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diff --git a/old/66171-0.txt b/old/66171-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 93edfe5..0000000 --- a/old/66171-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8164 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Oliver Bright's Search, by Edward -Stratemeyer - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Oliver Bright's Search - or, The Mystery of a Mine - -Author: Edward Stratemeyer - -Release Date: August 29, 2021 [eBook #66171] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLIVER BRIGHT'S SEARCH *** - - - - - EDWARD STRATEMEYER’S BOOKS - - -Old Glory Series - -_Six Volumes. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._ - - UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA. - A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA. - FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS. - UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES. - THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE. - UNDER MacARTHUR IN LUZON. - - -Stratemeyer Popular Series - -_Ten Volumes. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $0.75._ - - THE LAST CRUISE OF THE SPITFIRE. - REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. - TRUE TO HIMSELF. - RICHARD DARE’S VENTURE. - OLIVER BRIGHT’S SEARCH. - TO ALASKA FOR GOLD. - THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER. - BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. - SHORTHAND TOM, THE REPORTER. - FIGHTING FOR HIS OWN. - - -Soldiers of Fortune Series - -_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._ - - ON TO PEKIN. - AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR. - UNDER THE MIKADO’S FLAG. - WITH TOGO FOR JAPAN. - - -American Boys’ Biographical Series - -_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._ - - AMERICAN BOYS’ LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY. - AMERICAN BOYS’ LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT. - - -Colonial Series - -_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._ - - WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST. - MARCHING ON NIAGARA. - AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL. - THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS. - ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC. - TRAIL AND TRADING POST. - - -Pan-American Series - -_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._ - - LOST ON THE ORINOCO. - THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS. - YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE ISTHMUS. - YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE AMAZON. - - -Dave Porter Series - -_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._ - - DAVE PORTER AT OAK HALL. - DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS. - - - TWO YOUNG LUMBERMEN. _Price $1.25._ - BETWEEN BOER AND BRITON. _Price $1.25._ - JOE, THE SURVEYOR. _Price $1.00._ - LARRY, THE WANDERER. _Price $1.00._ - - - - -[Illustration: BEFORE THE OTHER COULD INTERFERE, OLIVER WAS ON THE RAIL -AND OVER THE SIDE.] - - - - - OLIVER BRIGHT’S SEARCH - OR - _The Mystery of a Mine_ - - - BY - EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - AUTHOR OF “UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA,” “A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA,” - “FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS,” “RICHARD DARE’S VENTURE,” - “TO ALASKA FOR GOLD,” ETC., ETC. - - - _ILLUSTRATED_ - - - BOSTON: - LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1895, - BY THE MERRIAM COMPANY. - - - COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY LEE AND SHEPARD. - - _All Rights Reserved._ - - - OLIVER BRIGHT’S SEARCH. - - - Norwood Press - J. S. Cushing & Co.――Berwick & Smith - Norwood Mass. U.S.A. - - - - - PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION. - - -“OLIVER BRIGHT’S SEARCH,” the second volume of the “Bound to Succeed” -Series, relates the adventures of a manly American youth who goes West -to locate a mine in which his invalid father owns a large interest. -Oliver is just out of school, and has but little experience in -travelling, yet he does not hesitate to take the trip to California, by -way of the Isthmus of Panama, and thence into the interior on horseback. - -Oliver is, in every respect, an up-to-date boy; one who will stand -no nonsense when dealing with those who would defraud his father out -of his lawful property; yet the boy’s moral principles are of a high -order, and he is not unmerciful when the object of his long search has -been gained. - -It was hoped, when the book was first issued, that the story would -stand well beside “Richard Dare’s Venture,” which had preceded it. It -has been even more successful than the other volume named, and once -more the author must thank the readers and critics who have taken such -an interest in what he has written. - -In conclusion, the author would say a word in regard to the scenes -in the mining districts of California. These were drawn very largely -from the narratives of a close and dear relative who spent much time -out there, going as an Argonaut of ’49, and to whom the vicinity of -Sutter’s Mill and the Mokelumne River became as an open book, not only -then but later on. To write down these descriptions was, therefore, not -only a work of interest, but of love. - - EDWARD STRATEMEYER. - - NEWARK, N.J., - April 1, 1899. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. AN UNEXPECTED DISCLOSURE 5 - II. THE STORY OF THE AURORA MINE 12 - III. MR. BRIGHT’S RESOLVE 19 - IV. AN ACCIDENT 25 - V. LEAVING HOME 32 - VI. AT THE STEAMSHIP OFFICE 39 - VII. A CONVERSATION OF IMPORTANCE 45 - VIII. A NIGHT IN NEW YORK 52 - IX. ON THE STEAMER 58 - X. THE STORM OFF CAPE HATTERAS 65 - XI. MR. WHYLAND 73 - XII. ARRIVAL AT ASPINWALL 79 - XIII. MR. WHYLAND’S STORY 86 - XIV. IN THE WILDS OF THE ISTHMUS 94 - XV. AN ADVENTURE ON THE ISTHMUS 101 - XVI. A CHANGE OF PLAN 108 - XVII. A STARTLING CRY 114 - XVIII. OLIVER’S HEROISM 120 - XIX. GUS HAS AN ADVENTURE 127 - XX. A FLYING GLANCE 134 - XXI. AN UNSUCCESSFUL PURSUIT 141 - XXII. FELIX COTTLE 148 - XXIII. OFF FOR THE MINES 155 - XXIV. IN THE MOUNTAINS 162 - XXV. A STORM IN THE MOUNTAINS 169 - XXVI. THE AURORA MINE AT LAST 175 - XXVII. AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION 182 - XXVIII. COLONEL MENDIX IS ASTONISHED 188 - XXIX. IN THE AURORA MINE 195 - XXX. A PERILOUS SITUATION 202 - XXXI. SEEKING DELIVERANCE 208 - XXXII. A VALUABLE FIND 213 - XXXIII. BROUGHT TO BOOK 221 - XXXIV. CONCLUSION 238 - - - - - LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - FACING - PAGE - - Before the other could interfere, Oliver was on - the rail and over the side _Frontispiece_ - - Yes, Oliver, alas! I am ruined 10 - - The next instant his body disappeared over the edge! 160 - - There is the Cortez mine, and just below it is the - Aurora. 180 - - - - - OLIVER BRIGHT’S SEARCH. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - - AN UNEXPECTED DISCLOSURE. - - -“If you please, Master Oliver, your father wishes to see you at once,” -said Donald, the man of all work, as he entered the summer-house where -Oliver Bright sat poring over a volume of travels. - -“What does he want of me?” asked the youth, as he reluctantly closed -the book. - -“He didn’t say; but he wants you to come at once.” - -“Very well, Donald; where is he?” - -“In the library.” - -Oliver rose to his feet somewhat slowly. He was in no humor just then -to face his respected sire. A few words will explain why. - -Oliver was afraid he was in for a lecture, and perhaps worse. He -was not a boy of bad disposition, but for once the combination of -circumstances had led him into serious difficulty. - -Oliver was a student at the Rockvale Academy, also catcher for the -local baseball nine. Two days before, on the very afternoon that the -nine was to play an important game with the club from Elmport, Oliver -had been kept in by Dr. Tangus for a supposed fault of which he was -not guilty. This had angered Oliver, and as his particular chum, Gus -Gregory, was kept in at the same time, the two planned to “get square,” -as they termed it. - -Their plan of action was simple and harmless enough, but it bore -grievous results. Gus proposed to take the doctor’s pet calf from her -pasture and lead her into the schoolroom, and Oliver agreed that if -this was done he would make the old cow follow. - -At dead of night the two boys started to carry out their plan. But -both the calf and the cow made such a noise that the doctor’s whole -household was aroused, and the two boys had to run for it. - -In making their escape Gus Gregory had stumbled over a hothouse bed, -smashing a dozen panes of glass or more, thus provoking a shot from the -doctor’s hired man, who imagined burglars were around. - -When Oliver reached home he found he had quite a severe cut upon his -left hand, obtained in his effort to help Gus out of the hotbed frame. - -In the morning the wound, despite the fact that he had bathed it -in arnica, appeared as bad as ever. But Oliver did not dare to ask -permission to remain at home, and so set out for the academy in -anything but a cheerful mood. - -Gus Gregory met him at the gate with a long-drawn face; and small -wonder. - -Dr. Tangus had found them out. Gus had dropped his note-book in the -hotbed and the gardener had picked it up. In a terrible rage, the -doctor soon after called at the Gregory home, and forced a full -confession from Gus. Mr. Gregory had promised to pay his full share of -the damage done, and to bring his son to account, and the doctor left -saying he would call on Oliver’s father later. - -When Oliver entered the academy he was at once called aside by the -doctor. But little was said; Dr. Tangus merely stating what he had -discovered, and declaring his intention to settle the matter outside of -the school. - -This had happened Friday morning. It was now Saturday, and Oliver -firmly believed that the hour of retribution had come. He took all the -time possible to walk up the gravel path and through the broad hall, -and hesitated several seconds before turning the handle of the library -door. - -When he entered the room he found his father seated at the desk, his -forehead resting on his hand. Mr. Bright was a man well past the middle -age of life, and somewhat broken down in health. - -He was tall and slender, with brown hair and eyes. His manner as a -general rule was gentle, and as Oliver gazed at his parent, his heart -smote him for the trouble he had brought about. - -“You sent for me, father,” he said, as he stopped by the door. - -Mr. Bright started up from the revery into which he had fallen. - -“Yes, Oliver,” he replied. “Come in and sit down. I want to have a talk -with you.” - -The boy did as requested, taking a chair that stood in the bay-window -at the farther end of the room. He could not help but look at his -father closely. Surely he did not appear to be much provoked over what -had occurred. - -“Come closer, Oliver; here, take this chair by my side,” went on Mr. -Bright. “I do not wish any one to overhear what I have to say.” - -The boy took the seat indicated. Then for the first time he noticed how -careworn his father appeared. There were numerous wrinkles upon Mr. -Bright’s brow and his eyes were sunken and troubled. - -“You are nearly seventeen years old, I believe,” began Mr. Bright after -a moment of silence. - -“I’ll be seventeen next May,” replied the boy, relieved at being asked -such an ordinary question. - -“And your term at the academy closes next month, I believe?” - -“Yes, sir; three weeks from yesterday.” - -“And when you have finished your course there have you thought of what -was to be done next?” - -“Why I thought I was to go to college,” said Oliver, somewhat -astonished at the question. “Of course you didn’t say I was to go; but -all the others were going, and――” - -“It was my full intention to have you go, Oliver. But circumstances -will make a change necessary. I hate to disappoint you, but I am afraid -it cannot be helped.” And Mr. Bright turned away his face. - -Oliver’s heart grew cold in an instant. Give up going to college! Give -it up after having anticipated it so long, after having talked it over -so many times with the other boys! Surely his father intended to punish -him too severely altogether. - -“Oh, don’t say that, father!” he cried. “I will try to do better in the -future! I did not mean to do so wrong! I――I did not stop to think.” - -Mr. Bright straightened up and looked at his son curiously. - -“What are you talking about, Oliver?” he asked. “I am not finding fault -with the way you have conducted yourself at the academy. In fact, I -must congratulate you on the general excellence of the reports Dr. -Tangus sends in. By the last I see that you stood next to the highest -in the class, and that counts for much where there are so many bright -boys. I have no doubt that the doctor is proud of you.” - -Oliver was completely mystified by this speech. It was evident that -his father knew nothing concerning what had taken place. The boy gave -an inward groan as he thought of what a change there would be when -exposure came. - -“Then Dr. Tangus has not been here?” he asked. - -“No. What put that in your head?” - -“I thought he had come to report me.” - -“No; I have not seen the doctor in a month, though I expect him to call -soon.” Oliver started. “I have had no reasons to find fault with you -for the way in which you conduct yourself. The trouble in this case -comes from an entirely different quarter.” - -Mr. Bright paused. Oliver noted that there was a slight quiver in his -father’s voice. Surely something quite out of the ordinary was wrong. - -“You are the only one who is left to me, Oliver,” Mr. Bright continued. -“It was always my intention to give you the best education that money -can buy, for I know the value of such, and then give you a first-class -start in whatever professional pursuit you might choose to enter. But -now, my poor boy”―― - -Mr. Bright broke off short. - -“What is the matter, father?” cried Oliver. “Why cannot you do as you -intended? I thought sure I would go to college and then, after -perhaps a year or so of traveling, I would settle down and become a -lawyer――that is, if you thought I was smart enough.” - -“That programme would have suited me exactly, Oliver. Your Uncle -William was a lawyer, and you take after him a good deal. But now it -cannot be thought of.” - -“Why?” - -“Ah, it is a bitter story, my boy, and I do not see how I can tell it -to you. I was very blind and foolish, trusting those that were not -worthy of my confidence, and now both of us must suffer for it.” - -“I don’t understand.” - -“And perhaps you never will, quite. I was never of a speculative -nature; but this was apparently so easy, and so sure to turn out -profitably, that I entered into it without due consideration.” - -“It is money-matters, then, father, that makes you say that I must -change my plans; must give up thinking of going to college, and all -that?” faltered Oliver. - -“Yes, Oliver, alas! yes.” Mr. Bright heaved a deep sigh. “I am ruined; -I am not worth a dollar in the world!” he added. - -[Illustration: “YES, OLIVER, ALAS! I AM RUINED.”] - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - THE STORY OF THE AURORA MINE. - - -Oliver Bright was greatly astonished by his father’s disclosure. There -had been nothing said or done heretofore to indicate that Mr. Arthur -Bright was on the brink of financial disaster. The two had lived in -exceedingly comfortable, if not elegant, style, and the boy was granted -every reasonable desire. - -“You are ruined?” he repeated, with eyes wide open at the announcement. - -“Yes, Oliver, completely ruined. This very roof that shelters us is no -longer my own.” - -“And is there no hope?” - -Mr. Bright shook his head. - -“I have hoped, until now; all hope is useless――that is”――and the man -paused. - -“What, father? What is the chance?” asked the boy eagerly. - -“It is hardly worth considering, Oliver, it is so small. We had better -face the truth, bitter as it is.” - -Oliver drew a long breath. To endure poverty is no pleasant thing, -especially when one has once been rich. The boy was so completely -taken aback that for a moment he did not say a word. - -“I should have spoken of this before and prepared you for its coming,” -went on Mr. Bright; “but day after day I trusted