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 shipowner'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. 
What was cut? On what? Who was the one that found out about this? Did both of them get loose at the same time? Whose face changed colors? Why? Who yelled at him for that? Was he yelling at them happily? How mad was the one who nodded off? Did the escapees take any valuables? Who is the child of the ship owner? Was he continuously ridiculed for the mistake? Who was yelling at him? Who asked who was guarding the prisoners? Did he already have an idea of who it was?
"They cut the ropes! The ropes. on this jagged rock! Jagged rock. As Dave spoke he pointed to a sharp edge of stone. Dave One of 'em must have got loose and then freed the other, No. Phil, sheepishly, and grew red in the face. Phil. I guess I fell asleep. He fell asleep. cried Abe Blower. Abe Blower. And his tone of voice showed his disgust. No. I'm mad enough to kick myself full of holes," went on Phil, grimly. Very mad. things and the animals were, but they had not been disturbed. No. "I--I am awfully sorry," continued the shipowner's son. Phil. Never mind, it's done and that's the end of it. No. ut who was on guard?" Tom Dillon and Abe Blower. But who was on guard? Tom Dillon. He looked at the boys. Yes.