pper the evening seemed comparatively short. At ten o'clock all
were in bed. Bogle did not chain himself to Brick, as he had always done
heretofore. He allowed the lad's arms to remain tied behind his back.

"I need a good rest to-night," he explained to Sparwick, "and I won't
get it with that confounded bracelet on my wrist."

"I reckon the lad's safe enough," muttered Sparwick, in a drowsy tone.
He seemed to be half-asleep already.

Bogle stretched himself on the opposite side of the bed, so that the
boys were between the two. He made no effort to keep awake, since he did
not intend to carry out his instructions until toward morning. He
dropped off to sleep in a very contented frame of mind. He straightway
dreamed that the half of fifteen thousand dollars was already in his
possession, and that he was enjoying life in a great city.

In the midst of his revels he awoke, and opened his eyes. For a moment
he did not remember where he was. The embers of the fire shed a dim
light, and showed him a man bending over him. He felt a strange hand
groping in his pocket.

Then the situation suddenly flashed upon him. He recognized Kyle
Sparwick, and knew intuitively that he must have heard the conversation
on the previous night. Now he was seeking the vial of chloroform.

With a husky cry, Bogle pushed his enemy aside, and sprang to his feet.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

A VIAL OF CHLOROFORM.

Kyle Sparwick was taken quite by surprise. His back intercepted the light
from the fireplace, and consequently he did not notice that Bogle's eyes
were open until it was too late.

He rushed blindly at Bogle, and received a stinging blow between the
eyes. With an angry yell he rolled over against Hamp.

Both lads were instantly wakened, and, not knowing What was the matter,
they cried out with fright.

Meanwhile, Bogle had rushed across the cave in quest of a weapon. The
firelight showed him reaching for the bunch of rifles that rested on a
stone slab on the opposite wall.

Sparwick arose, and in half-a-dozen leaps crossed the floor. Just in
time Bogle got hold of a rifle. He was too excited by the thought of
what was at stake to take careful aim. He hastily leveled the weapon,
and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The ball whizzed by Sparwick's head, and flattened harmlessly on the
wall above the boys.

There was no chance for a second shot. With a shrill cry Bogle swung the