that matters would -take a better turn and all would be right. I am to blame there.” - -“Never mind; you did what you thought was right,” responded Oliver as -bravely as he could. “But I wish I had known; I would not have laid -so many plans for the future. I might have got ready to go to work -instead.” - -“I have not yet decided what I shall do when we leave this home. I have -been out of active business so long that I suppose it will come hard to -resume it again. Perhaps I will go back to the book business, that is, -if I can find a suitable opening.” - -Oliver looked at his father in dismay. For a man in Mr. Bright’s state -of health to go back to active life after a retirement of eight years -would be hard indeed. - -“I wish I knew something of the book business; I’d sail right in and -work for both of us,” he declared with considerable vim. “But I don’t -know the first thing about business of any kind,” he added with a sigh. - -“You are bright by nature as well as by name, Oliver,” said his father -with a faint smile. “I think you will stand a fair chance of making -your way.” - -“I hope so. Any way, I intend to try. But, father, won’t you tell me -something of your affairs?” - -“Yes, Oliver; I intend to tell you as much as you can understand. It -may prove a useful lesson to you.” Mr. Bright ran his hand over his -forehead as if to collect his thoughts. “About a year after I sold out -my interest in the Franklin Book Company and settled here, I became -acquainted with Colonel Mendix. Do you remember him?” - -“Oh, yes. He was a dark, Spanish gentleman, with a heavy black beard.” - -“You are right, saving that he was far from being a gentleman, though -I did not know that at the time. This Mendix was introduced to me by -James Barr, an intimate friend of mine, who was a surveyor and who had -become interested in several mining schemes.” - -“I remember him also.” - -“This Mendix visited me several times, and finally unfolded to me a -simple plan for making a fortune on the outlay of a comparatively small -sum of money. As you say, he was of Spanish descent, his people coming -from some place in South America. He had also a number of relatives -among the early settlers in California, who, you know, settled there -before the gold fever broke out.” - -“Yes, I have heard of those Spanish settlements.” - -“Colonel Mendix said that among these relatives were two old men who -had in their possession a paper containing the full directions for -reaching and locating a very valuable mine somewhere up among the -mountains. These two men were too old to work the mine themselves, and -they were willing to sell out their secret and rights for ten thousand -dollars, to be paid when the mine was located and found to be as they -represented.” - -“What was the mine supposed to be worth?” asked Oliver with interest. - -“Colonel Mendix placed its value at not less than seventy-five thousand -dollars, and said it might be worth several hundred thousand.” - -“It’s a wonder he didn’t buy the mine himself, without saying anything -about it.” - -“He said he had not the cash, and he did not wish to apply to any of -his Spanish friends for fear they would make inquiries and buy the -mine for themselves. Mendix was a very plausible talker, and before -I was aware of what I was doing, I had agreed to advance the money, -stipulating, however, that James Barr should be the one to locate the -mine and determine its value. I had known Barr so long that I felt sure -I could trust him. - -“Well, the contract was drawn up and signed. By it Mendix was to have -a quarter interest in the Aurora Mine, as we had christened it, and -James Barr was to have an eighth. The remainder was to be mine. I was -to advance the purchasing money as well as the cash to open up the -place, either to work it ourselves or place it on the market. Do you -follow, Oliver?” - -“Easily enough; it’s as plain as day.” - -“As soon as this was done, Mendix and Barr set out for California. Two -months later I received word that they had obtained the directions and -were about setting out for the mine, which was located somewhere back -of a place called Sutter’s Mill. - -“Four months passed. Then came a long letter from Mendix and a note -from Barr. The mine had been found even better than represented, and -they wished to close the bargain at once, and asked me to forward a -draft for five thousand dollars additional, which they intended to -use in purchasing the machinery of an abandoned mine some ten miles -distant, and have it transported to the Aurora. The outlook seemed so -favorable that I complied without hesitation. - -“Another letter came a month later from Mendix, saying the mine had -been opened, but that another five thousand dollars would be needed to -put in additional machinery for draining the water and crushing the -rock. This I also paid, although in order to do it I was compelled to -take a mortgage on this place for three thousand.” - -“Didn’t you have other money?” - -“Only in stocks, and those I did not care to sell as they were then low -and I thought they would rise. I found that Dr. Tangus had money to -loan, and so I went to him.” - -“Dr. Tangus!” cried Oliver, thinking of what was to come. - -“Yes. He let me have the money and took a mortgage on this place. The -money fell due last week, and yesterday I received a note from the -doctor asking for payment.” - -Oliver gave a groan. Was it possible his own doings had hurried Dr. -Tangus’s actions? - -“And you cannot pay him?” - -“No. But I am ahead of my story. Time went on and I heard no more from -the mine. I wrote to Mendix and to Barr, but received no reply. Then -came a draft for four thousand dollars to pay for some more machinery -Mendix had ordered. I paid the claim, but immediately sent word not -to contract any more debts, as I would not pay them, and demanding an -accounting. - -“None came, and I sent an agent to San Francisco to find out how -matters stood. At the end of two months I received word from this man, -Bentwell, and also from Mendix, that the mine had become flooded with -water, that it could not be drained, and that in making surveys of the -place James Barr had been drowned. - -“This news was so disheartening I knew not what to do. I was out -twenty-four thousand dollars, and had not a thing to show for it. I was -on the point of starting for California myself when a friend of Mendix -appeared on the scene. - -“This man had been out to the mine, and knew all about it. He said the -Aurora was utterly worthless, that Mendix had at last found it so, and -that the man had left in disgust for South America. Private creditors -had levied upon such machinery as was above ground, and that I might as -well give up all hope of ever receiving a dollar out of the thing. - -“This news all but prostrated me; for in the meanwhile stocks here in -the East were declining rapidly. I kept up as long as I could, but now -it is no use to do so longer. As I said before, every dollar is gone.” - -Mr. Bright turned away to hide his emotion. The story had been a hard -one to tell. Oliver knew not what to say. - -At this juncture there was a knock at the door, and Mrs. Hanson, the -housekeeper, appeared. - -“Dr. Tangus is here to see you,” she said to Mr. Bright. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - - MR. BRIGHT’S RESOLVE. - - -The announcement that Dr. Tangus had come to see his father filled -Oliver Bright with dismay. Considering the story he would have to tell, -the doctor’s arrival at any time would have been unpleasant for the -boy, but under existing circumstances it was a thing to be dreaded. -What would his father think when the whole miserable story came to -light? - -And yet, if it must be told, he wished that his father should first -hear it from his own lips. He knew the doctor could turn the case so -that it might look very black indeed. - -Therefore, before Mr. Bright had time to tell the housekeeper to show -the schoolmaster in, the boy leaned over and whispered,―― - -“I would like to speak a few words with you before the doctor comes in.” - -His father nodded, thinking that his son wished to continue the -conversation that had just been interrupted. - -“Take the doctor in the parlor, Mrs. Hanson,” he said. “Say I will see -him in a moment.” - -Mrs. Hanson at once disappeared. When the two were left alone Mr. -Bright looked at Oliver inquiringly. - -“There is nothing more to tell,” he said; “Dr. Tangus’s visit caps the -climax. He, no doubt, has called for his money; and unless I get an -extension of time in which to pay up, the matter will be put into the -sheriff’s hands, and the place will be sold.” - -“It is too bad,” returned the boy. “But there is something else I wish -to speak about.” He colored up painfully. “I did not think so much of -it at the time――that is, I did not think it was so wicked a deed to -do. When I came in I thought Dr. Tangus had been here and told you all -about it.” - -“About what?” - -In a few words, and with a very troubled look upon his face, Oliver -told his tale. Mr. Bright listened in silence. - -“I know now just how bad and senseless a thing it was to do,” said the -boy, at the conclusion. - -“I trust you do,” replied his father. “Pranks of that kind to my mind -show only a lack of wit. You ought to be above such things, Oliver.” -Mr. Bright heaved a sigh. “I am afraid this will tend to make the -doctor stiff in his demands. I thought the tone of yesterday’s letter -was rather severe.” - -“I am afraid so too.” Oliver bit his lip in vexation. “I wish he had -punished me in school instead. It isn’t fair to make you suffer for -what I have done!” he cried. - -“When we do wrong we are not always sure who will suffer for it. But -we will say no more about it. What I have revealed will be punishment -enough for you. Now I must go; it will not do to keep the doctor -waiting any longer.” - -Mr. Bright rose and left the library. Oliver remained where he sat, his -chin resting in the palm of his hand. - -What a change had taken place since he had entered that room only a -short hour before! He had thought himself a well-to-do boy, with every -prospect of a brilliant future; now he knew he was as poor as the -humblest lad in Rockvale. Instead of going to college and taking things -easy for a year or so thereafter, he must roll up his sleeves and go to -work. What had brought this great change about? - -Carefully he reviewed all the facts which his father had related. Not -an incident was forgotten. He wished he had the letters from California -to read over; they might contain some particulars his father had -forgotten to mention. - -“I would like to see that Aurora mine, and satisfy myself that -everything is as this Colonel Mendix claimed,” he thought. “He was a -thorough sharper in my opinion; and if I was father I would not take -his word for the matter.” - -His thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of Mr. Bright, accompanied -by Dr. Tangus, a stout and highly important looking individual. - -Oliver rose and greeted the visitor, offering him a chair at the same -time, his face flushing the while. Dr. Tangus looked at him sharply. - -“Well, young man, your father tells me you have told him of your -mischief-making,” began the schoolmaster. - -“Yes, doctor; and I am quite sorry for what I have done.” - -“Humph! boys generally are after they are found out,” sniffed the -learned gentleman. “However, now that you have told your father, I -intend to leave the case in his hands. You are generally a pretty good -boy, and I am sorry you have broken your record.” - -Oliver did not reply, and the doctor turned to Mr. Bright. - -“Then you will grant me an extension of time?” asked the latter -anxiously. - -“I will give you two months, Mr. Bright,” was the somewhat slow -response; “but more than that I cannot do. If at the end of that time -you cannot pay I will foreclose.” - -“Very well, we will so understand it,” said Oliver’s father; “and I -thank you for the accommodation,” he added politely. “Here are the -papers.” - -The document in the matter was duly drawn up and signed. Then Dr. -Tangus took his leave. - -“I trust you are able to meet the claim when due,” said he on departing. - -“I shall try my best,” responded Mr. Bright. - -When the door was closed he sank down in his chair. - -“We have two months’ grace, Oliver. If I cannot pay at the end of that -time, out we go.” - -“Two months is quite a while,” replied the boy as bravely as he could. -“A good deal may happen in that time. Any way, it will give us both a -chance to look around for situations. But tell me, isn’t this place -worth more than the mortgage he holds?” - -“Yes; but it wouldn’t bring it at a forced sale. I am quite sure we -will be left without anything but our personal effects. Of course they -amount to considerable; but oh, how I hate to part with any of them!” - -“I hope it won’t become necessary, father. But will you let me see -those letters that Colonel Mendix wrote you? I have an idea he didn’t -tell you the truth about that mine.” - -Mr. Bright started. - -“The same thought has occurred to me,” he said. “I often wished I had -gone to the place and seen for myself.” - -“Why didn’t you?” - -“I was ill, and too much interested in bonds here. The bonds that I -carried were of the par value of one hundred thousand dollars, four -times what the mine cost. I gave my attention to the larger deal. -Besides, there was another reason; I did not know exactly where the -mine was located nor how to reach it.” - -“You did not?” - -“No. Mendix had all the papers; and he kept them, or destroyed them, I -do not know which.” - -“Then for all you know the mine may be valuable and in running order -to-day,” went on Oliver excitedly. - -“I doubt it, Oliver; and yet”―― - -“If Mendix was a rascal, his saying that the mine was flooded might -only be a ruse to get you to abandon your claim to it.” - -“That is so. To tell the truth, more than once, since I lost my other -property, I have thought of going out and making an examination.” - -“Then why don’t you go? It will do no harm, and may save you from ruin.” - -Mr. Bright started up. - -“I will go, Oliver,” he cried. