Arriving here they spied the rope. In a flash they were over the edge and down it. Although they had bad tumbles when they reached the part where it had been cut off, they managed to make good their escape. It would have been folly to pursue them in the woods at night.
Black Bart’s capture deserves some mention. It was effected by Jumbo, who literally threw himself on the black-bearded man as he emerged. It was probably the noise of this scuffle that alarmed Hunt and his son.
“You looks like five hundred dollahs to muh,” grinned Jumbo, as Black Bart, sullen and defiant as a wild cat, was manacled.
The remainder of that night was spent in the cave, the prisoners being closely guarded. The next day Dale was induced to tell how they had stolen the explosive from the hut of an eccentric old character who did some experimental mining not far away.
“We figgered we’d find some use for it,” he said cheerfully.
That day was occupied in packing the precious articles, in bags brought for the purpose. By evening all was complete. If they had known how Hiram was faring they would have felt perfectly content. It was decided, if he did not reappear, to leave some of the party in camp to await his return, while the others pushed on to give the prisoners up to the proper authorities.
But at midnight that night they had a great surprise. Rob, who was on watch, heard a sudden hail out of the darkness:
“K-r-r-r-e-e-e-e!”
It was the cry of the Eagle Patrol.
“Who can be giving it, I wonder,” he exclaimed.