Pagina 130 de 439

The officer turned to his friend and laughed. "I reckon I'm

holding the sack this time. See. There's blood on these cuffs. He

rasped his hands some before he got them out."

"Well, you've still got him safe down here somewhere."

"Yes, I have or Dunke has. The trouble is both the mines are shut

down just now. He's got about forty miles of tunnel to play

hide-and-go-seek in. He's in luck if he doesn't starve to death."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"I'll have to get some of my men out on search-parties--just tell

them there's a man lost down here without telling them who. I

reckon we better say nothing about it to the ladies. You know how

tender-hearted they are. Nellie wouldn't sleep a wink to-night

for worrying."

"All right. We'd better get to it at once then."

Fraser nodded. "We'll go up and rustle a few of the boys that

know the mine well. I expect before we find him Mr. Wolf Struve

will be a lamb and right anxious for the shepherd to arrive."