he would be sure to
suspect something."

"All right," assented Bogle. "Go ahead. I'm listening."

Raikes took another look at Sparwick and at the boys. Then he drew a
tiny glass vial from his pocket, and slipped it into Bogle's hand.

"Take good care of it," he whispered, "and put it in a safe place."

"What is it?" asked Bogle.

"Chloroform," Raikes whispered. "I'll tell you how to use it. Some time
to-morrow night wet a rag, and press it on Sparwick's face while he is
sleeping. Then bind him tightly, and put a gag in his mouth. At daybreak
start for the meeting place with the boys. You can easily manage them if
you keep their arms tied. Glendale and I will be waiting. You and I will
share the fifteen thousand dollars, and strike for a safe part of the
country."

"Splendid!" whispered Bogle. "You're a born schemer, Silas. I thought
you would find some way to outwit this greedy fool. But shall I leave
him here to die of starvation?"

"We'll let Glendale or the boys send a party to rescue him," replied
Raikes. "And as likely as not he'll spend the next two or three years of
his life in jail. That's enough now. It's not safe to talk any longer.
Do you understand?"

"Perfectly," whispered Bogle. "You may look for me and the lads at
sunset."

This ended the conversation. Raikes lay down, and pulled the blankets
over him. Not a sound could be heard but the steady breathing of the
sleepers.

Had the fire been burning brightly it might have been seen that
Sparwick's eyes were open. There was a devilish smile of mingled anger
and triumph on his face. Under the blankets he savagely clinched his
fists.

"It's a good thing I was listening," he said to himself. "A mighty good
thing. I reckon I'll be ready fur these sneakin' liars."

He involuntarily gave a low chuckle as some pleasing thought entered his
mind. This scared him. He listened for a moment. Then he closed his eyes,
and began to snore.

The three men were up at the first streak of dawn on Thursday morning.
After a hastily-prepared breakfast Raikes said good-by to his
companions; and started for Wytopitlock.

An hour later the boys were roused and fed. If the previous days had
seemed long, this one was ten times longer. Bogle and Sparwick looked
forward to evening just as impatiently as the boys. They passed the time
in smoking and talking, and appeared to be on the best of terms. Dinner
time came, and the long afternoon dwindled slowly by.

After su