“Oh, you fool!” shouted the other. “That’s my arm you’ve got hold of! Where’s your light?”
“I dropped it in the fight,” was the answer. “Go on away and get one. He’s somewhere in the cave, and it’s a sure thing he can’t get out. Tell the boys to guard all the entrances. That fool of a Toombs did a smart thing when he told us we needn’t keep him tied!”
Jimmie heard running footsteps for an instant and then came silence.
“Now I wonder,” he thought, “if they’ve gone and captured some of the boys and brought them here. They may have the whole bunch by this time for all I know. I wonder if I dare turn on this light.”
Instead of doing so, however, he sat perfectly still and listened to a soft tread approaching the spot where he stood. Whoever the visitor was, he was short of breath for he came along panting as if winded by a long struggle.
“I’ll take a chance on the light,” he mused.
And the next instant the room was illuminated.
CHAPTER VIII
A QUEER HIDING PLACE
When Jimmie turned on the searchlight in the cavern, he half expected to see the hostile face of one of the half-breeds. Instead, the light revealed Ned, standing in an attitude of defense, a stone of good size balanced in each hand. The light went out instantly.
The situation was now doubly alarming, it being well-known to the outlaws that Ned was at liberty somewhere within the cavern. It was certain that they would soon enter the place in full force, with plenty of light, in which case it seemed that both boys would surely be discovered.