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　　All’s well that ends well
　　Jack¹ stood with his hands above his head, his mouth open in horror. Hadthey escaped only to get caught again? He did not dare to shout.
　　Philip climbed out and was treated in the same way; he too was shockedand dismayed. The man with the revolver waited in silence, covering theboys with his weapon, watching to see who would come out next. Billclimbed out, his back to the man. He received the same order.
　　‘Hands up! Don’t dare to warn anyone following. Stand there!’
　　Bill swung round. He had put his hands up at once, but now he put themdown and grinned.
　　‘It’s all right, Sam,’ he said. ‘Put up your gun.’
　　Sam gave an exclamation³, and put his revolver into his belt. He held outhis hand to Bill.
　　‘It’s you!’ he said. ‘I was left here in case any more fellows of the gangcame up. I didn’t expect you to bob up.’
　　The boys stared, open-mouthed. What was all this?
　　‘Did you get a shock?’ said Bill, noticing their surprise. ‘This is Sam –one of our detectives – great friend of mine. Well, Sam – seeing you heregives me great hopes. What’s happened?’
　　‘Come and see,’ said Sam, with a grin, and he led the way. They all wentthrough the pass in the hills, following the burly Sam. They came out on toopen ground, and made their way towards the coast.
　　They came suddenly on a truly interesting sight. Lined up in a row, theirfaces sullen⁴, were all the men from the mines. Joe was there too, fierceanger in his face. Two men stood near by, each with a revolver. All weaponshad been taken from the prisoners.
　　‘There’s Joe!’ cried Philip. Joe looked at him with a scowl⁵ that turned tosurprise. So the boys and their friend had escaped! Joe was immenselysurprised and racked his brains to think how anyone could have got out of alocked cave in a flooded mine and up a shaft⁶ whose ladder was completelysmashed at the bottom.
　　‘How were they caught?’ asked Jack, in wonder. Kiki saw Joe and flewround his head,

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