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Show 108 I Finally where the tunnel narrowed slightly they spotted the leather strap back in the crack where they had stuffed it. With a cry both boys pounced on it and began to tug. "We'd of never got away if we hadn't ditched it here,*' Josh said, filled with relief that they could now get out of here. He began to unpile the rocks that held the bag. With a grunt Cap jerked the handle and struggled to set the heavy bag on the floor. Josh had half expected the gold to be gone, stolen away a second time by the phony detectives. When he kneeled to zip open the bag, however, there it was, gleaming as rich as ever. The thieves had plenty of troubles of their own in this mine, Josh reminded himself. And that made him think of Rollins. Somewhere ahead in the darkness Detective Rollins probably sat waiting on a narrow ledge. "Mr. Rollins?" he called tentatively. No answer. "Mr. Rollins, Josh's are you still there?" Louder this time, / voice echoed and rolled. "Not too loud," Cap said gruffly. "We don't want this thing to fall in on us like last night." But another call was not necessary. From far ahead they heard a voice pleading and threatening. They could not understand what he said, but they knew it was Rollins. "Okay, he's still here," said Cap with a certain satisfaction. "The others left 'im. Now let's us get the heck out of here." Josh grinned. "We'll send Horace Wolsey to pull him up." With the fading shouts of the stranded man growing dim, the two boys dragged the gold between them to the entrance. It seemed heavier now that they were not pursued. |