The Call of the Beaver Patrol | Page 3

in
the mine. Now there's Tunnel Six," he went on, "I have seen lights
there with my own eyes, when I know there wasn't a person within two
miles of the spot except myself. And I've heard noises, too! These
unaccountable noises which make a man think of graveyards and
ghosts."
"But why should two healthy, active boys want to seek such a hiding
place?" asked Will. "It certainly can't be very pleasant in the dark and
damp tunnels! Besides, where would they get their provisions?"
"I'm not arguing the case, lads," the caretaker replied, "I'm placing the
case in your hands without instructions. I only suggest that you look in
the mine first, but you don't have to do that unless you want to!"
"I don't see how we can find fault with that arrangement!" laughed Will.
"And now," he went on, "let's arrange about our lodgings. In the first

place, who knows that we are here on this job?"
"Not a soul, unless some one saw you coming into the breaker!"
"That's just as it should be," Will went on. "Now I propose that we
camp out in the breaker. There must be a cosy corner somewhere,
under the chutes, or in back of a staircase, or away up under the roof,
where we can camp out while we are going through the mine."
"You won't find the old breaker a very comfortable place to live in,"
suggested Canfield.
"Oh, we can line the walls of some little cubby-hole with canvas if
necessary, and you can string a wire in so as to give us electricity for
heating and lighting, and we can live as comfortable as four bugs in a
rug. If we keep out of sight during the day time, no one will ever
suspect that we are here."
"Have it your own way!" replied Canfield. "I'll see that you get plenty
to eat and plenty of bed clothing."
"That'll help some!" laughed Tommy. "During the night we can travel
through the mine with our lights, and during the daytime we can crawl
into our little beds and sleep our heads off!"
"When do you want your first load of provisions?" asked Canfield.
"Right now, tonight!" replied Sandy.
"Well, come along then," Canfield said, rising from his chair, "and I'll
let you pick out a spot for your camp, as you call it."
After quite an extended search through the breaker the boys selected a
small room on the ground floor, from which one window looked out on
the half-deserted yard where the weigh-house stood. The room was
perhaps twenty feet in size each way, and the walls were of heavy
planking. The whole apartment was sadly in need of a scrubbing, but
the lads concluded to postpone that until some future date.

"I can bring in cot beds and bedding," the caretaker announced, "and
string the electric wire for heating, lighting, and cooking before I go to
bed. That will leave you all shipshape in the morning, and you can then
begin your cleaning up as soon as you please."
The caretaker was as good as his word, and before ten o'clock the cots
and bedding were in place, also an electric heater and an electric plate
for cooking had been moved into the apartment.
Not considering it advisable to go out for supper, Canfield had also
brought in provisions in the shape of bacon, potatoes, eggs, bread,
butter, coffee, and various grades of canned goods, so the boys had
made a hearty meal and had plenty left for breakfast. While cooking
they had covered the one window with a heavy piece of canvas.
"Now you're all tight and snug for the night," the caretaker smiled, as
he turned back from the door and glanced over the rather cozy-looking
room. "If I'm about here during the night, I'll look in upon you again."
Canfield stepped out and closed the door behind him. Then he came
back and looked in again with a half-smile on his face.
"Do you boys know anything about mines?" he asked.
"Not a thing!" replied Tommy.
"Then don't you go climbing down the ladders and wandering around in
the gangways tonight!" the caretaker warned.
"Say, there's an idea!" Tommy said to Sandy, with a wink, as Canfield
went out. "How do you think one of these mammoth coal mines looks,
anyway?"
"Cut that out, boys!" exclaimed Will. "If I catch one of you attempting
the ladders tonight, I'll tie you up!"
"Who said anything about going down the ladders tonight?" demanded
Tommy.

CHAPTER II
THE CALL OF THE PACK
It was somewhere near midnight when the boys sought their beds. Will
and George were soon asleep, but Tommy and Sandy had no notion of
passing their first night in the mine in slumber. Ten