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - AN ACCIDENT. - - -His sudden resolve seemed to liven up Mr. Bright considerably. He -rubbed his hands and strode up and down the room. - -“Yes; I will go,” he repeated. “As you say, it can do no harm, and may -save us from ruin.” - -“May I go too?” asked Oliver eagerly. - -Mr. Bright thought in silence for a moment. - -“I would like to have you with me,” he said; “but I think you had -better remain behind. One of us ought to stay here, and, besides, the -expense of the journey will be considerable.” - -“I am sorry,” said the boy; “I would like to go first-rate.” - -“Come, we will go over what letters and papers I have together. Perhaps -you will see something in them that I have overlooked,” said Mr. Bright. - -Opening one of the locked drawers of the desk, Mr. Bright brought forth -the various communications he had received from Colonel Mendix and -James Barr. Both father and son read them over carefully. - -“It is my impression that this Mendix did not wish you to visit -the Aurora mine,” said Oliver. “If you will notice, throughout the -letters he speaks of the hard road to travel to get there, and the -unhealthiness of the climate, and all that. He knew you were not -strong, and he hoped that would deter you from venturing.” - -“Perhaps you are right, Oliver. I did not think of that before.” - -“Are you sure this Mendix has gone to South America?” - -“I was; but your questions fill me with doubt. I begin to think that -perhaps I have been blind all this time. I think――my! my! What is the -matter with Jerry?” - -Oliver’s gaze followed that of his father out of the window. There, on -the smooth lawn, a spirited horse was acting in an exceedingly strange -manner, throwing his head viciously from side to side. - -“Donald has been whipping him again,” said Oliver. “He ought to know -better.” - -Mr. Bright did not reply. Springing from his chair, he hurried from the -library, his son following. - -In his day Mr. Bright had been quite a horseman, and Oliver, too, liked -to ride. Both hated to see an animal abused, and both were excited over -the present sight. - -“Whoa! Jerry! whoa!” cried Mr. Bright, running up to the horse. - -He caught the animal by the halter, which had been broken off rather -short, and attempted to soothe him. But Jerry’s blood was up, and -before Mr. Bright was aware he was thrown in the air and came down -heavily against the grape arbor. - -“Oh!” He gave a deep groan of pain. “Catch him, Oliver; but be careful -about it.” - -The boy was already advancing. He caught the halter, and then vaulted -upon Jerry’s back. - -For a moment there was a fierce struggle, but Oliver kept his seat, and -feeling himself mastered, the horse subsided. Then the boy jumped to -the ground and turned him over to the man of all work. - -“Take him back to the stable, Donald,” he said; “and mind you, he is to -be whipped no more.” - -“I only struck him once”――began the man. - -“That was once too often. Jerry is too nervous to be handled in that -manner.” - -Oliver saw the horse led away, and then turned his attention to his -father. To his surprise Mr. Bright had fainted. - -Running to the well, the boy procured some cold water, which he -sprinkled in his father’s face. It had the effect of reviving him -almost immediately. - -“Are you hurt?” asked Oliver in deep anxiety. - -“I――I am afraid I am. My chest hurts, and I cannot use my right leg.” - -“I’ll call Dr. Kitchell,” replied Oliver. - -Fortunately the physician lived directly across the road. He was at -home, and in less than three minutes the boy had him over. - -“Humph! two ribs broken, and also the right leg!” said Dr. Kitchell. -“Rather a serious accident. Come, we will carry him into the house.” - -Donald was called, and the three succeeded in carrying the unfortunate -man into the house and placing him on the lounge in the sitting-room. - -Then the man of all work was dispatched to the drug-store, and the -doctor went to work to set the broken limb and fix up the fractured -ribs. Oliver assisted all he could, the tears standing in his eyes -meanwhile. - -“Never mind,” said Dr. Kitchell, noticing his grief. “It will be all -right. All your father wants is quietness for a couple of months. There -is small danger.” - -Oliver felt relieved at this statement. And yet he could not help but -think of the trip to California. His father would have to abandon that -now, and he would hardly be well before they would be obliged to leave -the house and seek a home elsewhere. - -Towards evening Mr. Bright felt somewhat easier, and he and Oliver had -quite a talk. He demurred strongly at being compelled to rest quietly -for eight weeks or longer, and spoke of the plans that must now be -cast aside. - -“Why not let me go?” said Oliver suddenly. “I am sure I can get along -all right.” - -“No, Oliver; it would be asking too much of you.” - -“No, it would not. Can you get along without me?” - -“I suppose I might; Mrs. Hanson is a capital nurse. But it is too big -an undertaking for a boy.” - -“You forget, father, that I am nearly seventeen years old.” - -“No, I do not; nor do I forget that you are smart for your age. But -still I would hate to send you on a journey that might prove full of -danger. If their accounts be true, the road is a perilous one, and the -mining districts are full of rough characters.” - -“After I left San Francisco I could go well armed. I don’t think it -would be so dangerous. A good class of settlers are pouring into the -place, and they would surely not molest me. You must remember that -things are not as they were at the close of the war.” - -“What you say is true, Oliver; but I would hate to send you into -the midst of danger, however slight. If you were only going to San -Francisco it would be different. But to go away up in the mountains, -and utterly alone”―― - -Mr. Bright did not finish, a violent twitch of pain stopping him short. -Seeing that his father could not stand conversing, Oliver withdrew. - -He ascended to his own room, and, taking a chair by the window, sat -down to think. For fully half an hour he did not move. Then he went -below and made his way to the kitchen, where Mrs. Hanson was preparing -some broth for the sick man. - -“Mrs. Hanson,” he said, calling her aside, “father was planning to go -on a journey, and now that he can’t go, I’ve been thinking of going for -him without letting him know――that is, for several days. Do you think -you could get along without me while I am gone?” - -“Why, bless you, Oliver, yes! I’ve been a nurse these ten years before -I was a housekeeper. It will be no trouble whatever.” - -“And you will not let him know that I have gone――that is, for a few -days? It might only worry him.” - -“If you wish it.” - -“Then it’s settled.” - -“When will you go?” - -“Monday morning early.” - -“Very well; I won’t say a word. It’s business, I suppose?” - -“Yes; father’s business; something that must be attended to.” - -All that evening Oliver was busy with his preparations. There was a -big valise to pack, and numerous other things to do. At ten o’clock, -when the others had retired, he stole down to the library, and seating -himself at the table, took complete copies of all the letters and -papers relating to the Aurora mine and Colonel Mendix’s peculiar method -of transacting business. - -“Now I am ready to start,” he said to himself, as he arose. “When I -arrive in New York I will either sell or pawn my gold watch and my -diamond pin, and then――ho, for the Aurora mine!” - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - LEAVING HOME. - - -On the following morning Oliver found his father somewhat recovered -from the rude shock he had received. Of course the man was unable to -move from the couch upon which he rested, but he was able to sit up and -converse without, apparently, more than an occasional dull pain. - -Mr. Bright was, however, much worried over the disarrangement of his -plans, sighing out continually his disappointment at not being able to -leave on a tour of discovery. To all this Oliver made no reply, saving -to urge his parent not to worry, as all would yet turn out right. - -During the day, the boy managed, by skillful questioning, to gain all -the additional information that was to be had. In the afternoon he -attended Sunday-school, the last time, he thought, for many weeks and -perhaps months to come. - -In the class with Oliver was Gus Gregory, his chum, a short and -exceedingly stout youth, with a freckled but not unpleasant face. At -the close of the service he and Oliver left together. - -“Well, how did you make out over our fun at the doctor’s?” was Gus’s -first question. - -Oliver told him. - -“My, but you got off easier than I did!” exclaimed the stout youth. -“Didn’t pop give it to me though! I haven’t been able to sit down with -any kind of comfort since.” - -Oliver did not reply. He was silent for a moment, and then laid his -hand on his chum’s shoulder. - -“Say, Gus,” he said, “will you keep a secret if I tell it to you?” - -“Why, of course, Olly,” was the prompt reply. “Did I ever let out -anything I shouldn’t?” - -“Well, then, I’m going away.” - -“Going away? Where?” - -“To California.” - -“Phew! you don’t mean it!” - -“Yes, I do. I’m going to start to-morrow morning first thing. I thought -I’d tell you and say good-by.” - -“Does your father know?” - -“No. Only Mrs. Hanson, and now you.” - -“What are you going for? just to run away? I thought you said your -father didn’t touch you for the trouble we got into.” - -“Neither did he. I’m going on business. Come, let us sit under that -tree, and I’ll tell you all about it.” - -And seated under a stately elm that grew by the roadside, Oliver -related all there was in his mind. - -Gus Gregory was deeply interested. - -“I hope you’ll succeed,” he said. “My, how I wish I was going along! -Nothing would suit me better.” - -“And nothing would suit me better than to have you,” replied Oliver; -“but that can’t be thought of.” - -“Which way are you going?” - -“By the way of Panama.” - -“It will cost quite a bit.” - -“Something less than a hundred dollars.” - -“That is quite a sum, but not so much as I thought. Have you got your -ticket yet?” - -“No; I intend to get that in New York to-morrow. The steamer sails for -Aspinwall on Wednesday.” - -The two boys talked the matter over for some time. Gus was intensely -interested. - -“Well, I hope you’ll meet with success,” he said on parting. “I think -it is a big undertaking for a boy, but I wish it was I instead of you.” - -The remainder of the Sunday passed quickly. In the evening Oliver spent -another pleasant hour with his father. - -When the time came for parting, the boy could hardly keep back the -tears. Who knew how long it would be before he should see his father -again? He was almost tempted to tell all, but the fear of being told to -give up the project kept back the words. - -Oliver slept but little that night, and he was up at early dawn. Making -a hasty toilet, he took up his valise and stole down-stairs. Mrs. -Hanson had anticipated him, and a warm breakfast stood ready to which -he did but scant justice. - -Half an hour later he was off, the housekeeper wishing him Godspeed. -The railroad station was half a mile distant; but it took the boy -scarcely any time to cover that distance, so fearful was he of being -discovered and told to return. - -Rockvale was a town of considerable size, situated some forty miles -from the metropolis. There were over a dozen trains daily to Jersey -City, the first at half-past six in the morning. This was the one -Oliver had calculated on taking, and buying a ticket, he waited a few -moments, and then, as the train came rolling in, got aboard. - -There was a sudden jerk, and the train started and rolled out away from -the station. Oliver Bright was off on his strange quest at last. - -He felt queer as he settled back in his seat which he occupied alone. -What would the outcome of his trip be? Would he succeed or fail? - -The run to Jersey City was an uneventful one. Oliver had taken it a -great number of times, so it was no novelty, and he occupied the time -in studying a guide-book he had purchased at the news-stand. When they -arrived at the ferry he followed the stream of people on to the boat, -and off again at the other side. - -“New York!” he thought to himself as he passed up Liberty Street. -“Now to sell or pawn the watch and the pin, and then I will go to the -steamship ticket-office and engage a berth.” - -Before leaving home, the boy had cut from the metropolitan paper Mr. -Bright was in the habit of taking the names and addresses of several -pawnbrokers, and toward one of these Oliver now bent his steps. - -He much preferred pawning the articles to selling them, as both the -watch and the diamond scarf-pin were gifts from his father, and he -wanted the chance to recover them. - -Entering the establishment, he drew out the gold watch, and passing it -over to the clerk, asked how much would be allowed upon it. - -“Your own?” was the first question. - -“Yes, sir; a birthday gift.” - -The clerk sent the watch to the back part of the store for examination. - -“Fifty dollars,” he said upon his return. - -“Fifty dollars!” exclaimed Oliver, in some dismay. “I thought I could -get more! The watch cost over a hundred.” - -“That is all we can allow.” - -“I cannot let it go for that;” and Oliver slipped the timepiece in his -pocket. - -The clerk paid another visit to the office. - -“We will make that sixty dollars,” he said, coming back. “You will not -get more anywhere.” - -“I shall try,” replied Oliver. - -Another establishment was close at hand. But here the proprietor would -not go above fifty dollars; so Oliver went back to the first place. - -“I guess I’ll take that sixty dollars,” he said. - -“Told you you couldn’t get any more,” returned the clerk coolly, as he -made out the ticket and handed over the money. - -“And now how much will you allow me for this pin?” asked Oliver, as he -drew it from his wallet. “It is a pure diamond.” - -“Is this also a gift?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -The clerk took it back to the private office. When he returned he told -Oliver to go back, as the proprietor would like to see him. - -Oliver did so, and found himself face to face with a thin, sharp nosed -individual. - -“Where did you get that pin?” was the man’s question. - -“My father gave it to me on Christmas, two years ago.” - -“Rather a fine Christmas gift.” - -“It was, sir.” - -“What is your name and address, please?” And the man prepared to write -it down. - -Oliver told him. - -“And you are sure your father gave you this pin for Christmas?” - -“Certainly I am,” replied the boy, flushing. “I hope you don’t think -I――” - -“I have nothing to say, excepting that a gold watch and a diamond pin -were stolen from a boarding-house in Twenty-fourth Street last evening.” - -“And you think――” began Oliver, his heart rising in his throat. - -“Never mind what I think, young man. Of course you may be innocent. -But we must always be on our guard. I have sent my clerk around to -the police precinct close by. You will please remain here until he -returns.” - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - AT THE STEAMSHIP OFFICE. - - -Oliver was astonished and dismayed by the pawnbroker’s statement. What -if the police should think he was the thief? It would cause him no end -of trouble, and might prove the means of compelling him to return home. - -“I don’t see what reasons you have for supposing the things are not -mine,” he began. - -“I do not say they are not,” was the reply. “In fact, I must say you -look thoroughly honest. But, as I said before, we must be careful. We -cannot afford to take in things that have been stolen and then give -them up to the police.” - -Oliver sank down in a chair. He had but a short ten minutes to wait, -but the time seemed an eternity. - -He was glad to see the clerk return alone. - -“It’s all right,” were his words. “The goods taken were recovered an -hour ago.” - -How relieved Oliver felt! He sprang to his feet. - -“Please give me the pin,” he said. - -The man handed it over. - -“I am sorry I suspected you,” he said. “But business is business.” - -“I suppose it is.” - -“I thought you wanted to pawn that pin?” - -“So I do; but I shall take it elsewhere now.” - -And without waiting to be questioned further, Oliver hurried from the -place. - -About a block down the street he came to a similar establishment――indeed, -the neighborhood was full of them. The proprietor took the pin and -examined it closely. - -“What did you give for this pin?” he asked cautiously. - -“I did not buy it. My father gave it to me.” - -“How much do you want on it?” - -Oliver hesitated. He knew he had better place the figure high. - -“Seventy-five dollars.” - -“The pin did not cost that.” - -“It cost more than that.” - -“I will let you have forty dollars on it.” - -“I must have at least sixty.” - -Finally a compromise was effected, and Oliver received his ticket and -fifty dollars. - -“That makes one hundred and ten dollars for the two,” he said to -himself when on the street once more; “and that, added to what I have -saved up from my spending money, gives me a capital of one hundred -and eighty-five dollars. By hook or by crook that amount must see me -through.” - -From the pawnbroker’s Oliver made his way to lower Broadway, where the -steamship office was located. It was a busy place, and the boy was -compelled to wait for his turn. - -While he stood in line he meditated on what he would have to pay for a -ticket. If there was any such thing as going second or third class he -intended to do so. In his present straitened circumstances every dollar -counted. - -Suddenly a young man behind him touched him on the elbow and said,―― - -“Say, do you know if they take back tickets here?” - -“What do you mean?” asked Oliver. - -“I mean tickets to California. I have a ticket for Wednesday’s steamer -and I can’t go because my uncle has just died, and I must take charge -of part of his business.” - -“I don’t know,” said Oliver. “I am just here to buy a ticket for -myself,” he continued. - -“Is that so? Then let me sell you mine. I paid eighty dollars for it, -and I’ll let you have it for sixty; that is, if they won’t take it -back.” - -“Is that the cheapest passage?” - -“It is on the regular lines.” - -“Then I’ll take it, if they won’t take it back.” - -At the desk it was found that the ticket could be exchanged for a later -boat, but could not be canceled. As the young man did not know whether, -under the present condition of things, he would go to California or -not, he decided to sell the ticket to