"Now, Miss, will you please tell us how to get out
of here?"
"Come," she said, taking Tad by the hand. She turned away, the others
following in single file.
Almost at once they emerged into a high-ceilinged cave, dimly lighted
as if through stained glass windows.
The lads uttered an exclamation of amazement.
"I know you now. You're Rose Cravath, Tom Cravath's daughter!" cried
Phipps, striding forward and grasping the girl by the shoulder. "I
demand to know what all this means?"
Tad stepped between them, pushing Tom aside.
"Remember your promise, Mr. Phipps," he warned.
"Yes, but do you realize where we are, boys?"
"No, and I don't care."
"We're in the Ruby Mountain."
"Look! Look!" shouted Tad excitedly, grasping the arm of Phipps.
With this, he dashed away to a distant part of the chamber that lay in
deep gloom. Phipps looked in bewilderment.
A few moments later, Tad emerged from the darkness leading a broncho.
"Didn't I tell you?" he asked triumphantly. "I knew I'd get him some
day--this is my stolen broncho." And then patting the pony's neck
affectionately, he added: "Good old fellow. I'm glad to have you
again."
He had indeed recovered his pony. Probably awaiting the departure of
the Pony Riders from Ruby Mountain, the desperadoes had kept the
pony--with two others--secreted in the mountain chamber.
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