he said.

"Yes, sir."

"Where do you come from?"

"From Emmonsville."

"Direct?"

"No."

"I saw you just now coming out of some opening in the earth."

This alarmed Ernest. He felt that he might be called upon to explain where
he had been.

"Who is this man?" he asked himself. "Is he one who is likely to be in the
confidence of the outlaws? If so I have only got out of one scrape to fall
into another."

He studied the face of the man with whom he was speaking and to his dismay
noted a resemblance to James Fox. He began to suspect that this was his
brother.

Whether it was or not Ernest deemed it politic to say as little as
possible of his experiences and of what he knew about the cave and its
occupants.

"Yes," he answered quietly; "there seems to be a cave underneath. I found
the trap-door open and went down, but I regretted it, for I found it
difficult to get out again."

His new acquaintance eyed him scrutinizingly, as if to see whether he knew
more than he was willing to reveal.

"So there is a cave underneath?" he said.

"Yes."

"Have you any idea what it is used for?"

"I don't think it is used at all. The room below seems empty."

The man regarded him fixedly.

"When did you leave Emmonsville?" he asked abruptly.

"Yesterday," answered Ernest in some confusion.

"How does it happen that you have got no farther on your way to Lee's
Falls?"

"I stopped at the cabin of an Indian," answered Ernest, making the only
explanation he could think of.

The man smiled.

"Young man," he said, "didn't you pass last night in this cave?"

Ernest saw that there was no further chance for subterfuge.

"Yes," he answered.

"I thought so."

"You were captured?" the other went on.

"Yes."

"Have you any suspicion by whom this cave is occupied?"

"I presume by the Fox brothers."

"Correct. I am one of them."

"I began to think so."

"How were you able to escape?"

"I was left with the little boy. He fell asleep and then I began to
explore."

"Where is my brother?"

"He went out quite early, I presume in search of you."

"Exactly. I suppose my brother heard that I was in trouble?"

"Yes."

"By the way, the Quaker detective through whom I got into difficulty you
doubtless know?"

"I do."

"I was put into jail at Crampton, but I managed to effect my escape. Are
you connected in any way with the Emmonsville bank?"

"Yes."

"In what way?"

"As bank messenger."

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