They were singing and joking as though they had not just
lost half or two-thirds their number.
From a few remarks made now and then, it appeared that they
proposed on the following day to recruit the band up to its
former strength.
"That is the thing we must prevent," declared Donald.
"A very easy thing," said the mountebank, "if we had enough
provisions to remain here for twenty-four hours, or more."
"How so?" asked Billie.
"Why, they will doubtless send out two or three to do the
recruiting. We can capture them as they leave the ruins."
Billie glanced at the man from under his broad-rimmed sombrero as
he asked: "How did you know they came out through the ruins?"
The mountebank smiled.
"Now, don't go to mistrusting me, young fellow, for I'm on the
level. But I've been in this place before, and I know that the
only way to where your friends down there are camping is through
the ruins."
"Have you ever been down there?"
"Yes. They are only about sixty feet below the ground, in a
chamber which was originally a gallery in the mine. The shaft
over which this house is built is over two hundred feet deep."
"I'd like to explore it," remarked Adrian.
"Do you think you have the nerve?" and the stranger bent upon him
a penetrating gaze.
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