Towards night Frank, with Barney and the trapper, Beaver Bill, went to the verge of the plateau.
Pomp was left with the Steam Horse by the stone house.
Frank’s theory was that the counterfeiters were secreted beneath the cliffs and were waiting simply for night to enable them to find their way across the valley.
But how they had gone down over the edge of the cliff seemed a mystery.
This, however, Beaver Bill soon solved in a curious manner.
The trapper found several stout iron rings imbedded in out of the way crevices of the cliff.
His theory was logical.
“I tell ye, I reckon they had double lengths of lariat passed through these rings,” he declared. “They evidently had this all fired anticipating an attack some time.”
“Begorra, I can see that,” cried Barney, “but howiver did they go down and be afther taking the ropes wid thim?”
“Easy enough, pard,” replied the trapper, “the lariats were doubled an’ by jest untying a knot they could pull the rope down arter ‘em, an’ ye couldn’t foller in the same way.”