But he knew how useless it was, so he did no further struggling.
The fact that the rest had succeeded in getting away was a little consolation, for that meant that they would come back and effect a rescue.
Our hero placed the utmost dependence on Charlie and Jim, for they had never failed him yet.
In through the short passage the outlaws took them, and then into the big cave.
They paused here long enough to bind the boy's hands and then Chuck Snivel, who was in command, said:
"Outside into the hole with him, boys. Tie him to the post until Cap comes. We'll keep the girl here. I reckon we'll collect the toll all right."
"It will be a dear toll, too," spoke up the man who had cautioned him not to kill the boy. "Two of us went under, I s'pose you know."
"An' no amount of money will bring 'em back ter life," chimed in another.
"There'll be a lot more of you go under before you collect your toll!" exclaimed Young Wild West, who had now fully recovered from the surprise he had been treated to. "Just wait!"
"That's all right, boy," Chuck Snivel answered, "You know how I feel toward you, I reckon. You don't have no idea that you're ever goin' ter git away from here alive, do yer?"