layed. Then wise counsels prevailed, and the agent's
carefully concocted scheme was adopted.

"There are enough of us here to arrest Raikes without any trouble," he
said. "We won't say anything about it outside, but we'll just go quietly
to the station, and take the first train to Wytopitlock. It goes in
twenty minutes."

This programme was carried out. The party of seven managed to reach the
station and board the train without attracting much attention.
Wytopitlock was even a less important place than Kingman. It boasted
half-a-dozen houses, a store and a tavern. The latter was nearly a
quarter of a mile from the station, and stood on the edge of the
wilderness. Here bad news awaited the party.

"The men you're inquirin' fur hev been here mor'n two days," said Hiram
Bobb, "at least one of them has. Arter dinner they started into the
woods. They said they was goin' huntin'. Thar's somethin' queer about
it, though. I heard them whisperin' this mornin', an' one, he says to
t'other, 'we must git thar by sundown. The place is a big rock about
three miles up the valley.'"

Jerry and Tom exchanged meaning glances with the men.

"I know whar that rock is," exclaimed Mowry, "an' I understand the hull
thing. Thar's ter be a meetin' at sunset, an' the lad an' the money will
change hands."

"And the sun will set in a little less than half an hour," cried the
agent. "We've got just about time enough to reach the place."

"What's all this rumpus about, anyway?" gasped Hiram Bobb, with bulging
eyes.

The situation was quickly explained to him. He volunteered to accompany
the party, and the offer was accepted.

"I hope thar won't be no shootin' needed," said Mowry, "but it's a
little unsartin, seein' as thar'll likely be three of the rascals at the
meetin'-place instid of one."

A little later the party were advancing softly, and in single file,
through the woods. They went swiftly up the trough of the deep and
gloomy valley, Mowry leading the way with unerring knowledge.

At last Mowry paused, and waited until his companions had gathered
around him. He pointed with one hand to a ledge of rock and bushes that
was visible some thirty feet ahead, and stretched two-thirds of the way
across the trough of the valley.

"We must git behind that without makin' any noise," he said. "Yonder is
the big rock, an' a sort of a clearing roundabout. We'll be able ter
see right into it."

Mowry led the party on with extra caution. The