ere is one of my letters!" cried Roger. "It tells about the Landslide
Mine. I had forgotten it," and he put the communication in his pocket.

But little else of value belonging to Roger was found, and their own
things the prisoners were allowed to retain, all but their weapons.
Those, even to their pocket-knives, Tom Dillon confiscated.

"What are you going to do with us?" asked Link Merwell, surlily, after
the search was at an end.

"We'll tie 'em up for the night," said Tom Dillon. "Boys, get a couple
of ropes."

"Tie us up!" exclaimed Job Haskers, in new alarm.

"Exactly."

"And in the--er--morning----?" faltered the former teacher of Oak Hall.

"We'll see what we'll do with you after breakfast," answered the old
miner, briefly.

"Say, wot did ye do with them other fellers?" demanded Abe Blower, while
Dave and Phil were getting the ropes.

"We left them in camp."

"Is Staver with 'em?" asked Tom Dillon.

"No, his hand hurt him so he went back to town to have a doctor look
after it," replied Merwell.

"Is he coming back here?"

"He said he thought not--at least, not for the present."

"Do you think those others will come here to-night?" asked Dave, as he
came with a rope, followed by Phil with another rope.

"We'll stand guard, lad, and see," answered Tom Dillon.

Much against their will, Link Merwell and Job Haskers were bound, hands
and feet. Then each was made fast to a rock not far from the campfire.

"We'll take turns at guarding the camp," said Tom Dillon. "Two hours
each every night after this;" and so it was arranged.

Now that he was sure he was not to be shot, Job Haskers was very
indignant over being bound.

"It isn't a bit gentlemanly," he said, to Dave.

"We won't argue the point," returned our hero, briefly. He was disgusted
with both Merwell and Haskers, and he wished they might both go away and
that he would never see them again.

As he was so restless, Dave said he would be the first one of the party
to stand guard, and, accordingly, the others turned in as before,
dropping off to sleep one after another. Merwell was inclined to talk
and argue, but Dave would not listen.

"I am done with you, Link," he said. "And I am done with Haskers, too.
All I want you to do is to leave me alone in the future."

"You let us go, or it will be the worse for you," growled Link Merwell.

When his two hours' guard duty came to an end, Dave called Roger, who in
turn called Phil. The shipown