"If it's straight, we'll let you go. If it's not, back you go into the pit, and this time you won't have a rope to help you down." "Oh, I ain't afeerd," said Nolan. "It's straight. But I think I ort t' have some of it." "How much did you say there is?" "Between fifty an' sixty thousand dollars." "It's not in a bank?" "No; it's in a box." "And we can get it within a day or two." "You kin git it day arter to-morrer." "If everything turns out well, you shall have a thousand dollars." "Oh, come," protested Nolan, but the other stopped him with an impatient gesture. "That or nothing," he said, curtly, and Nolan surrendered, for he saw the man was in earnest. "All right," he said, glumly, and instinctively they all drew a little nearer the fire. "Th' day arter t'-morrer," he began, "they'll come in on th' evenin' train a box containin' sixty thousan' in cold cash." "Whose is it?" asked one of the men. "It b'longs t' th' mine company," said Nolan; "it's th' men's wages." And again the group drew a little closer together. CHAPTER XXVI THE PURSUIT Jed Hopkins, at the head of his men, hastened away from the station toward the offices of the company. There were several things he wanted cleared up before starting in pursuit of the robbers. In the first place, what had happened to the wagon which was to have come after the chest; and, in the second place, what had become of the man he had sent out to look for it? The latter question was quickly answered. As they passed through a little locust grove just beyond the station, Jed's alert ear caught a stifled cry or gurgle to the left of the road, and without pausing an instant, he started toward it. The others followed, and a moment later, they found Jed's companion bound to a tree and gagged as Allan had been. His adventures were soon told. He had started along the road leading to the mine, expecting every moment to meet the wagon coming for the chest. Just as he reached the grove, he heard wheels approaching, and stopped, intending to hail it, but before he could open his mouth, some one threw a heavy cloak or sack over his head from behind and pulled it tight, while some one else tripped him up and sat on him. His hands were tied, the gag forced into his mouth, and he was led to the tree and securely fastened. Then to his astonishment, he heard the wagon stop, and the men on it exchange greetings with his captors. The latter then clambered aboard and the wagon continued on toward the station. "Was it the company's wagon?" asked Jed. "I couldn't swear to it," answered the other, chafing his wrists to start the circulation, "but it sounded mighty much like it." "Well, we must find out," said Jed, and hurried forward.