Oliver; and the transfer was made -on the spot. - -Oliver was told that the boat would leave at ten o’clock Wednesday -morning from the pier on the North River. He made a note of the time -and the number of the pier, and then quitted the place. - -As he did so, he ran plump into a man who was hurrying up the steps. - -“I beg your pardon!” he exclaimed. “I did not mean”―― - -And then he stopped short. And small wonder. The man he had encountered -was Colonel Mendix! - -In all his life Oliver was never more astonished. He knew not what to -say or do. - -Colonel Mendix, having seen him but once, and that many years previous, -did not recognize the boy. He stepped back, then passed Oliver, and -entered the steamship office. - -“Has the Rosabel sailed yet?” Oliver heard him ask. - -“Yes, sir; half an hour ago.” - -“Ha, too bad! And the next steamer?” - -“Sails Wednesday.” - -“Was there a passenger on the Rosabel named Whyland――Thomas Whyland?” -continued the colonel anxiously. - -The clerk looked over the register. - -“No, sir.” - -“You are sure?” - -“His name is not here. If he was aboard he must have sailed on some one -else’s ticket.” - -“Ah, I see. Thank you.” - -Colonel Mendix turned and left the building. Almost mechanically Oliver -followed him. - -He knew not what to make of the unexpected meeting. Had Mendix just -returned from South America or had he never been to that country? - -“I must find out,” thought the boy. “Perhaps if I discover his business -here I may be able to find out something about the Aurora mine also. I -wish I had caught the name of the man he asked for.” - -He had the day before him, and also Tuesday, and he resolved to make -good use of the time. Who knew but what he might be able to gain a deal -of information before starting for the West? - -Colonel Mendix walked rapidly up Broadway until he reached Trinity -Church. Then he crossed over and hurried down Wall Street. Oliver was -close behind and saw him enter an office not far away. - -Walking past the place, he read the sign,―― - - EZRA DODGE & CO., - California Mining Stocks, - -over the door. He would have liked to follow Colonel Mendix inside, -but could find no pretext for so doing until he noticed a slip on the -window which read,―― - - FREE CIRCULARS INSIDE. - -Entering the place, he saw that the colonel had taken a seat within -the office railing and was in earnest conversation with an elderly -gentleman, presumably Mr. Dodge. - -Oliver stepped up to a clerk in charge. - -“Will you kindly give me a circular of stocks?” he asked. - -“Certainly,” was the reply. “Think of investing?” - -“I wish to see what you have.” - -“Offer you some fine inducements,” said the clerk, handing over a -folded paper. - -Oliver opened the circular, and pretended to look it over. - -“Now, Dodge, about this Aurora mine,” he heard Colonel Mendix say, and -immediately he was all attention. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - - A CONVERSATION OF IMPORTANCE. - - -Oliver Bright was sure that he was going to hear something of -importance, and he determined that not a word of the conversation -between Colonel Mendix and Ezra Dodge should escape him. With his eyes -fixed upon the circular in his hand, he kept his ears wide open for -whatever might be said. - -“Yes, about the Aurora mine,” rejoined Ezra Dodge. “I want to know if -you have a clear title to it?” - -“Why, of course――that is, I and another have.” - -“Then that’s all right. I wanted to know what I was loaning money on.” - -“Didn’t I give enough other security?” asked the colonel, with a slight -sneer in his tones. - -“Certainly. If you hadn’t I wouldn’t have loaned you a dollar. Why, -I don’t even know where your mine is located, excepting that it is -somewhere on the Mokelumne River.” - -“Well, whether you know it or not, the mine is there, and that is -enough for me.” - -“Does it pay?” - -“Perhaps it does.” - -“Are you working it?” - -“Perhaps I am.” - -“Oh, pshaw! if you don’t want to say anything about it, tell me so,” -cried Ezra Dodge, in evident disgust. - -“Well, I don’t. What I want to know is, where can that machinery be -bought?” - -“Right in San Francisco.” - -“You are sure?” - -“Positive. If you don’t care to believe me, buy it in New York and have -it shipped out.” - -“Come, Dodge, don’t get mad. If I want to keep the location of my mine -to myself, it ought to be all right. I intend”―― - -Oliver did not hear any more of the conversation. The clerk in the -establishment approached him, and talked stocks so persistently that -the boy was glad to escape from the office. - -He had, however, overheard several important facts. The mine was -located on the Mokelumne River; Mendix did not care to speak of its -value, but was evidently investing considerable money in buying -machinery, which would tend to show that the claim was worth a good -deal. - -“How fortunate that I met the man!” thought Oliver. “I wouldn’t have -missed this chance for a hundred dollars! And to tell father that he -was in South America while he has been in California all the while! On -the Mokelumne River. That ought not to be so hard to locate.” - -Oliver did not stop to consider that the spot mentioned was many miles -in extent, and in a very wild and mountainous region. His mind was -filled only with the desire to reach the place, and view with his own -eyes his father’s property. - -Walking to the opposite side of the street, he stood in the shadow of a -doorway and waited for Colonel Mendix to appear. Five minutes passed, -and then the man came from Ezra Dodge’s office, walked up Wall Street, -and turned down into Broad. - -Oliver followed him as best he could, but suddenly Mendix turned -another corner, and before the boy could reach the spot the man had -disappeared. - -In vain Oliver hunted up and down and in the several side streets; -Colonel Mendix was nowhere to be seen, and after half an hour’s search -Oliver gave up the task. - -It was now half-past twelve, and walking about had made Oliver hungry. -He moved along until he came to a restaurant, and entering, ordered -dinner. - -While at the table he was astonished at the bustle and confusion around -him. It was true he had been to the metropolis many times, but on every -succeeding occasion the city seemed to be more busy, more full of life. - -Having eaten his meal, and settled the amount of the check at the desk, -Oliver sauntered out upon the street once more. He had a day and a half -before him, and hardly knew what to do. He walked up Nassau Street to -Park Row, and then turning, drifted with the tide of humanity down -Broadway. The knowledge that he was carrying so much cash about worried -him, but each time he felt for it he found that his money was still -safe in the inside pocket of his vest. - -At length Oliver reached the Battery, and sat down on one of the -benches that line the promenades. His long walk in the afternoon sun -had tired him, and his head was beginning to ache. - -The sights around him interested him not a little. Directly opposite to -him was a poor women with a sick baby, the little thing fairly gasping -for breath. To his right sat a shabby workman, or he might have been -a tramp, half asleep, and beside him a tall, gaunt, almost starved -looking boy, certainly not much older than himself. - -Upon another bench three emigrant Germans were holding an animated -conversation in their own tongue, though Oliver occasionally heard the -names Chicago and Milwaukee mentioned. - -The sick baby interested the boy most of all. His heart ached to see -the little one in such misery, and when he saw the mother wipe the -tears from her eyes, he hastily rose and walked over to her. - -“You seem in distress,” he said kindly. “Can I do anything for you?” - -She looked up into his honest, open face. - -“My baby is so sick!” she cried. “I would not care if it was myself――but -baby”――and she broke down completely. - -“You ought to go to a doctor,” he went on. - -“Alas! I have no money!” she replied. “I spent the last fifty cents I -had yesterday.” - -Oliver’s hand went down into his pocket on the instant. He could ill -spare the money, but he would have done anything rather than refuse the -woman assistance. - -“Here is a dollar for you,” he said, holding out that amount. “I wish I -could make it more; but that will help you some.” - -For an instant the woman stared at him. Then she snatched the silver -coin from his hand. - -“Oh, thank you, thank you!” she cried; “I did not expect it. You are -too kind.” - -“I would advise you to get medicine for the baby at once.” - -“I will, sir; I know something that I think will just cure my poor -Ellie. Oh, thank you, sir, and God bless you!” - -And with tears of joy streaming down her face the woman hurried away. - -A warm feeling surged through Oliver’s heart as he slowly followed, the -feeling that always comes when one has done a noble action. - -“Poor woman, poor baby,” he murmured to himself. “I hope she gets the -medicine and that it cures her Ellie. What a dear baby it was!” - -He had hardly gone a dozen steps before he felt a hand upon his -shoulder. It was the gaunt-looking boy. - -“Will you please help me a little?” he asked pleadingly. “I have been -out of work for three weeks and can’t get anything to do anywhere.” - -“You are telling the truth?” asked Oliver sharply, to make sure that he -was not being deceived. - -“Yes, sir. I worked in Haddan’s piano action factory that burnt down.” - -“And you cannot get work anywhere?” - -“No, sir. Oh, you don’t know how hard I have tried! Every morning I -answer the advertisements in the papers, but there are always a hundred -men for one place.” - -By the way the boy spoke Oliver knew that he told the truth. He -hesitated for a moment, and then handed out another dollar. - -“There,” he said. “I cannot afford that very well, but I hate to see -any one in want. I hope by the time that is gone you will find work. -Are you alone in the world?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Then, if you cannot get work here, I advise you to strike out for some -other place.” - -“Thank you; I won’t stay in New York much longer.” - -Oliver did not reply, and the two separated. - -“Cannot find work anywhere,” mused the boy; “it must be hard indeed. -What will father and I do if the Aurora mine scheme proves a failure? I -would be nearly as badly off as that poor chap. God grant it does not -come to that!” - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - A NIGHT IN NEW YORK. - - -From the Battery, Oliver made his way back to Wall Street. He was in -hopes of seeing Colonel Mendix again, and for this reason passed and -repassed Ezra Dodge’s office several times. - -But his watching was fruitless, and finally by five o’clock he gave up. -By this time the financial center was almost deserted, and he saw Ezra -Dodge’s clerk close the office up for the day, and walk away. - -Instantly he decided to follow and accost the young man, and this he -did before he had formed any clear plan of action. - -“Excuse me,” he said; “but I think I saw you down in Mr. Dodge’s -office.” - -“You did,” replied the clerk wonderingly. - -“Wasn’t Colonel Mendix there?” - -“Yes, he was; this morning.” - -“Can you tell me where he is stopping?” - -“At the Gilliford House.” - -“The Gilliford House?” - -“Yes. It is on Broadway near Sixth Avenue. Did you want to see him?” - -“I did. Do you suppose he is there now?” - -“I don’t know. He intends to start for California soon.” - -“So I understand. He has a mine there, I believe.” - -“Yes.” The clerk hesitated. “I don’t know much about Colonel Mendix,” -he continued. - -“Does he live here?” - -“Oh, no; he comes from Sacramento City.” - -“Thank you. And you think he is up at the Gilliford House?” - -“He is if he hasn’t left for the West yet.” - -“Did he speak of leaving so soon?” - -“I heard him tell Mr. Dodge he might take the train for St. Louis -to-day.” - -The clerk nodded and then boarded a Broadway car. Oliver stood on the -pavement in wonder. - -“Might take the train for St. Louis to-day!” he murmured; “and I -thought all the while that he intended to stay in New York for some -time at least! If he has gone he will have a full day’s start of me, to -say nothing of the difference in the trip overland and the one by the -way of the isthmus. I wish I was going by train instead.” - -After a moment’s reflection, he resolved to go at once to the Gilliford -House and see if the colonel had yet departed. If he had, then there -was nothing to do but wait for the steamer on Wednesday. - -On the corner was a policeman, and the officer quickly directed the -boy to the proper elevated road by which he could reach the hotel -mentioned. Oliver climbed the steps, procured his ticket, dropped it -into the box, and a moment later was aboard the train. - -Though he had been to New York a number of times, the ride in the air -as it were was somewhat of a novelty to him. He sat in one of the -little cross seats in the middle of the car, and thoroughly enjoyed the -panorama that swept by――a panorama that was so close to him that he -could note every detail. - -At length Thirty-third Street was reached. Here Oliver left the train, -went down the long stairs, and inquired his way to the Gilliford House. - -It was not a long distance off, and in five minutes more he had entered -the office. - -“Is Colonel Mendix stopping here?” he asked of the clerk at the desk. - -The young man looked at the register. - -“Yes, sir. Wish to see him?” - -Oliver hesitated for a moment. - -“Yes, sir.” - -“I will send up your card.” - -“I――I―― He would not know me,” stammered Oliver. “Cannot you say that a -young man wishes to see him?” - -“Certainly. Just wait a moment. I’ll send right up.” - -Oliver took a seat and waited. The bell-boy was gone probably five -minutes. - -“Colonel Mendix is out,” were the clerk’s words upon his return. - -“Have you any idea when he will be back?” asked Oliver, somewhat -disappointed, and yet relieved to think he would not have to face the -man just then, when he was hardly prepared. - -“No, sir.” - -Oliver stood for a moment in thought. He would have to remain in New -York over that night and the next. Why not stay where he was? - -“Can I engage a room here for to-morrow night and to-night?” he asked. - -“Certainly. What kind of a room do you desire?” - -“Not too high priced.” - -“European or American plan?” was the clerk’s question, meaning thereby, -as many of my readers know, if he wished it without or including meals. - -“European.” - -“From one to three dollars.” - -“I will take the dollar room, sir.” - -“Very well. Pay in advance.” - -“I will pay for to-night. If I stay to-morrow I will pay that in the -morning.” - -Oliver paid the money. He did not wish to arrange for meals at the -hotel, for he did not know where he would be during the following day. - -“John, show this gentleman to room 234.” - -“And if Colonel Mendix comes in, will you let me know?” - -“I will if I see him.” - -Taking Oliver’s valise, the porter led the way to the elevator, -and they were raised to the fifth floor. Number 234 proved to be a -cozy room at the rear of the hall. It was well furnished, with all -conveniences, even to the pens and ink that stood on a side table. - -Throwing off his coat, vest, and hat, the boy took a good wash in the -marble bowl and combed his hair. This refreshed him and made his head -feel better. Then locking up the room so that his baggage would be -safe, he went below to a neighboring restaurant, and procured a light -supper. - -The sight of the pens and ink in his room made him think of writing a -letter to his father, and he spent the best part of the evening doing -so. He told of all that had happened, and begged his father not to be -angry at his having taken the matter in hand. - -The letter finished, Oliver went out and posted it. Upon returning he -asked about Colonel Mendix, and was told the gentleman had not yet -come back. - -At ten o’clock Oliver retired. He was quite worn out, but the -strangeness of his situation caused him to sleep but little. At seven -o’clock he was dressed and at the desk. - -“Colonel Mendix has sent word that his baggage be taken to the depot,” -said the clerk. “He took the train last night for the West.” - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - - ON THE STEAMER. - - -Oliver Bright was so taken aback by the announcement that Colonel -Mendix had left New York that he hardly