The surrender had barely been affected when the entire mountaintop seemed to shiver for a moment and then settle, together with terrific rumble and roar that threw men to the ground. From the mouths of the mine blew volumes of rock, timbers, and débris. Then columns of black smoke and gaseous vapors poured out until the sky overhead was darkened. The mine had been wrecked and rendered impenetrable by some gigantic upheaval. For a few minutes all were overwhelmed with surprise and awe, then Price, who was the first to recover, said: “It’s the work of Bloody Ike, and he’s in there, buried under a million tons of rock!” CHAPTER XV. BUFFALO BILL’S TRUMP CARD. After the scout and Hickok had been released by Little Cayuse and had bound the interior guard, they had set about the capture of the men posted at the entrances to the slope. They first crept out to the upper level, and surprised Bloody Ike. He was treated as the first had been, and carried back into the mine to rest on the hay where the scout and Hickok had lain. The next work was to go down to the lower entrance to take in the other guard. As they approached the light they heard the voice of the guard in conversation with some one on the outside. Creeping nearer until they could command a view of the rocks beyond, the scout was surprised to see Red Dick and his men lined up and held at bay by the sentry, who was warning them not to come any nearer. He told them that he had ten well-armed men behind him, and if they attempted to enter he would blow them into mince meat. After long parley Red Dick attempted to retreat, but found himself confronted by Fighting Dan and his crowd. Red Dick was between two fires, but preferred to take the chances that the guard had lied about having men behind him. Dick in an undertone directed his men, and all suddenly dashed into the slope. There they were met by the leveled rifles, not only of Buffalo Bill, the Laramie man, and Little Cayuse, but of the surprised guard himself. “Fight it out where you are,” commanded the scout, “or we’ll take a hand from this side.” Red Dick and his men made the best of a bad situation, and dropped among the rocks to send a volley at Fighting Dan’s crowd, now beginning to advance. It was at this time that the sheriff and his posse appeared. Then the battle had become triangular. The scout first relieved the mine guard of his weapons, and secured his hands and feet to guard against treachery, and then hit upon a scheme to catch a thief with a thief. Most of all, Buffalo Bill wanted Price, and the sheriff, and Dave Green. He had Bloody Ike and two minor villains, but the ringleaders still stood a good chance of escape if they once understood that the round-up had begun. The scout called to Red Dick: “Davids, I’ve a proposition to make.” “Name it.” “You are no particular friend of Price and the sheriff?” “I’d like to see ’em hung.”