The youth could not hear all that was said, but learned enough to convince him that Al Roebuck, as he was called, was the party who had forged the pardon which had obtained for Arnold Baxter his liberty. For this work Roebuck had been promised a half share in the Eclipse Mine, and of some money which Baxter the elder was hoping to obtain. At last Arnold Baxter and Dan came in once more and faced Tom. "Rover, we are now ready to come to terms," began the man. "Are you ready to release me?" "Yes--under certain conditions." "You've got to sign off all rights to that mine," broke in Dan. "Dan, keep quiet," interposed his father. "I can do this better alone." "I know him better than you do, dad," returned his graceless son. "Perhaps, but I am fully capable of making terms with him." "All right, fire away, I don't care. Only don't let him off too easy." "I am anxious to settle this matter quietly," went on Arnold Baxter to Tom. "I don't want any more trouble." "Well, go ahead, I'm listening," came from Tom. "You are out here to locate a certain mine." "I don't deny it. The mine belongs to my father." "It belongs to me--and I am bound to have it." "You are a jailbird, Mr. Baxter. How can you hold such a property now?" The criminal winced and clenched his fists. "Don't be quite so plain-spoken, Rover, it doesn't set well. I say the claim is mine." "Well?" "You are in my power." "Granted." "Isn't your life worth something to you? To be sure it is. Then why not try to make terms to save it?" "You are fooling with me. You cannot be it earnest, Arnold Baxter." "You'll soon see if dad aint in earnest," burst out Dan. "I am not fooling, Rover, I mean every word of what I say. If you want to save your life you must make terms with me." "What sort of terms?" "You must write a letter to your brothers and the man who was with you and get them to return without delay to the East." "And after that?" "After they have returned to the East we will set you free, providing you swear to follow them and all of you swear to keep out of Colorado in the future." "And if I refuse?" "If you refuse your life shall pay the forfeit," answered Arnold Baxter. "Come now, which do you choose?" CHAPTER XXVII DASH FOR LIBERTY For the minute after Arnold Baxter spoke Tom had nothing to say. The man had offered terms, and if he did not accept them his very life would be in danger. Now, had Tom been the hero of some dime novel he would have shouted at once, "I refuse your offer--do your worse, base villain that you are!" But being an everyday American boy, with a proper regard for his own life, he revolved the situation in his mind with great care. "Well, what do you say?" demanded Arnold Baxter impatiently. "You had better accept dad's offer," broke in Dan. "I don't know what to say," was the slow answer. "This, you must remember, is brand new to me."