knew what to do. Since the day -before he had calculated upon having a talk with the Spanish gentleman, -and hoped to gain some important knowledge without revealing his own -identity. - -But now that chance was lost. The colonel had gone, and it was not -likely that the two would meet this side of San Francisco. - -“Took the train last night?” he repeated slowly. - -“Yes, sir,” replied the clerk. “Did you wish to see him very much?” - -“I did indeed. What time did the train start?” - -“At nine fifteen.” - -“Thank you.” - -Oliver left the desk, and walked slowly from the hotel. He was in -no humor for eating his breakfast, and strolled up Broadway for a -considerable distance, and up and down a number of the side streets. - -“He will reach the West long before I do,” he reflected. “Perhaps -before I get to San Francisco he will be at the mines. Still, he may -stop over to buy that machinery he spoke of. Heigh-ho! it’s a chance -lost anyway.” - -Oliver was not naturally of a desponding disposition, and in an hour -his spirits had brightened, and he was once more himself. He walked -into a modest looking restaurant and procured a light breakfast, and -then, in lieu of something more important to do, started out to see the -sights. - -The morning passed quickly enough. At noon Oliver found himself far -over by the East River. He walked down the Bowery until he came to the -Brooklyn Bridge, and taking a walk over this magnificent structure, -procured his dinner in Brooklyn. By the time it was finished, and he -had recrossed the bridge, it was nearly three o’clock. - -“I’ll wait until six, and then see if there are any letters for me,” -he said to himself, as he passed the post-office building. “Father may -write to me at once, or get some one to write for him.” - -For a long time Oliver stood on Park Row, watching the newsboys folding -their papers and disposing of them. One little mite of a chap, who was -certainly not over five years of age, interested him greatly. - -The boy was so small he could hardly carry his bundle of papers, and -yet he seemed to drive a brisk trade, often selling a paper where some -one larger than he had met with a rebuff. Crimpsey, he heard some -of the other boys call him; and finally Oliver patronized him to the -extent of buying an afternoon paper for a cent. - -“How’s trade?” he said, as he waited for his change. - -“Nuthin’ extra,” was the little chap’s reply. “There ain’t no extra -news in ter day.” And away he went shouting, “Extra! Last ’dition!” - -“I shouldn’t want to be a newsboy,” thought Oliver; “yet I would rather -do that than starve.” - -Walking over to the little park in front of the City Hall, he sat down -on one of the benches and read the paper he had bought. There was but -little in it to interest him, and he had soon finished. Then he threw -down the sheet. In an instant a man sitting near snatched it up. - -“Through?” he asked. - -“Yes,” replied Oliver. - -“Thanks;” and immediately the man was deeply absorbed in the journal. - -“Evidently he is too poor to buy a paper, and yet he is hungry for -something to read,” thought Oliver, and he hit it exactly. - -The boy found the time hanging heavily upon his hands after this. He -detested spending a day in idleness, yet it could not be helped. He -walked over to the North River, and then up West Street, and finally -returned up Vesey Street to the post-office. - -Here he hunted up the right window, and asked if there were any letters. - -For reply one was handed out. - -How eagerly Oliver took it up! It bore the Rockvale postmark. It was -from home! - -Stepping over to one of the windows, he tore the epistle open. It was -from his father, and ran as follows:―― - - MY DEAR OLIVER,――As you supposed, I was greatly astonished to - find that you had left home to go to California to hunt up the - Aurora mine. I was inclined to think that it was a foolhardy - undertaking; but upon reflection I will only say, now you have - started, take care of yourself, and don’t run into unnecessary - danger. - - I have not time to write all I desire, as I am afraid you will - not receive the letter if I do not put it in the morning mail. - - You say you have enough money for the present. When you reach - San Francisco there will be a letter with a money order or - express order for you. - - I can understand what a surprise it was to meet Colonel Mendix. - Have you seen him again? Be sure and keep out of trouble. I - have no doubt but that he was deceiving me all the time, and - cannot forgive myself for having trusted him as I did. - - I suppose you did not return home Tuesday because you thought I - might detain you. Well, Oliver, perhaps I might have done so, - but as it is, you may go, and God be with you. - - I am feeling as well as can be expected. Dr. Kitchell says I - must keep quiet and all will be well. It is hard to do so, but - I will try to be content. - - Let me hear from you as often as possible, and do not hesitate - to return at any time, no matter whether you accomplish - anything or not. Although if you fail it will be a bitter blow, - we will manage somehow to get along. - - Now I must close. With all my love I remain, your father, - - ARTHUR BRIGHT. - -Oliver had quite some trouble in deciphering the letter, which had been -written in great haste. It is needless to say its contents pleased him -greatly. A heavy load was lifted from his heart, for he had dreaded the -thought of being recalled, and giving up the quest. - -“I must not fail,” he murmured to himself, as he put the letter in his -pocket. “Father expects me to succeed, even if he doesn’t say so. I am -sure if I do not he will never get over the blow.” - -There was some truth in this, though not as much as Oliver was inclined -to believe. Yet the boy walked from the post-office with a firmer -determination to follow his purpose to its end and recognize no such -word as fail. - -He spent the evening in writing a long reply to his father, and also -in sending several letters to intimate friends, including one to Gus -Gregory, which was destined never to reach his chum for reasons that -will soon appear. - -Oliver slept more comfortably that night than he had the first. He was -up, however, at seven o’clock; and after getting breakfast and settling -his bill made his way down to the steamer which was to afford him -passage to Aspinwall. - -Here he found all bustle and confusion. Passengers and the last of the -cargo, as well as the mails, were arriving all at the same time. He -sought out his stateroom and stowed away his valise, and then went on -deck to view the scene. - -He wondered who his room-mate was to be; but though he asked several he -was unable to find out, and no one appeared. - -“Maybe I will have the room all to myself,” he thought; “that will be -much nicer.” - -But the stream of people that were coming aboard seemed to indicate -otherwise. What a motley crowd it was! Americans, Spaniards, Englishmen, -several Chinamen, and half a dozen blacks. - -Surely time would not hang heavily among such people. Oliver was -already interested in the manners and speeches to be seen and heard -around him. - -At length the time for sailing came; and lashed fast to an energetic -little steam-tug, the steamer swung off from the pier and moved slowly -down the stream. - -There was a crowd left behind that waved a parting adieu, cheers and -tears well mixed. On board some were laughing, some crying. - -Oliver felt mighty sober. There was no one to see him off; yet he was -leaving home and friends behind. When would he see all again? - -Before long a tear stole down his cheek. He brushed it away hastily and -took a deep breath. How he wished they were well on their way, and this -parting was over! And yet he strained his eyes until the pier could be -seen no longer, and eagerly watched the shore with its varied shipping. - -“No use in talking, there is nothing like home,” he murmured to -himself; “if it wasn’t for what I hope to accomplish, you wouldn’t -catch me leaving it.” - -Suddenly a snatch of song reached his ears,―― - - “The dearest spot on earth to me is home, sweet home.” - -“Paine spoke the truth when he wrote that,” said Oliver to a man -standing near. - -“You’re right, Oliver,” added a voice from behind, and turning, the boy -was dumfounded to see Gus Gregory standing close at hand. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - - THE STORM OFF CAPE HATTERAS. - - -For the moment Oliver could not believe his eyesight. He stared at his -chum without saying a word. - -“Yes, it is I,” said Gus Gregory finally. “Do you think it is my ghost?” - -“Gus!” gasped Oliver. “Where in the world did you come from?” - -“Where did you suppose? From Rockvale.” - -“And what――what are you doing here?” - -“I’m bound for California; going to accompany you.” - -“You are! Why――why”――Oliver could not finish the question. - -“Don’t try to ask too many questions at once, and perhaps I’ll answer -some of them,” laughed the stout boy. “In the first place, I left -Rockvale yesterday morning about eleven o’clock. I came at once to New -York, and after getting a good bath, so as not to look quite like a -tramp, I bought a ticket for this steamer, and here I am.” - -“Yes, but do your folks know of all this?” - -“Well, I guess not! I wouldn’t be here but for the awful time I had -with pop.” - -And Gus Gregory shook his head over the remembrance of the occurrence. - -“Then you ran away?” - -“I suppose you would call it that. But I didn’t run; I couldn’t. I -walked, and mighty slow at that!” - -“But what made you come away at all?” - -“It was all on account of that scrape we got into over at Dr. Tangus’s. -On Monday night pop called me into the library, and said he had got -a bill of damages from the old man. What do you suppose it was? -Forty-five dollars!” - -“Forty-five dollars! Phew!” ejaculated Oliver. “That was the whole -damage done, I suppose.” - -“No; that was only my share. I can tell you father was mad, and he -sailed right into me. He had been suffering from a toothache all day, -and his temper was none of the best. I can tell you I caught it!” - -Gus Gregory drew a deep breath and shifted his shoulders uneasily. - -“First it was words and then it came to blows,” he resumed. “At last I -said I wished I was a thousand miles from home, and my father took me -up and said I could go and never come back; and here I am.” - -“But he didn’t mean that, Gus.” - -“Never mind, he said it, and I took him up. So that night I packed -my grip,――had quite a job, I was in such a tremendous hurry,――and -found out all about the steamer and so forth. I left home right after -breakfast. - -“Just as I passed out of the garden, father saw me, and called out to -know where I was going. I told him a thousand miles away, as he had -wished. He said I was a fool, and ordered me back. When I didn’t mind, -he came running after me. I started up the road, with my eye on him -over my shoulder. I didn’t notice a puddle in the way, and the first -thing went a-sousing into it. Maybe I wasn’t a sight to behold! I had -on my best clothes too!” - -Oliver laughed heartily. He could well imagine the scene. - -“But you got away?” he asked with deep interest. - -“Of course; if I hadn’t I wouldn’t be here. When I reached the station -the train had just come in. I jumped aboard, and in a moment we were -off. But what a mess I was in! I was mud from head to foot, and my face -resembled that of the worst tramp you ever saw! I tried to clean myself -as best I could, but nevertheless every one stared at me, and I had the -whole seat to myself the entire way.” - -“I can see the mud yet,” said Oliver. - -“Humph! that isn’t a hundredth part of it. As soon as I reached the -city I hunted up a bath, and told the proprietor I had met with an -accident, and he fixed me up. But I can tell you, Olly, I don’t want -any more such tumbles!” - -“And where did you get your money to pay for the trip?” asked Oliver. - -“Didn’t I have a hundred dollars that Uncle Dick left me before he -started for Australia? I had that and twenty-five dollars besides. I -thought you would take this steamer, and as soon as I saw your name on -the register, I engaged a berth too.” - -“And what do you intend to do when you reach San Francisco?” - -“I don’t know yet. But see here, Olly, you don’t act a bit as if you -cared to have me with you,” added Gus in injured tones. - -“I do care a good deal. But I’m sorry you ran away. What will your -father and mother think of it?” - -“I sent them a long letter just before we sailed, so they won’t worry.” - -“But they will worry, Gus.” - -“Well, to tell the truth, I am sorry on mother’s account. To be real -candid, if I had stopped to think perhaps I wouldn’t have come at all. -But now I am here, and that is all there is to it.” - -Oliver shook his head. He knew well enough that once Gus had made up -his mind there was no use to argue with him. - -“Let us go below,” continued the stout boy; “I have a surprise for you.” - -“What is it?” - -“Never mind; come along.” - -So Oliver followed him down the broad steps and along the passageway, -and Gus entered a stateroom. - -“My stateroom!” cried Oliver. “How did you know it?” - -“By the register. It is mine also. We are to be room-mates. Aren’t you -glad?” - -Glad? Indeed Oliver was. The feeling of loneliness, so acute but a -quarter of an hour before, was all gone now. - -While they were below, Gus told much of what had passed in Rockvale -after Oliver’s departure. To be sure the boy had been gone but two -days, yet that was long enough for all the other boys to wonder what -had become of him. - -Gus’s haste in leaving was amply proven by the contents of his valise, -all tumbled in one mess. There were two extra shoes, but they were not -mates, and most of the clothing he had brought was just such as he did -not desire. - -“Humph! the next time I run away I’d better take a week to do it in!” -he grumbled. “Did you ever see such a collection? Looks as if I came -out of a junk-shop.” - -“Never mind; I’ll lend you what I have,” said Oliver. “But my advice is -to return home the first landing we make.” - -“Not much! I’m bound West ho!” - -In a little while the two boys went on deck again. They were now -drawing towards Sandy Hook, and the heavy swells made Gus turn a sickly -green. - -“I suppose it’s about dinner time,” said Oliver; “I feel mighty hungry.” - -“I don’t want anything to eat,” replied the stout boy, drawing his -mouth tightly together. - -“You don’t!” - -“No; not a mouthful.” - -“Why?” - -“Never mind; I don’t, that’s all.” - -Oliver gave him a searching glance. - -“Gus Gregory, you’re seasick!” he cried. - -“Not a bit of it; I’m only a bit dizzy,” was the hopeful reply. - -But he had hardly spoken the words before Gus swallowed a lump in his -throat and then rushed for the side. Oliver, who felt perfectly well, -could not help but laugh. - -He went to dinner alone. The table was more than three-quarters -deserted――nearly every one was under the weather. When he came from the -dining-saloon he found his chum in the stateroom flat on the floor. - -“What! as bad as this?” he asked kindly. - -“Don’t say a word!” moaned Gus. “I’ll never travel on the water again, -never! I wish the steamer was at the bottom of the sea, and myself with -it.” - -He continued to roll and moan for the rest of the day. Oliver tried to -help him in various ways, but it was of no avail. There is nothing to -do but to let seasickness run its course. - -The boys never forgot that first night on shipboard. Several times -Oliver’s head began to swim from the motion, which towards morning grew -worse. He slept but little, and was one of the first on deck. - -“We are getting into the neighborhood of Cape Hatteras,” said a -gentleman standing near. “It is always rough here, but more than -usually so now.” - -“Why?” asked Oliver. - -“Because there is a storm coming up.” - -“A storm?” - -“Yes; and a heavy one. Look over there at that black mass of clouds. -There will be lively times on board to-day.” - -The gentleman spoke the truth. In less than a quarter of an hour the -sky was heavily overcast, and a heavy rainstorm burst over their heads. -Somewhat fearful, Oliver hurried below. - -He had often heard of the fearful storms experienced off Cape Hatteras, -and wondered if that which was approaching would do the steamship any -serious damage. