A few minutes after they had gone, a small figure rose from among the bushes within a few yards of the spot where the cord was placed. Clambering up the hillside, and screening himself as much as possible behind clumps of vegetation, and by the natural inequalities of the ground, the little man made his way rapidly in the same direction as the Englishmen, and descended unseen among the huts of the Kalmuck miners. His narrow little eyes were gleaming with excitement. The men were just returning to work. The Pathans had already crossed the drawbridge; the Kalmucks were crossing. Black Jack pushed his way into the throng, apparently in a great hurry. He overtook Nurla Bai at the entrance to the mine gallery, and together they disappeared. The boys lost no time in communicating their discoveries to Mr. Appleton. "This is getting warm," he said. "We can do nothing yet. Act as though nothing had happened: to-night we’ll talk things over. You’re sure none of the men suspect you?" "There’s no sign of it," said Lawrence. "They saw us go, and come back with a bird: a very ordinary thing, that. I flatter myself that a Scotland Yard detective wouldn’t have guessed from our manner that there was any other object in our walk." The day passed like every other day. At sundown the bugle’s note drew the men from their work. They returned to their several quarters, and after their evening meal settled down to their games of chance or skill. After supper, when pipes were lit, Mr. Appleton returned to the subject. "I haven’t a doubt that Nurla is the man," he said. "You remember his industry when you were building your bridges. The scoundrel’s motive is clear. The question is, what is he after? It can’t be mere inquisitiveness. He suspects that the Pathans are mining something more valuable than copper, and if he can prove it, he’ll sell his knowledge, I suspect, and we shall have trouble. I only hope that your appearance last night disturbed him before he had had time to get any samples." "If it didn’t?" said Bob. "He’ll probably try again. The fact that he hasn’t absconded seems to show that he isn’t satisfied. If he had got enough for his purpose he would have been over the hills before this. We must keep a strict watch, and if we catch him making any further attempt of the same kind it’s the sack at once." "Wouldn’t it be best to sack him now?" Lawrence suggested. "I’m rather loth to act without definite proof. We should make an enemy of the fellow needlessly, and he has such influence with the Kalmucks that he might call them all out." "Would that matter? The silver’s the thing," said Lawrence.