“And the white wolf? That confounded beast won’t interfere?” “No, no. Ze white wolf stay near Guadalupe all ze time.” “Then, by jove, it’s a bully idea,” cried Dick. “It gets me all right. We’ll turn miners, Pierre, and we’ll have a rare old sack of nuggets to divide when the time comes for me to go free. I’ll be better off in the end than if I were holding down my old job at the rancho,” he laughed gaily. “I will find ze spades and ze pans to wash ze gravel. When shall we begin?” “Well, wait now,” replied Dick, glancing reflectively at the roll of drawings. “I’ve got to send these plans away. I want you to get them at once into the hands of my friend, Lieutenant Chester Munson. He will know how to forward them to their proper destination.” “May I suggest one zing?” “Go ahead, Pierre. What’s in your mind?” “I venture to make one little suggestion. Why not ask ze young lady to take ze plans to your friend?” “Miss Merle Farnsworth?” asked Dick in surprise. “But how am I to do that?” “I will promise to arrange a meeting—zat is, if you are not afraid of Mr. Thurston and his men.” “Afraid!” shouted Dick. “You give me the chance to see Merle again, and old Ben Thurston and all his sleuths may go to blazes.” “Zen I will arrange, and I zink it will please ze young lady very much to have ze honor of taking care of ze plans.” “You mean it will be a mighty honor for the plans to be in her care, Pierre. But I know she will gladly do me this service. How and when can I see her?” “Be ready tomorrow morning by ten o’clock. I will take you to a quiet place among ze old oak trees.” “Pierre, you’re a regular brick,” cried Dick, as he slapped the old Frenchman on the shoulder in the exuberance of his delight. The following morning they started out for the trysting place. Dick without demur submitted to the usual precautions. He was blindfolded before mounting his pony in the great central domed cavern and it was not until a couple of hours later, after a veritable switchback ride up and down and round about in a bewildering maze, that he was permitted to remove the bandage. Dismounting, he found himself in the heart of a great oak forest, in what precise locality he could not tell, for there was nothing in sight but endless vistas of tree trunks under their thick canopy of green leaves. Pierre touched him on the shoulder, and he followed the direction of the Frenchman’s eyes. There, advancing through the sylvan twilight, was Merle Farnsworth, her hands eagerly extended, her face lighted with joy. Following at a little distance came Tia Teresa. Dick, hastening to meet Merle, took both her hands into his, and gazed deep into her eyes. “Oh, it’s great to meet you again,” he exclaimed. “And this is my first chance to thank you for having saved me the other night. My word, but you were quick to think and to act. You cannot know how I admired your courage and coolness.”