“That’s a lie!” said Brown, speaking first.  “We were told you had five thousand dollars here.”

“Your informant was badly mistaken, then.  I am not very wise, perhaps, in worldly matters, but I certainly am not such a fool as to keep so large a sum of money in a lonely cabin like this.”

“Perhaps not so much as that,” returned Lane.  “I don’t pretend to say how much you have.  That is for you to tell us.”

George Melville drew from his pocket a wallet, and passed it to the outlaw.

“Count the money for yourself, if you wish,” he said.  “You can verify my statement.”

Lane opened the wallet with avidity, and drew out the contents.  It was apparent at the first glance that the sum it contained was small.  It was counted, however, and proved to amount to forty-seven dollars and a few silver coins.

The two robbers looked at each other in dismay.  Was it possible that this was all?  If so, they would certainly be very poorly paid for their trouble.

“Do you expect us to believe, Mr. Melville,” said Jerry Lane, sternly, “that this is all the money you have?”

“In this cabin—­yes.”

“We are not so easily fooled.  It is probably all you carry about with you; but you have more concealed somewhere about the premises.  It will be best for you to produce at once, unless you are ready to pass in your checks.”

“That means,” said Melville, growing pale in spite of himself, for he knew from report the desperate character of his guests, “that means, I suppose, that you will kill me unless I satisfy your rapacity.”

“It does,” said Lane, curtly.  “Now for your answer!”

“Gentlemen, I cannot accomplish impossibilities.  It is as I say.  The money in your hands is all that I have by me.”

“Do you mean to deny that you are rich?” asked Lane.

“No, I do not deny it.  That is not the point in question.  You ask me to produce all the money I have with me.  I have done so.”

“Do you believe this, Brown?” asked the captain, turning to his subordinate.

“No, I don’t.”

“It is strictly true.”

“Then,” said Brown, “you deserve to die for having no more money for us.”

“True,” chimed in Lane.  “Once more, will you produce your secret hoard?”

“I have none.”

“Then you must be dealt with in the usual way.  Brown, have you a rope?”

“Yes.”

“Is there a convenient tree near by.”

“We’ll find one.”

The two seized Melville, and, despite his resistance, dragged him violently from the cabin, and adjusted a rope about his neck.  The young man was pale, and gave himself up for lost.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

The mine is sold.

While his friend was in peril, where was Herbert?