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - - MR. WHYLAND. - - -“My stars! what’s the matter with the ship?” asked Gus, as Oliver -entered the stateroom. - -“We are going to have a storm,” was the reply; “it’s raining already.” - -“Then maybe we will go to the bottom,” groaned Gus. “Or else we’ll turn -clear over, see if we don’t.” - -He had been feeling just a trifle better, but now he was worse. From -looking green he was deadly white, and he shook from head to foot. - -“I wish I could do something for you,” said Oliver kindly, for at least -the fiftieth time. “But I don’t know of a thing that will help you.” - -“It’s a punishment for running away, I suppose. I’ll never be well -until we reach land again.” - -“Oh, nonsense! You’ll feel all right as soon as this storm clears off.” - -Gus made no reply. Oliver remained in the stateroom for a while, and -then ventured above to take another observation. - -As he stepped on deck a violent gust of wind blew a man’s hat directly -toward him. He made a dive for the tile and captured it. - -“Hello, there! got it?” sang out a voice, and an instant later the -gentleman who had told Oliver that a storm was coming rushed up. - -“Yes, sir; here you are.” - -“Thanks. My, but this is rough, and no mistake!” The gentleman jammed -the hat tightly over his head. “Just look at those waves over there!” -And he pointed over to the starboard where the water appeared to be -mountainous in its height. - -“I trust we will get through in safety,” said Oliver with a shudder. “I -have no desire to go to the bottom of the sea.” - -“Nor I,” laughed the gentleman. “Traveling alone?” he went on curiously. - -“I have a schoolmate with me――that is, we met on board.” - -“That very stout young man?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Ah, yes, I see. Rather young to be traveling alone. I am glad to meet -you. My name is Thomas Whyland. I suppose we shall be thrown together -quite some during the voyage.” - -“Are you going to San Francisco?” - -“Yes.” - -“Then I’m glad to have met you,” said Oliver with a smile. “I do not -know a soul but my chum. My name is Oliver Bright.” - -The two shook hands. Mr. Whyland appeared to be a pleasant gentleman, -and Oliver thought they would be friends. He did not dream how well -acquainted they were destined to become. - -“Where is your chum now?” asked Mr. Whyland. - -“In the stateroom, sick.” - -As Oliver spoke a tremendous wave broke over the deck, wetting both him -and Mr. Whyland. A moment later one of the deck-hands came forward with -word that all the passengers had been ordered below. - -“That means us too,” said Mr. Whyland. “Come, let us adjourn to the -cabin.” - -It was with difficulty that they descended the companionway. When -half-way down Oliver slipped, and had it not been for his friend would -have rolled to the bottom. - -In the cabin they found a motley crowd assembled――mostly passengers who -were too frightened to retire to their staterooms. Amongst them was the -head steward and two other officers, trying all they could to quiet the -fears that were expressed. - -“Nothing unusual, sir,” said the steward to Oliver; “I’ve passed -through a dozen of ’em.” - -“Excuse me; one is enough,” laughed the boy; “and you may depend upon -it I will never forget the experience.” - -He and Mr. Whyland took a seat well forward, and began to talk over the -prospects. Presently Oliver felt a hand on his arm, and turning, saw -Gus standing beside him. - -“Hello! what brought you out?” he exclaimed. - -“I didn’t want to drown alone,” replied the stout boy. “We’re all going -to the bottom, do you know it?” - -“The officers of the boat say not,” returned Oliver. “They say it is -quite an ordinary storm.” - -“I call it a most extraordinary, howling, rambunctious cyclone,” said -Gus. “I’m expecting the ship to turn clear over any moment.” - -Oliver introduced his companion to Mr. Whyland, and their mutual -sympathy soon placed them on the plane of friendship. But Gus was too -sick to remain long, and before a great while retired again to the -stateroom, whither he was presently followed by Oliver. - -“What do you think of Mr. Whyland?” asked the latter. - -“Very nice man,” returned Gus. “I’d like him still better if he would -only order this storm to stop. Creation! it seems to me I’d give all -I’m worth to be on land once more!” - -“Then you don’t think you would care to be a sailor, to sail the briny -deep?” asked Oliver with a smile. - -“Sailor!” Gus uttered the word in deep disgust. - -“Yes. It’s a splendid life――at least so the novelists say.” - -“Humph! I guess those novelists never saw the blue and black water, or -they wouldn’t put down any such nonsense! No, sir! this is my first and -last trip on the flowing sea. As Paddy said, ‘The next time I ship I’ll -travel be land!’” - -“Which means that when you return home you’ll do so overland.” - -“If I’m ever allowed to return home, which I very much doubt, if this -confounded storm keeps up.” - -“Oh, it isn’t so bad, Gus.” Oliver mused for a moment, while Gus turned -on the berth with a groan. “I wonder if Mr. Whyland is acquainted in -San Francisco.” - -“Why?” - -“If he is, he may be able to give me considerable information about the -place.” - -“It isn’t likely that he ever heard of this Colonel Mendix.” - -“Oh, I suppose not; but he will know about the mining exchange and all -that, and that is what I must learn about. They must know something of -Mendix. He couldn’t keep that mine a secret so long out there.” - -“Suppose you can’t find out a single thing in San Francisco, what then?” - -“It will be a disappointment, but I shall not give up. I will make a -hunt up the river upon which it is said to be situated. Sooner or later -I am bound to stumble upon a clew.” - -“I admire your grit, Olly. You deserve success.” - -“And I’ll obtain it, mark my word, Gus.” - -During the afternoon, instead of abating, the storm grew wilder. The -sky became even blacker than before, and all the lanterns were lit. The -wind shrieked through the rigging and across the deck, and everything -that was loose and light was carried over the rail. - -Seated on the edge of the lower berth the two boys talked in a low -tone. Sleep was out of the question, and, as Gus expressed it, somehow -speech made them more courageous. - -“We must be near Cape Hatteras,” said Oliver. “If we――” - -He did not finish the sentence, for at that instant a terrible shock -was felt that sent both boys sprawling to the other side of the -stateroom. There was a crashing and a tearing, and they heard piercing -cries of alarm. What did it mean? - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - - ARRIVAL AT ASPINWALL. - - -Both boys were frightened at the terrific shock they experienced while -in the stateroom. Gus had the wind completely knocked out of him, and -Oliver was little better off. - -“What can it mean?” cried Oliver as he scrambled to his feet. - -“Guess we’ve smashed on the rocks!” groaned the stout youth. “Told you -we’d go to the bottom.” - -“If we have, I’m not going to stay below any longer. Come, let us go on -deck.” - -Oliver helped Gus to regain his feet, and trembling with excitement as -well as fear, they made their way to the cabin. Here nearly all the -passengers were assembled, most of them in a high state of excitement. - -Among the crowd was Mr. Whyland, who quickly joined the boys. - -“What is it? What have we struck?” asked Oliver anxiously. - -“I do not know. It was a fearful blow.” - -“Are we going to the bottom?” - -“Hardly. These steamers are very strongly built. I’ll go on deck and -find out.” - -But at the companionway he was stopped. - -“No one allowed on deck,” said the man in charge of the stairs. “There -is no danger, sir.” - -“What did we strike?” - -“Struck a small freight schooner, and carried away her bow.” - -“Did she sink?” - -“Oh, no. But we are steaming near her so as to be on the safe side.” - -This news was heard by every one who stood around, and its effect was -to quiet the fearful ones. Many wondered if the schooner was seriously -damaged, and if she would be able to continue her voyage. - -It is safe to say that there was little or no sleep that night for -those on board the steamer. Towards morning the storm cleared off, and -the sun rose bright as ever. - -“Well, I never!” declared Gus. “The scene has changed as quickly as it -does in a panorama!” - -Now that the dreadful rolling had ceased, he felt better, and Oliver -was glad to see him indulge in a fair-sized breakfast. - -The meal finished, they went on deck. The freight schooner that had -been struck was nowhere to be seen. Inquiries brought the information -that she had not been seriously damaged and had gone on her way. - -The two boys found the day rather monotonous. Look where they might, -nothing could be seen but sky and water, the one nearly as blue as the -other. - -“Blue all around makes one feel blue,” remarked Gus. “But I’m thankful -I’m over that awful seasickness. If it had kept up much longer I -believe I would have died.” - -“No one ever dies of seasickness,” said Mr. Whyland, who had come up. -“Your health will be better after this dose.” - -“Well, it ought to be,” laughed Gus. “I’ve suffered enough. I ought to -have some reward.” - -“But we do not always get what we deserve in this world,” responded -the gentleman, and for a moment a light shadow swept across his brow. -“Sometimes both evil and good pass us by.” - -At dinner Oliver did full justice to what was passed to him. Gus felt -decidedly strange, and it was some time before he could get into the -peculiar way of eating that was prevalent. Everything that he had, -seemed to be inclined to slide into his lap. - -“We can’t stand on much ceremony,” he said. “I think this chicken leg -is better in my stomach than on the floor, so here goes.” And he took -the extremity of the fowl between his fingers and ate it that way. - -That day and the next passed slowly. Gus was of the opinion they would -stop at some place before reaching Aspinwall, but in this he was -mistaken. They passed close to the coast of Florida, so close in fact -that the sandy shore with the tall and waving trees and bushes could be -distinctly seen. On the following day they took the course between Cuba -and Yucatan, passing not far from the latter on account of the tide. -They were now in the Caribbean Sea, with the Bay of Honduras behind -them. - -“Looks very much like any other bay or gulf, I suppose,” observed Gus, -as he and Oliver stood by the rail watching some sea-gulls as they -winged their way around the ship. - -“I guess water looks very much the same in all parts of the earth,” was -Oliver’s reply. - -“Mostly,” put in Mr. Whyland, who had overheard the last words; -“although there are some places where it is quite different. Lake Como -in Switzerland is as blue as indigo; the waters of some South American -rivers are intensely green; and then there are the Red and Black -Seas――so called from their general appearance.” - -“I should like to see them all,” returned Oliver. “Some day, if I am -able, I intend to become a great traveler.” - -“It is very pleasant,” said the gentleman. “But it takes a lot of -money, I can assure you.” - -Early on the day following, land somewhere on the isthmus was seen; and -late in the afternoon they steamed into the harbor at Aspinwall, and -dropped anchor. The boys were eager to go ashore, but were told that no -passengers would be allowed to land until the following morning. - -“Well, so much of the journey is done,” said Oliver. “How I wish this -was San Francisco Bay!” - -“I don’t know as I do,” returned Gus. “Now that I’ve got over that -nasty seasickness, I rather enjoy the trip.” - -“I would too, if I didn’t have anything on my mind.” - -“Well, you ought not to let that interfere. Worry won’t do any good.” - -In the fast approaching darkness but little could be seen. The boys -were sure Aspinwall was a poorly illuminated town, so few lights could -be distinguished. They went below and made all necessary preparations -for leaving the steamer. - -The evening passed quickly. At ten o’clock the boys turned in so as to -be on hand bright and early. - -And on hand they were. At ten o’clock both stepped out on the dock and -walked slowly up the narrow and dirty street. - -“Humph! not much of a city,” said Gus. “See the funny houses all on -stilts!” - -“I suppose they build them that way to keep from getting flooded out -when it rains,” laughed Oliver; “or else the sea may occasionally drive -in too far.” - -“I would not care to see myself living here. My, how muddy it is! I -guess they haven’t much of a street-cleaning department.” - -From one of the officers of the ship the boys learned that, in order to -make connections with the steamer at Panama, they would have to take -the train for that port on the following morning. - -“That will give us a whole day in this place,” said Oliver. “Come, let -us start out on a voyage of discovery.” - -Gus was nothing loath, and they set out. They passed down the main -street, where they discovered several fine-looking hotels,――quite in -contrast with their shabby surroundings,――and then turned down another -road close beside the water. - -Most all of the people they met were either Spaniards, Frenchmen, or -natives. But few Americans were to be seen, and this made both boys -feel more strange than did all the other surroundings. - -“We are in a different country, and no mistake,” said Oliver. “See what -queer ways the folks have! It makes me feel like a cat in a strange -garret!” - -Presently they drifted into quite a crowd that lined a wharf where a -large boat was discharging fruit. Anxious to see what was going on, -they pressed their way to the front until a tall Spaniard with a long -whip rushed out, and jabbering at all the strangers, drove them off. - -“Not a very sociable fellow,” grunted Gus. “By crickety! I thought he -was going to fetch me one across the legs!” - -It was now getting toward noon, and both boys were hungry. Oliver was -for going back to the steamer for dinner, but Gus persuaded him to -enter one of the strange eating-houses kept by a native. - -“I want to see what kind of stuff they furnish,” he explained. - -“All right. Only you must order,” replied Oliver. - -So Gus ordered dinner as best he could. While they were waiting for it -to be brought both boys felt in their pockets for money to pay for it. -Neither had so much as a cent! - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - MR. WHYLAND’S STORY. - - -“Have you any money?” gasped Gus. - -“No,” returned Oliver; and he added, “I have been robbed! I had nearly -two dollars in change when I left the steamer.” - -“Then I am luckier than you, for I remember now that I left my purse in -my valise. What are we to do?” - -“I don’t know,” returned Oliver blankly. “I’ll bet I was robbed down in -that crowd at the wharf.” - -“Most likely.” - -“It’s a good thing I didn’t have more with me. I suppose I’ll never see -that money again.” - -“You’re right. To get it back would probably be more bother than it is -worth. Still, I would tell the captain when we get back.” - -“I certainly shall. In the meanwhile how are we to pay for our meal -here?” - -“I suppose we had better not eat it. Let us tell the waiter what has -happened.” - -In a moment more the Frenchman who had taken their order appeared, his -tray piled high with dishes. Gus told their story, and motioned as if -to go away. Evidently the man did not understand the stout youth, for -his face grew dark. - -“You have ordered the meal; you must pay for it,” he said in French. - -Of course Gus did not understand him, and only shook his head. This -made the man angry, and he called the proprietor, and the two talked to -both boys in a high pitch of voice. Oliver turned his pockets inside -out and Gus did the same, but even this had no effect save to make the -proprietor of the place grow pale with passion. - -“It’s no use,” cried Oliver. “They think we are only trying to fool -them, that we never intended to take dinner here. What in the world -shall we do?” - -“I don’t know.” Gus gave a gasp. “I wonder if they will dare to have us -arrested?” - -“Arrested? Oh, I trust not!” Oliver looked about him in deep perplexity; -“but I cannot imagine what is best to do.” - -At that instant the boy’s gaze was turned towards the door, and he was -overjoyed to see Mr. Whyland enter. Breaking from the group, he ran up -to him. - -“Oh, Mr. Whyland, how glad I am that