probably his father is sick of putting up money for
him."

"Merwell mustn't forget one thing," said Dave. "He is still responsible
for his part in that jewelry robbery. If the authorities get hold of
him, they will certainly send him to