m at once, for they stood in wholesome dread of him
and his anger; and when they understood what had been brought to them,
they were ready for anything.

And so it was that in their turns they took their medicine as the others
had done. When they had swallowed it, Nick said to them:

"Stretch out, now, you fellows, where you are. I'll let you sleep for a
while, at least. I'm going to sit here and smoke. I am tired myself.
Turner, sit down. We'll keep watch here for a spell."

The men did not require a second invitation, but speedily took advantage
of the permission--and it was surprising how soon the laudanum took
effect upon them.

Ten minutes had not elapsed before the four were sleeping soundly, and
snoring as if they never expected to awake again.

"I think we can go now," said Nick, at last, rising.

"What is the next trick to be done?" asked Patsy.

"Let me see," replied Nick. "It's thirty miles from here to Calamont.
How far is it to the railway track in a direct line? That is the way you
came, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"How far is it?"

"About four miles, possibly. I can make it in an hour."

"Then skip. This is the nearest point to start from. Get to the track as
soon as you can. Flag the first train that comes along, no matter what
it is. Get aboard it, and go to the first station. Get off there, and
use the telegraph operator. Have him wire to Mr. Cobalt, the president
of the road, exactly what has happened. Ask Cobalt to send a special
train to us from the nearest point. We will want about twenty officers
to take charge of all these prisoners, and he had better send along some
chains with padlocks on them. You can figure that out yourself. We will
want to make chain gangs of these men, so that they can walk to the
railway, but so that they are chained together and cannot escape. You've
got the idea?"

"Yes."

"Go, then, and see how quickly you can get the officers here, and we can
get this crew away from here."

"And you?"

"I'll stay here. Skip, now. Don't talk any more."

"Have I got to carry these whiskers with me?" grinned Patsy.

"You'd better not stop to remove them now. I put them on to stay. Go!"

And Patsy went.

Nick remained where he was for a while, thinking deeply, and altogether
satisfied with what he had accomplished; but after a little he rose, and
took his way back into the cave, intending to see what Handsome and
Madge were doing, and if they were making any effort to fre