Sidney ran the matter over in his mind so rapidly that only a few moments were consumed while the man was waiting an answer to his proposal. But he did not dare trust the fellow, for he realized that if they were once outside the jail there would be nothing to prevent the man from taking whatever money they had, perhaps putting them out of the way to accomplish it. So he determined to deny that he had any money left, and said accordingly,-- “I have no money to pay you.” “You be sorry,” said the man with an ugly look. “You get shot.” “What do you mean?” asked Sidney. “You kill two men, you both get shot.” And he opened the door and went out, locking it behind him. “What made you do that, Sid?” asked Raymond when they were alone. “Why didn’t you give him the bribe he wanted?” “I don’t think he’s to be trusted.” “But he is sure we have the money.” “Yes, he is, and that’s just the trouble. If he once got us out of here he would probably kill us and take it all.” “Well, it doesn’t matter so much after all,” said Raymond, “for I’m sure we can get out through the window.” “Yes,” suggested Sidney, “if that fellow isn’t waiting outside to receive us. He may know the window bars are rotten and thinks we’ll try that way.” “We’ll give him a run for his money, anyway. If I _only_ had that revolver I’d give him something besides a run. I hate to start up through the mountains without any gun, Sid. Did you notice if that man had one?” “Yes, he had a long revolver in his belt, I should think a .38.” “I almost wish he’d be waiting outside, then, and I’d make a try for it. Those boneheads didn’t take our cartridges, so all we lack is a gun.” The boys were very much amused by the inefficient search the policemen had conducted. Their knapsacks hung with the blanket rolls from the window bars in plain view, but had not been examined at all. The sacks contained, besides a few small articles of clothing and a little food, all of Raymond’s ammunition. If they could only obtain a gun of the same caliber, they would still be well fortified. Sidney admonished his brother, however, to take no rash chances, at any time, in an attempt to procure arms. The black bread which the policeman had brought to them was not at all inviting in its appearance,--indeed it was fairly repulsive,--but they decided to keep it, for if they were to succeed in escaping from the town in the night, they would, of course, have no chance to buy food. So the bread was stowed away in the knapsacks with the small supply already there.