“All right, my sons,” said Tregelly coolly. “Let’s go in and get the lantern. The beggar has rolled about, and dropped down the pit. Sorry we can’t cover him up. But we can’t, on account of the gold.”
Just then there came a hail, and another, and another, while when the lantern was lit and held up it served as a beacon to bring six men up to the hut door.
“Got the other one?” cried Tregelly.
“No; he got away in the darkness,” said Norton. “But what about the one you shot at?”
“He’s yonder,” said Tregelly. “Rolled down into the shaft.”
So it proved, for by the light of the lantern the body of one of the marauders was hauled up.
“Stone dead,” said Tregelly.
“Well, it has saved him from being hanged.”
“And others from having to do it,” said another.
“But no one will be safe till his mate’s in the same state,” said Tregelly.