one I brought here!"

"He wants you, Will," Tommy said.

As the boy was about to step into the opening, Thede caught him by
the arm and drew him back.

"Just you wait a minute," he said.

The lad placed a sliver of rock in Will's hat and held it beyond
the opening, at the same time letting the rays of the searchlight
fall full upon it.

"I know that half-breed better than you do," Thede said, as he
pushed the hat out further and further.

When the hat was about as far out as the boy could send it without
risking his own hands, a rifle shot rang through the cavern and the
bullet cut its way through the exposed hat.

"Don't you see?" Thede asked. "He knows you have a gun, and he
figured that you'd fall into this chamber, and that we wouldn't
dare reach over for it. He's a foxy old reprobate!"

"What next?" demanded Will.

"You just wait a minute!" Thede advised. "I think I know a way
out! If we just could get in behind that half-breed and chuck him
into the prison he prepared for us, it would be a mighty fine joke
on him!"