"Yes; everything is working in our favor. I have seen him at Six Roads, and he tells me he will back us in all we undertake. He will look after that end of the route. We have already got at least three of the offices under our thumb. He says he can cook the goose of that upstart who thinks he can run the Kanawha any way he chooses. The governor says for us to keep still until he can carry out a little plan of his, and then——" "Men get rusty lying around in the damp," said the chief. "Better get a little rusty than to take too much risk. It's my opinion we can do no better than to wait his move." "What will the Acreites do while we loll around?" "Let 'em do what they please; we ain't going to leave a grease spot of them before we get through. I tell you it is the biggest scheme ever afoot since the days of old Burr, and when we have carried out our plans we can snap our fingers at even Uncle Sam." "That all sounds well, but I ain't so much confidence in that old duffer at Six——Hello! what's up?" The abrupt appearance of a newcomer upon the fitful scene caused every man of the four to spring to his feet, and instinctively each sought the firearm he carried at his side. "It is only our guard," said the chief, as he recognized the intruder. "What is up, Blake? Anything wrong?" "There are strangers in the valley!" replied the newcomer. CHAPTER V. CLOSE QUARTERS. "Have we been found?" asked the four in the same breath. "Not that I know of. The party that I meant seem to be a family stopped here for a rest, though I could not see anything of the men folks. They may be off gunning." "If there is no danger, what did you alarm us for?" demanded the chief. "I ain't through yet," replied the other, doggedly. "There is some one else in the valley besides them. Perhaps he came with them." "Who is this other? Why don't you pack your ideas up together?" "I ain't seen the chap himself," continued the man, in his deliberate way, "but the postboy of the Kanawha is somewhere around about these diggings." Had a thunderbolt fallen among them the men could not have shown greater surprise. "Where is he?" the four asked, again using the same words. "I tell you I don't know. His horse is on the other side of the bluff, feeding as quietly as you please. The mail sack in on his back. Perhaps he has throwed his rider." "Dix Lewis in this region!" exclaimed the chief, ignoring the last statement of the messenger. "There is work for us to do, boys! Come——" At this juncture, the torch, which, unnoticed by all, had been dying out, flared up for an instant and then went out, leaving the little group enveloped in darkness. "The furies!" cried one of the men. "Who's got anything to make a light?" "Follow me!" commanded the chief, "and let the light alone. We must find that boy without any loss of time. His presence here at this——"