The light that was admitted through the cracks in the front was sufficient for our hero to see that it was another passage that he was being taken to. He had heard the villain in command of the men say that he was to be taken outside and put in the hole until the leader came, but just what that meant he did not know. He was destined to find out very soon, however, for the passage did not extend many feet. A sharp turn in it and he saw a natural hollow, with steep walls of rock on either side, right before him. It looked very much like the pass, but he knew it could not be, for they would not take him out there again. Another thing, the end of the opening, or hole, as it might be called, was but fifty yards away. Some parts of this wall was very steep, and others looked as though it could be climbed. On one side, not far from the passage he was taken from, was a stout post that was planted firmly in the ground. To this Wild was taken, and being placed in an upright position, with his back to it, he was firmly tied to the post. "There!" exclaimed Chuck Snivel, fiendishly. "I reckon you'll stay there just as long as we want yer to, Young Wild West." "All right," was the calm rejoinder. "I hope you won't want me to stay here very long. I don't like this kind of business." Some of the outlaws laughed, while others glared at him savagely. His style did not exactly suit them. He was too cool by far. Then, again, two of their number had fallen during the struggle to capture the brave boy and his sweetheart, and that made them feel all the more ugly toward him. "You was goin' through ther pass an' yer wasn't goin' ter pay no toll, Young Wild West!" exclaimed Snivel, after a short pause. "I reckon yer found out your mistake all right. We seen yer when yer went through, an' we jest got ready fur yer when yer come back. Yer couldn't have stopped in a better place, fur ye was right in front of our cave. Yer jest walked right inter ther trap we had set fur yer." "That's all right," Wild answered, coolly. "You have won the first trick in the game, that isn't going to count for much. I've been in just such fixes as this, and I have always got out of them. You couldn't scare me if you tried for a week!" "You talk it nice; but yer will change your tune afore you're many hours older. Thought it was fine fun ter make me dance last night, didn't yer? Oh, but I'm gittin' square, all right." "You'll wish you had never met me before I am done with you." "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the villain. "Hear him talk, boys! He acts jest as though he ain't no prisoner. He's got nerve enough fur ten, I reckon." "I reckon it's his bluff that's always carried him through," remarked one of the outlaws, as he looked at the helpless boy and nodded. "But there's always a time, yer know. Young Wild West has gone ther length of his rope!"