you came in!” he exclaimed. “My -friend and I have got into an awful muss.” - -“Is that so? What is the trouble?” - -As briefly as he could Oliver related the misfortune that had overtaken -himself and Gus. Mr. Whyland listened attentively. - -“It is too bad you have had your money stolen,” he said. “There is no -use in trying to recover it. It would certainly take more time and -trouble than it is worth. You must be more careful in the future.” - -“I intend to be. But what shall I do here? The proprietor insists that -I want to cheat him or else am fooling him.” - -“I will pay the bill. I suppose travelers often impose upon him and he -has grown suspicious. I will speak to him in French.” - -Mr. Whyland was as good as his word. The restaurant keeper listened -closely, and then began to bow and smile, and sent the waiter off for -more stuff. - -“I have told him that I will settle the bill and that I will have -dinner with you,” explained Mr. Whyland. “He says only last week a -party of three Americans came in and fooled him, and he thought you -belonged to the same crowd.” - -“They ought to have been ashamed of themselves,” sniffed Gus. “Might -have got us into a terrible mess.” - -“Yes; Americans away from home ought to be more circumspect in their -actions. A few of them can give the entire nation a bad name.” - -The things that Mr. Whyland had ordered were not long in coming, and -then the three sat down. It was a somewhat different meal from what -they had been accustomed to at home, yet not enough so to make it -noticeable. - -“These people are very quick to remember how Americans like things -served,” said Mr. Whyland. “That is why you do not notice any great -difference from a Broadway restaurant.” - -The meal finished, their friend settled the bill as he had agreed. -Oliver and Gus thanked him, and the former promised to pay back their -share as soon as the steamer was reached. - -“There is no need to trouble yourself. It was but fifty cents――twenty-five -apiece,” said Mr. Whyland. “What were you young men doing? taking a look -around?” - -“Yes,” replied Oliver; “but there doesn’t seem to be much to see.” - -“You are right; Aspinwall is not a very attractive city――that is, -by comparison with what we have left. It is almost too unhealthy to -thrive.” - -On the way back to the steamer the three became even better acquainted -than before. The gentleman asked where the two boys were bound, and -stepped back in astonishment when Oliver, in a burst of confidence, -told him that, while Gus was off merely for a trip, he himself was in -quest of a hidden mine in California. - -“Surely, surely you are joking!” gasped Mr. Whyland. - -“No, sir; I am telling the truth,” affirmed Oliver. “I would not tell -you at all, but you have been so kind to me.” - -“And may I ask where this mine is situated――in what direction?” - -“It is somewhere on the Mokelumne River.” - -“And is it called the Aurora Mine?” continued Mr. Whyland with intense -interest. - -“It is!” cried Oliver. “But how did you know the name?” - -“I am looking for the same mine myself.” - -“You!” - -“Exactly. Do you know the owner of the claim?” - -“My father owns the claim,” replied Oliver decidedly. - -“But Colonel Mendix”―― - -“Do you know that man?” asked Oliver quickly. - -“Quite well, although I have not seen him for two years. He sold me -a quarter interest in the mine for ten thousand dollars, and then he -disappeared.” - -“My father gave him a quarter interest to open up the mine for him. -That must be the interest he sold you. You say you have not seen -Colonel Mendix for two years; I saw him in New York the day before we -sailed.” - -“Is it possible?” - -“I tried to meet him to have a talk with him; but before I could do so -he took the train for the West.” - -Mr. Whyland was astonished over what Oliver had to say. He asked the -boy to tell his story, and as Oliver could see no harm in so doing, he -complied. - -“From what you say we are undoubtedly on the same errand,” remarked -Mr. Whyland when he had finished. “You are searching for your father’s -share, and I am searching for the share given to Colonel Mendix, which -that individual transferred to me. It is most fortunate that we met. If -you have no objection we will work together.” - -“I shall be happy to do so, Mr. Whyland. You are a man, and a man can, -as a rule, do more than a boy.” - -“But I take you to be a remarkably bright boy,” laughed the gentleman. -“I am sure we will get along famously together. I have not much to -tell, excepting that I met Colonel Mendix in Boston, where he was -introduced to me by James Barr, the surveyor you have mentioned. By Mr. -Barr’s advice I invested in the mine. I waited for a long time to hear -from the two, but never did. Other business claimed my attention. But -now I am free to hunt the matter up, and I intend to do so. The amount -at stake is not a large one to me; but still I wish to learn positively -whether I have been swindled or not.” - -“The amount is a good deal to my father,” said Oliver. “He has lost all -of his other property, and this is his last hope.” - -“Then I trust that for his sake as well as for my own the mine proves -of value.” - -“You’ve got to find it first,” put in Gus. “Remember the old saying -about counting chickens before they are hatched.” - -“I would say, don’t count the eggs before they are found,” laughed Mr. -Whyland. “But we will trust for the best.” - -The three talked over the situation for a long time. Oliver was glad -that he had run across Mr. Whyland. It would undoubtedly lighten his -task to a great degree. The gentleman was experienced and rich, and -that would count for a good deal in what was to come. - -The remainder of the day passed quickly. In the evening they went -aboard of the steamer for the last time. All slept soundly, and were up -at a seasonable hour. - -“What an odd little railroad!” remarked Gus, as they boarded the train -in the morning. “Only a single track.” - -“It is only about forty-eight miles long,” said Mr. Whyland, “but it -cost an enormous sum of money to build.” - -Soon there was a tremendous jerk, and they were off on the trip across -the isthmus. Oliver looked out of the window at the marshy ground, and -the rank pools of stagnant water. - -Suddenly they came to a sharp stop. What was up now? - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - IN THE WILDS OF THE ISTHMUS. - - -Oliver calculated that they had been traveling not more than an hour -when the sudden stoppage occurred. The shock was so great it threw him -up against the seat in front of him, and awoke Gus from a comfortable -nap. - -“What’s the matter?” exclaimed the stout youth in alarm. - -“I don’t know,” was Oliver’s reply. “Something wrong ahead, I suppose.” - -“Perhaps part of the roadbed has sunk,” suggested Mr. Whyland, who sat -on the other side of the aisle. “I understand such a thing frequently -occurs here.” - -They all sat quiet for ten minutes. By this time one and another of the -passengers began to get out, and finally the three joined them, and -walked up to where the engine stood, blowing off steam. - -Mr. Whyland’s surmise proved correct. Not fifty feet distant the rails -of the road were submerged in a murky pool of foul-smelling water. The -length of the depression was about one hundred feet, and its greatest -depth a foot and a half. - -Already a gang of native laborers were at work repairing the damage. -There were a dozen or more of them, but they worked so slowly that -hardly any progress was made. - -“Seems to me if I was overseer here I would hurry those men up,” -remarked Gus, after they had watched the proceedings for some time. - -“They cannot hurry much,” said Mr. Whyland. “The climate is against -them. I doubt if you could stand the work more than an hour. Come, let -us get away from that pool. It is a regular hotbed of fever.” - -“I wonder how long this will delay us?” said Oliver, as they walked -back to the car. - -“Suppose we ask the conductor?” said Gus. - -After some little trouble they found the man, who was surrounded by a -crowd of passengers, all eager to know what would be the result of the -delay. - -“We will go through as soon as possible,” he replied. “The men will -work hard, and I think in two hours, or three at the most, we will be -able to move.” - -“Three hours!” exclaimed Oliver. “That is quite a time.” - -“Let us spend it in exploring the vicinity,” suggested Gus. - -Oliver was agreeable. Mr. Whyland did not care to go, but sat down to -read a magazine, and the two boys started off alone. - -“We won’t go far,” said Oliver. “I suppose they will blow the whistle -before they start, so that we can get back.” - -In five minutes the boys were in a veritable forest. On every side -could be seen tall palms, interspersed with cocoa, sycamore, and other -tropical trees. Beneath their feet grew a rank vegetation, and wherever -there was a bit of water, gorgeous lilies sprang up, the like of which -they had never before beheld. - -And the birds and monkeys overhead! Never had they seen such a sight, -and it seemed they would never get done wondering over it. Every tree -was full, and the air resounded with sweet song and senseless chatter. - -“Those monkeys beat any menagerie show I ever saw!” declared Gus, as -they stood watching two old fellows, who had evidently got into a -dispute over the ownership of a particular cocoanut. - -“My, just hear them call each other names! See, now the black has got -it! But the red won’t let him keep it. See, he has it now, and is going -to break it open. There! the black has it again, and he――well, by -crickety!” - -As Gus uttered the last word he dodged, and just in time. The monkey -who held the nut had discovered that he was being watched, and without -ceremony had hurled the nut at the stout youth’s head. - -“Thank you for the nut,” said Gus, picking it up and bowing in mock -politeness, “but next time please don’t present it so forcibly.” - -Going to a tree, he endeavored to break the shell of the cocoanut by -hammering the article against the trunk. As he did so, two more nuts -landed beside him. - -“Hello! what does this mean?” he exclaimed. “Did I knock those down?” - -“No, you didn’t; they threw them,” replied Oliver. “We had better get -out of here before we have our heads cracked open. Look out!” and he -dodged just as a perfect volley came raining down. - -One of the nuts just grazed Gus’s ear, causing him to cry out with -pain. He dropped the nut he held and ran across the clearing, followed -by Oliver. - -“By crickety! but that was a narrow escape!” he cried when they were -once more safe. “If one of those nuts had hit us, it would have ended -our existence right then and there.” - -“It will teach us a lesson to mind our own business,” returned Oliver. -“I suppose that monkey thought we had no right to spy into his affairs.” - -“I would like to own a monkey,” observed Gus; “that is, one that is -peaceful. I always thought them so cute.” - -“They are cute, but not always in the way you imagine. Come, I suppose -we ought to be getting back.” - -“Oh, there is lots of time! Why, we haven’t been gone half an hour yet. -Just wait; I want to pick some of those splendid flowers growing near -that pond.” - -“I wouldn’t, Gus; for all you know they may be poisonous.” - -“Do you think they are? They are awfully pretty.” - -“I don’t know; but they might be, and you had better be on the safe -side.” - -“I’ll get just one of each. Here, let me have your knife.” Gus took -Oliver’s knife and cut off the flowers he wished. “Phew, what a nasty -smell!” he cried in disgust. “That’s the worst of it, with so many -pretty flowers. The smell――oh, my! how they burn! My hand is on fire!” - -He threw the flowers away from him and danced around in pain, shaking -his hands in the air. - -“Oh, I hope you have not been poisoned!” cried Oliver. “Go wash your -hands in the pool.” - -“You won’t catch me fooling around any flowers again; that is, strange -ones,” said Gus, as he did as directed. “My, what a nasty place this -is! No wonder the railroads have to offer a man a small fortune to -work for them. I wouldn’t――Oh, Oliver, look! what is that?” And -straightening up, the stout youth pointed to the opposite side of the -bit of water. “It looked like the head of a turtle or something,” he -went on. “I wonder if there are any turtles here?” - -“I don’t see why there shouldn’t be. Still it might have been something -else. Let us go.” - -“Wait till I have a shy at it with this gourd.” Gus poised the gourd in -his hand and let drive. “There! I reckon I hit him. Oh, my stars!” - -Gus tumbled back in great haste, and Oliver did the same. The supposed -turtle’s head had suddenly lifted, and there was revealed a hissing -snake, fully eight feet long. - -“A snake!” cried both. - -For an instant the reptile seemed to stand nearly upright, its eyes -glittering, and its slimy body quivering with anger. Then with a final -hiss it darted headfirst into the pool and disappeared. - -“Huh! that gives me a chill!” cried Gus. “I wonder where he has gone?” - -“Perhaps he is coming after us,” replied Oliver. “Let us get out of -here as fast as we can.” - -“I don’t think he will make his appearance again, but still we had -better go. There may be more.” - -“There are!” cried Oliver. “See there!” He pointed almost under their -feet and pulled Gus away. “That is the same or his mate. Let us run -for it.” - -There was no necessity for the last words, for both were running as -fast as the nature of the ground would permit. The snake followed for a -short distance, and then was lost to view. - -But the boys kept right on, and it was not until both found themselves -in a perfect labyrinth of undergrowth that they slackened their pace -and finally came to a stop. - -“Thank Heaven we have got away from him,” exclaimed Gus, puffing to -catch his breath. “Huh! I can almost feel him coiling around my body!” - -“So can I,” returned Oliver. “Of all things to meet I think a snake is -the worst. I would just as lief encounter a tiger or a lion.” - -“Let us get back at once,” said Gus; “I won’t feel safe until I am in -the car, and when I am you won’t catch me leaving the train again until -we arrive at Panama.” - -“Just my sentiments,” rejoined Oliver. “Let us――” - -He stopped short. “Where are we?” - -Both suddenly gazed around them in alarm. Which way should they turn? -Neither knew. They were lost in the forest! - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - - AN ADVENTURE ON THE ISTHMUS. - - -Lost in the forest! Oliver and Gus looked at each other with blanched -faces. Here indeed was a sorry situation. What was to be done? - -On every side could be seen nothing but the dense undergrowth and tall -trees. They might be only a hundred feet from the railroad, or they -might be a mile away. - -“We were very foolish not to note the path,” said Oliver. “Have you any -idea which way we ought to turn?” - -“I have not, excepting that we might trace the way back to that pool,” -answered Gus. “And I don’t want to do that if I can help it,” he added -with a shudder. “I’d rather tramp five miles than face those snakes -again.” - -“So would I. But we must try some way. Here, let us see if we cannot -get our bearings by the sun. Now, I think this is the right direction,” -went on Oliver, after a careful survey of the light overhead. - -“And I think it is this way,” affirmed Gus, pointing out a course -directly at right angles with the other. “Come, let us try that opening -beyond.” - -Gus insisted that he was right, and somewhat against his will, Oliver -followed his chum. They crossed the clearing, and then plunged into -another mass of bushes and vines, the stout lad leading. - -“Hold up!” he shouted suddenly. “Don’t come any farther, or you’ll get -into a regular bog-hole!” And he turned and hastily scrambled back to -where Oliver stood. - -“It’s lucky I stopped where I did,” he went on; “if we hadn’t we would -have got into a pool worse than the other one was. My! what a beastly -place this is!” - -More dismayed than ever, they made their way back to the clearing. -Something must be done, but what? - -“If we don’t get back soon, the train will leave without us,” said -Oliver. “Come, let us try the direction I thought was right.” And off -they started as fast as they could. - -It was miserable walking, and before they had proceeded a hundred steps -both had their feet wet, and unfortunate Gus had