Down the Slope Read online

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  "Raise him up!" Skip shouted, and in another instant Fredwas suspended over the old shaft.]

  DOWN THE SLOPE

  BY

  JAMES OTIS

  _Author of "Telegraph Tom's Venture," "Messenger No. 48," "Toby Tyler,""The Boy Captain," "Silent Peter," etc., etc._

  _ILLUSTRATED_

  M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY

  407-429 Dearborn Street

  CHICAGO

  COPYRIGHT 1899

  BY

  THE WERNER COMPANY

  M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANYPRINTERS AND BINDERS407-429 DEARBORN STREETCHICAGO

  CONTENTS

  PAGES

  CHAPTER I--THE BREAKER BOY 7-14

  CHAPTER II--THE WARNING 14-24

  CHAPTER III--IN THE SHAFT 24-33

  CHAPTER IV--THE BARRIER 33-41

  CHAPTER V--THE MOB 41-50

  CHAPTER VI--ON DUTY 51-59

  CHAPTER VII--THE STRUGGLE 59-66

  CHAPTER VIII--THE PURSUIT 67-75

  CHAPTER IX--JOE BRACE 75-84

  CHAPTER X--THE RESCUE 85-93

  CHAPTER XI--BILLINGS AND SKIP 94-101

  CHAPTER XII--A SINGULAR ACCIDENT 101-110

  CHAPTER XIII--BURIED ALIVE 110-118

  CHAPTER XIV--PRECAUTIONS 118-126

  CHAPTER XV--A DISCOVERY 126-134

  CHAPTER XVI--GOOD SAMARITANS 134-142

  CHAPTER XVII--DOWN THE SLOPE 142-150

  CHAPTER XVIII--SHUT DOWN 150-158

  CHAPTER XIX--THE CONSULTATION 158-165

  CHAPTER XX--THE ACCUSED 165-172

  CHAPTER XXI--AMATEUR DETECTIVES 173-180

  CHAPTER XXII--UNEXPECTED NEWS 180-187

  CHAPTER XXIII--A MISADVENTURE 187-195

  CHAPTER XXIV--BILL'S MISHAP 195-202

  CHAPTER XXV--JOE'S INTERVIEW 203-210

  CHAPTER XXVI--TURNING THE TABLES 210-217

  CHAPTER XXVII--AN UNLOOKED-FOR DENIAL 217-224

  CHAPTER XXVIII--OPINIONS 224-230

  CHAPTER XXIX--A QUESTION OF TITLE 231-237

  CHAPTER XXX--A SUIT AT LAW 237-244

  CHAPTER XXXI--SKIP 244-253

  CHAPTER XXXII--ACQUITTED 253-262

  CHAPTER XXXIII--VICTORIOUS 262-269

  CHAPTER XXXIV--THE NEW MINE 270-273

  LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

  "Raise him up!" Skip shouted, and in another instant Fred wassuspended over the old shaft _Frontispiece_

  Fred set off at full speed, and almost immediately a shout wentup from the rioters: "The sneaks are sending for help! Stopthat boy!" 74

  "You four are to act as sentinels," said the superintendent. "Studythis map and you will hit upon a scheme" 95

  "Please don't drag me off," Skip said, piteously. "I'll never hurtyou or anybody else again" 128

  DOWN THE SLOPE