screams of the aggravated mule. Several weapons seemed to be pouring out l

room. Either the outlaws were pursuing Frank or the shoote

ws left in the subterranean place. The fire was built at one side, and the light from it filled the

o his lips and gave out a low whine, one of the signals used by the boys of the Wolf Patrol. Whil

if they should seek to

thou

came to his call-the low,

ed. "He's in some of the ho

asked, and the answe

t! We're only tied with ropes, but the ropes kno

te rock. He had no difficulty in finding the opening, and in a short time the boys were relieved of their bo

cramped from long confinement. "Who's out there with Uncle Ike? Sa

ed, "how about getting

d the door by which he had entered, "we may be able to get out without bein

whispere

" said

ced both boys wit

it?" he

d put the plunder in that alcove in the rock on the o

oon came back with their guns and electrics. The firing outside was again farther

sked Dode, as he pu

ens on the slope on the west side of the ridge we

n get out and join Frank in the mess outside! The

, through a long passage, and finally came to a plank door which was securely f

d, beyond that, the valley and the distant mountains. The air of the nigh

ious shrieks of a pestered mule! Ned turned to the south, from which direction th

he rear?" asked Teddy. "We are taking the w

puffing at every breath, "we've got

ng, they faced the valley, some distance away, in which the cabin of Mary Brady stood. Th

feiters will think they are being attacked by a fresh party and duck back to the cave. Then Frank can come along with that bless

h his heels. That makes Uncle Ike half crazy! Ther

leading down into the valley, so they began the ascent of the rocky slope and c

an occasional shot as they retreated, and this fact convinced the boys tha

the next shelf and I'll fire from here. They may charge us, and if the

ght here and shoot, t

several bumps

at little gunman?

d Ned, so Jimmie unwillingly toiled up the acclivity. They came to a

g the outlaws on a run toward their cave, so the b

ie predicted, but the prophecy was not a good one, for no figures were seen

nickered. "They'll pack up their tools and vanish! They'll

he mountaineers will also think we are Secret Serv

ything in sight. We may be believed if we tell the truth, that we blundered on their cave a

" Teddy observed, as

Ike hasn't, for here

ots to direct his course and waited. The hoofbeats, the labored breathing

ne, and Uncle Ike was petted and perm

hit," Ned observed. "The outlaws fi

must have thought a dozen men were attacking them. Whenever I fired I changed my position, and when Uncle Ike yelled I hustled him along! I reckon

heir work," Ned admitted. "Moonshiners might remain and fight, but counterfeiter

taken inside and tied up. The boy Dode was overjoyed at his escape from the gang, and explained that they had captured him not f

"and the country will be flooded with thei

tlaws was correct, as they disappeared from that section that night. When the lads visited the cave lat

s not in sight, but he soon appeared, co

d away and hid where I could watch the mules and the provisions without being seen. I had

c conduct in the face of the enemy!" Jimmie declared, and the mule, for o

ayed supper, Jack turned to Oliv

l in! I might have been shot while asleep. According to the conversation between the outlaws, just related

larger kick coming than y

and the blonde stranger, they could not agree at all. Some of them insisted

dson," one asked, "wh

lk about French and other foreign languages? Mik