“I’ve sent half a dozen men from the mill to curry the chaparral around the camp,” Burke answered. “I don’t think they’ll discover anything, but it was about all I could do.”

Hawkins nodded his approval.

“Any of ’em reported yet?” he asked.

“No, not yet. They’ve been out for some time, though, and I reckon it won’t be long before some of ’em come straggling in.”

The words were hardly out of Burke’s mouth before a couple of the mill men came running into the room with their lanterns. They were jubilant, and the very appearance of them caused those in the laboratory to feel a thrill of hope.

“Found something?” demanded Hawkins.

“Bet we have,” answered one.

“Lenning?”

“Well, no; but we got hold of a couple of fellers, and they’re comin’ this way. Wait till they come. I reckon we’d better let ’em talk for themselves.”

Then two more came into the room—and the sight of them made Merriwell dizzy.