Part 20 (1/2)

”Oh, Joe, do you think they an Darry, and then stopped short

”Yes, your brother is waiting toJoe

”Then he is also a prisoner?”

”Yes”

Joe's heart sank within him

”If old Benson was only here!” hethe boys, the desperadoes took their guns and also a pistol the young captain had loaned his brother

”Now get on your horses,” commanded Gilroy ”And et shot”

”Are you going to take us to Captain Moore?” asked Darry

”Perhaps”

The desperadoes would answer no more questions, and in a few minutes the whole party was off for the cave Both Darry and Joe wished to leave behind soht pick up, but they atched so closely they could do nothing

When the cave was gained the boys were told to go inside and keep quiet

”Joe! and you too, Darry!” cried Captain Moore ”I was afraid of this”

”No wonder we couldn't find you!” said Joe, and told of the hunt he and his cousin had a captain

”I just picked up a e which Gilroy must have dropped,” and he told what the sheet contained

”If I were you I'd burn the paper,” said Darry ”Then he won't know you have seen it”

”No, I would like to keep the sheet----to show to Colonel Fairfield if I can e?”

”I have no idea There used to be a half-breed around here whoht he was dead He was thick with the Modoc Indians”

”Then if he was the writer that would show that the Indians are going to help the desperadoes, wouldn't it?” asked Joe

Before his brother could answer, Matt Gilroy stalked into the cave

”I told you not to talk,” he growled, as he cast his eye on the table and then around the rocky floor ”You can't get away, so it won't do you any good to plot againstfor the sheet of paper, for presently he lit a torch and went over the whole cave carefully

”See anything of a bit of paper around here?” he asked presently

”What kind of a paper?” questioned Darry