limestone, and the timber is largely red oak. The
mountains--or hills, rather--are not high, but they are precipitous,
rocky, impassable, full of ravines, and gulches, and unexpected
depressions, and scattered around through that region there are
innumerable caves, too."

"That is bad," said the detective. "It will make it so much the harder
to dislodge the hoboes."

"So you have got your work cut out for you this time, and no mistake."

"Could you suggest a competent guide for that region, Mr. Cobalt?"

"Old Bill Turner--if he would go."

"Who is he?"

"An old hunter, who used to take me out with him, and who afterward
served as guide for me. But he is an old man now."

"Where does he live?"

"In Calamont. You will have no difficulty in finding him. Ask the first
man you meet in the street to direct you to old Bill Turner, and he will
do it."

"That part of it is all right--if he is not too old to go."

"Oh, I think he can be induced to do it. Old Bill likes the looks of a
dollar as well as any man you ever knew. You have only to offer him
enough, and his rheumatism will disappear like magic."

"Then that part of it is all right, too. I am to understand that I have
the same free hand in the matter that I did before?"

"Of course. Your directions are: Catch Black Madge and break up her
gang."

"And that, I suppose, is about all that you have to say to me at
present."

"Yes; unless you have some questions to ask."

"Not one, thank you. I will ask them of Black Madge--when I catch her."

"Good! I hope it won't be long before you can ask them."

"I don't think it will be very long; only, she is a little bit the
smartest woman I ever tried to handle."

CHAPTER XI.

PATSY'S DANGEROUS MISSION.

When Nick Carter and Patsy left the office of the railway president,
they strolled in silence down the street until they came to a
restaurant, and, entering, they found a secluded table in one corner,
where they seated themselves and gave the order for luncheon.

When it was brought to them, and the waiter had departed, Nick said to
his assistant:

"Well, Patsy, we start about where we began on the other case, with the
single exception that we have broken up the stronghold in the swamp. It
is safe to say that Madge has no less than fifty men around her, and
probably as many more. I should not be surprised if there were fully one
hundred in the gang, all told."

"Nor I."

"Well, I shall start fo