"They are making a lot of it," he declared, "and the country will be
flooded with their work if the government doesn't catch them."

It may be well to state here that the reasoning of the boys with
regard to the future actions of the outlaws was correct, as they
disappeared from that section that night. When the lads visited the
cave later on some of the counterfeit coin which had been made was
still scattered about the subterranean room.

When they first reached the camp Jack was not in sight, but he soon
appeared, coming from a hiding place near the summit.

"I thought I'd better not expose myself by remaining in the tent," he
explained, "so ducked away and hid where I could watch the mules and
the provisions without being seen. I had about made up my mind that
the state militia had been called out, you made such a racket!"

"We're going to give Uncle Ike a medal, also a barrel of sugar, for
heroic conduct in the face of the enemy!" Jimmie declared, and the
mule, for once in his life, found a full pocket when he nosed about
for sweet lumps!

While the lads were eating a delayed supper, Jack turned to Oliver
with a mock frown on his face.

"The next time you go away in the night and leave me alone in camp,"
he said, "I'm going to break your dial in! I might have been shot
while asleep. According to the conversation between the outlaws, just
related by Jimmie, one of the toughs came up here! Don't you ever do