Part 46 (1/2)
Alas! that rest was an ill-advised one for the son of the rich s.h.i.+powner. As he sat there, Phil's chin sank lower and lower on his breast and presently his eyes closed and he fell asleep! And thus over two hours pa.s.sed.
”h.e.l.lo!”
The cry came from Abe Blower, as he turned and sat up. It was growing light in the east and the old miner thought it was time to get up.
He directed his cry at Phil, who was huddled up on the rock. Phil did not budge, and the old miner leaped up and shook him.
”I say----” commenced the youth, and then stared around him in astonishment. ”Why I--I must have dropped asleep!” he faltered.
”You sure did!” cried Abe Blower. He gazed around swiftly. ”Was you on guard?”
”Yes, and the prisoners----”
”Are gone!”
”Oh!”
Phil's cry awoke all the others in the camp. One after another looked at the youth and then at the spot where Merwell and Haskers had been tied to the rocks. The ropes lay there, but the two former prisoners had vanished!
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE LOST LANDSLIDE MINE
”They cut the ropes! See, here is where it was done, on this jagged rock!”
As Dave spoke he pointed to a sharp edge of stone. Beneath it were bits of rope, showing how the fetters had been sawed in twain.
”One of 'em must have got loose and then freed the other,” remarked Roger.
”But who was on guard?” demanded Tom Dillon, sharply. He looked at the boys and then at Abe Blower.
”I was, but I--I guess I fell asleep,” faltered Phil, sheepishly, and grew red in the face.
”Fell asleep!” cried Abe Blower. ”I guess you did!” And his tone of voice showed his disgust.
”I--I am awfully sorry,” continued the s.h.i.+powner's son. ”I--I really don't know how it happened. It wasn't the thing to do.”
”Never mind, it's done and that's the end of it,” put in Roger, quickly, for he could see how badly his chum felt over the occurrence. ”I guess you were pretty tired.”
”I was, Roger. Just the same, I had no business to fall asleep. I'm mad enough to kick myself full of holes,” went on Phil, grimly.
”Let us see if they took anything with 'em,” came from Tom Dillon, as he turned to where their things and the animals were, but they had not been disturbed.
”I guess they were too scared to touch anything,” declared Dave. ”They were glad enough to save themselves. I imagine they ran away as soon as they were free.” And in this surmise our hero was correct. Link had been the one to sever his bonds and he had untied Job Haskers, and then both of them had lost not an instant in quitting the locality, being afraid that some of the others might awaken before they could make good their escape.
”Well, I am just as well satisfied,” whispered Roger to Dave and Phil.
”I didn't want to hold them, anyway. All I want them to do is to leave us alone.”