his coat torn in a -dozen places. - -“It’s positively the worst place I ever got into!” he groaned. “If we -don’t get out soon I won’t have a patch of clothing left.” - -On and on they went, until Oliver called a halt. - -“No use to go farther. If this was the right road we would have crossed -the track long ago. We are going wrong, and that is all there is to it.” - -“But what shall we do?” demanded Gus, more dismayed than ever. “We -can’t stand still here.” - -Oliver leaned against a tree. Truly their position was far from -enviable. Suppose they should be left, what would they do when night -came on? - -“I don’t know,” he replied in a low voice. “If we could only――hark! -what is that?” - -Both listened intently. From a distance came the unmistakable sound of -a steam-whistle. - -“It’s the locomotive!” cried Gus. “They are getting ready to start!” - -“Hurry up,” cried Oliver. “Come, this way.” - -And he sprang off through the bushes at the top of his speed. It was a -rough journey, but what was that compared to the agonizing thought that -they might be left behind? - -Fortunately the steam-whistle continued sounding, and it proved a good -guide; for in ten minutes more they reached the railroad track, and -just beyond stood the train, all ready to start. - -“Thank fortune!” cried Oliver, and he waved his hand to the conductor -to wait for them. - -In another moment they were safe on board and in their seats, and then -the train with a final warning moved off. - -“Where have you two been?” asked Mr. Whyland, gazing in astonishment -at their torn clothing and wet feet; “I was very much afraid you might -miss the train.” - -“You weren’t half as much scared about it as we were,” responded Gus -ruefully. - -Oliver told their story. Mr. Whyland smiled, but shook his head. - -“Both of you want to be more careful,” he said. “Those flowers may have -been poisonous, and also the snakes. It is well enough to go out on a -tour of inspection, but one must be mighty cautious.” - -“I’ll not leave the car until we reach Panama,” affirmed Gus, and he -was as good as his word. - -The train moved along slowly, as if feeling its way. Gus said he could -very well walk about as fast; but when Oliver suggested that he get out -and try it, the stout youth begged to be excused. - -On the way they passed a number of villages, none of them very large, -and many of them merely a collection of bamboo huts, with a big pole -in the center, and covered over for the most part with palm leaves. -The natives appeared to be quite respectable, but not over fond of -work. Here and there a group could be seen moving slowly about, and -singing to themselves; or they were to be found in a corner dozing, or -contentedly smoking their tobacco. - -“It’s a lazy life,” said Oliver, “but I suppose the climate has -something to do with it.” - -“It has everything to do with it,” replied Mr. Whyland. “Still, the -people here are more industrious than they used to be before the -railroad was built.” - -Once the train came to a standstill. It was a sort of a station, and on -the platform stood a number of the natives of the place――tall, and not -bad-looking fellows. - -One of them held an immense quantity of small wares by a string over -his shoulder, and was trying to dispose of them. He approached the -window at which Oliver and Gus were sitting, and could hardly be made -to take “no” for an answer. - -“I don’t want any,” said Gus, for at least the tenth time. - -“_Si caballeros_,” the native insisted. “Yes, gentlemen, only feety -centa.” - -To get rid of the fellow they at last closed the window, and then the -man went off in apparent anger. - -“They have an idea down here that all Americans are rich, and free -to spend their money,” said Mr. Whyland. “The same idea prevails in -Europe, and American tourists are generally made to pay a little more -for what they purchase than other folks.” - -“I wouldn’t mind having some of the things he had to sell, but I have -no money to spare,” remarked Oliver. - -“Just my case,” put in Gus. “And it makes me mad enough to have to say -no, without having some one insist the other way.” - -The remainder of the journey took but a short while. Soon the train -rolled past a number of ancient and squalid-looking houses, and Mr. -Whyland announced that they had reached the outskirts of Panama. - -But around the odd-looking station things were not so bad. To be sure -all was new and strange to the boys, and they kept their eyes wide open -for all such sights. - -“They often have most outrageous bull-fights here,” said Mr. Whyland as -they alighted. - -“I should like to see one,” rejoined Gus. “Not that I would enjoy the -sport, but it would be so strange.” - -“I would not care to go,” put in Oliver. “I think it is too cruel!” - -“It is the height of cruelty,” responded Mr. Whyland. “I went once. It -was held on a Sunday, and a friend insisted that I should accompany -him. When the poor beasts were brought out, and a number of things done -to enrage them, I was disgusted; and when the fight began I grew sick, -not only at heart, but physically as well. What sport there is in the -thing I cannot see.” - -“Nor can any one else who has any heart,” said Oliver decidedly; “it is -nothing short of barbarism.” - -“I wonder when our steamer leaves?” observed Gus, as they walked out -upon the street. - -“To-morrow morning at ten o’clock. At least, that is what the conductor -said,” replied Oliver. - -“Suppose we go to the office and make sure,” said Mr. Whyland. “We do -not wish to take any chances. They often make changes here.” - -So off for the office of the steamship company they started. It was not -a great distance, and it took them but a few minutes. - -As they neared the spot, they met a number of their fellow-passengers -returning with fallen looks. - -“Something is wrong,” said Oliver. “I just heard that man in brown say -it was a shame to be kept waiting so long. Something has happened.” - -They were not long in finding out what that something was. In entering -the harbor, the steamship had got one of her wheels caught in some -wreckage and badly damaged. She must be laid up for repairs, and -passengers would have to wait for the next steamer. - -“And how long will that be?” asked Oliver ruefully. - -“Ten days,” was the reply. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - A CHANGE OF PLAN. - - -It was dismaying news. Ten days to wait in Panama! To the boys, -especially to Oliver, it seemed an eternity. - -“Might as well settle down here,” grumbled Gus. “What in the world are -we to do, caged up in this dreary place for a week and a half?” - -“The company will have to board us,” remarked Mr. Whyland, who was -disposed to make the best of the matter. “As far as that goes it will -be their loss, not ours.” - -“But I do not wish to lose the time. I suppose Colonel Mendix is -already in San Francisco, or maybe even on his way to the mine,” said -Oliver. - -“That is true. But what can we do?” - -“I wonder if there are no other ships that carry passengers?” asked -Oliver. “In a place like this there ought to be.” - -“Yes, but we’ve got our tickets,” put in Gus. “I can’t afford to lose -the amount I paid on mine.” - -“We won’t lose that,” replied Mr. Whyland. “The company will have to -take them back for what they are worth if they cannot carry us at the -stipulated time. But is there any other steamer?” - -“I suppose we can find out by going down to the different offices,” -said Oliver. “Suppose we do that before they close for the day?” - -“A good plan,” rejoined Mr. Whyland. “I do not care to remain here any -more than you do.” - -Stopping an Englishman whom they met, they secured directions to the -various shipping-offices, and then started for the nearest at once. - -“The Neolia sails in four days,” was the reply received here; “but the -passenger list is full. No more can be taken.” - -“I don’t care much,” remarked Gus when they were once more outside. -“Four days to wait are nearly as bad as ten. Maybe we will find -something that goes to-morrow.” - -“Small chance of that, I think,” said Mr. Whyland. “Still, let us try.” - -In five minutes they were at another office. Here they were told that -no vessel would sail within several days, and nearly every one was full. - -“I thought it would be so,” said Mr. Whyland when they stood outside -once more. “Perhaps the steamship company has bought up the places.” - -At that moment a man with a nautical bearing stepped up and tapped -Oliver on the shoulder. - -“Excuse me,” said he; “but didn’t I see you in the steamship office -inquiring about passage to San Francisco?” - -“You did,” replied Oliver. “What of it?” - -“Maybe I can accommodate ye, seeing as how the Polly Eliza is going to -sail first thing to-morrow morning,” responded the stranger. “My name -is Morris, Niles Morris, and I’m part owner and captain of the Polly -Eliza, as trim a little coast steamer as there is in these parts. If -you want to ship with me, now is your chance, one or all of ye.” - -Oliver looked at the man. He was short and stout, with a ruddy face, -and his voice had a hearty ring. - -“We do want passage,” said Oliver. “What do you say?” the last to Mr. -Whyland. - -“We would like to see your vessel,” replied that gentleman. “Is she -lying anywhere near?” - -“Just down at the end of the bay. Come right along with me and I’ll -show ye. You’ll find her with first-class accommodations, even if she -is small.” - -Captain Morris led the way along the street, down a long wharf, and -into a small rowboat. In five minutes they reached a spot where a -neat-looking steamer was lying. They were taken aboard, and found what -her captain had said was true. All was as new as a pin, and it pleased -the boys as well as Mr. Whyland. - -“And you sail to-morrow morning?” said the latter. - -“Aye, sir; we’ll be outside by ten o’clock.” - -“And what will you take the three of us for?” - -“Were you going by the steamer?” - -“Yes.” - -“Then I’ll do it for just what the steamer has to allow you for your -tickets――or, in other words, I’ll take your tickets for the trip.” - -“That is certainly very fair. Are you sure you can dispose of the -tickets?” - -“Oh, a captain always can. An ordinary passenger might have trouble, -but we never do. Just give me your tickets, and I’ll give you passes on -my vessel for the trip.” - -“Well, I guess”――began Mr. Whyland. - -“How long will it take you to reach San Francisco?” put in Oliver. - -“About twenty days, if we have favorable weather.” - -“I mean at the most.” - -“Not over twenty-six days.” - -The two boys and Mr. Whyland held a brief consultation. At the -conclusion they informed Captain Morris that they had decided to accept -his offer, and the transfer of tickets was made on the spot. - -“Mr. Willett, the purser, will show you to your staterooms,” said -Captain Morris after their business was concluded. “There are two -nice ones close together that you will occupy, and he will make it -comfortable for ye.” - -Mr. Willett was called, and he at once led the way below. They found -everything as Captain Morris had described it, and in less than an hour -they felt quite at home. - -“This is a lucky thing for us in more ways than one,” said Mr. Whyland -to Oliver. “If Colonel Mendix has discovered that we are on his track -this new move will throw him off. He will think we are here in Panama -waiting for the steamer while we will be half-way to San Francisco.” - -“That is true,” returned Oliver, “and I am glad of it, although I guess -he hasn’t the slightest idea that I am after him.” - -“I wish I could say the same. But I have a feeling that that is not so -in my case. He is an awfully sharp fellow.” - -“Let us trust he has overreached himself,” said Oliver hopefully. - -They took their evening meal at a small restaurant in the town, and -later on strolled along the all but deserted battlements of the -coast, and one or two of the ancient looking streets, and around a -tumbled-down convent. - -“Panama is almost a city of the past,” remarked Mr. Whyland. “Its -former glory seems to be gone for good.” - -At nine o’clock a boat came to the wharf to take them and Captain -Morris and the first mate on board. It was a fine moonlight evening; -but as soon as they reached the deck of the Polly Eliza they went -below, so heavy was the night dew. - -Oliver, with Gus as a room-mate, slept soundly that night. When he -awoke the peculiar noise overhead told him that the ship was getting -underway. He sprang up and aroused his companion. - -“Don’t want to get up. Let me sleep,” mumbled Gus. - -“You’ve got to,” was all Oliver replied; and he gave Gus a poke that -started the stout youth at once. - -“Wonder you wouldn’t wake a fellow in the middle of the night,” -grumbled Gus, as he began slowly to dress. - -“Middle of the night? It’s seven o’clock, at least.” - -“Well, what of it? You say it as if it meant ten.” - -“Oh, come, Gus, hurry up. We want to see the steamer leave Panama――at -least I do.” - -In five minutes more Oliver was on deck, and the stout lad slowly -followed him. They found that Mr. Whyland was ahead of them. - -“We are off,” said that gentleman. “We shall not set foot on ground -again until we land in San Francisco.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - A STARTLING CRY. - - -“Won’t we stop at any points in Mexico?” asked Oliver. - -“I think not. Captain Morris is anxious to make the voyage as quickly -as possible, for he thinks he can get a good return cargo.” - -“If we had the time to spare I wouldn’t like anything better than to -stop at La Libertad, Champerico, and the rest of the towns,” continued -Oliver; “I love to see strange places.” - -“I think most every one does,” returned Mr. Whyland. “I have traveled -for many years, and I never tire of it. There is always something -unexpected turning up.” - -“I like to keep moving,” put in Gus; “I hate to stay too long in one -place. Now, take a town like Panama, for instance; a day or two is -sufficient to see all there is to be seen.” - -“You are quite mistaken there,” replied Mr. Whyland. “There are many -ancient convents and historic ruins there, which, if studied up, would -prove interesting for several weeks; that is, if you didn’t have -anything else on your mind.” - -The Polly Eliza was steaming down the bay rapidly. In a couple of hours -she had passed the point. The day was a delightful one, and the three -spent the entire forenoon on deck. - -“This used to be a very odd kind of a voyage during the first years -of the gold fever,” said Mr. Whyland. “There were very few steamers, -and the sailing-vessels took from sixty to ninety days to reach San -Francisco.” - -“Didn’t some people come by sailing-vessels all the way around Cape -Horn?” asked Gus. - -“Yes; almost all the first people that did not go overland came that -way. It was a tedious journey. The second vessel that made the trip -took nine months.” - -“Nine months!” exclaimed Oliver. “Why, that is three-quarters of a -year.” - -“When they reached the Golden Gate nearly half of the passengers were -sick with scurvy, and many of them were buried up to their necks in the -ground to cure them.” - -“I wouldn’t want to take any such trip as that,” put in Gus. “I would -get so sick of seeing nothing but water and sky I wouldn’t know what to -do.” - -“It is no easy matter to double the Horn, as it is called,” continued -Mr. Whyland. “It took that vessel nearly seven weeks to do it. Every -time she was nearly around, the fierce trade winds from the Pacific -would drive her back.” - -“I’m glad I didn’t have to go that way,” said Gus with a grimace. - -“So you see this voyage is really nothing,” laughed Mr. Whyland. - -During the afternoon it began to grow foggy, and then the two boys went -below and put their stateroom in order. - -This task was hardly completed before Gus began to feel queer and drew -down the corners of his mouth. - -“What’s the matter?” asked Oliver, although he suspected the cause. - -“I――I――am afraid I――I――” stammered the stout youth. - -“Seasick?” - -“Yes.” - -“Better rest in the bunk for a while.” - -“I guess I will.” - -In half an hour poor Gus was as bad as ever. Oliver did all for his -chum that he could think of, and even went to the purser for advice. - -“Can’t do a thing,” replied Mr. Willett. “Perhaps he may not be so bad -as he was on the trip around Cape Hatteras.” - -“I trust not,” returned Oliver. “I haven’t been seasick myself, but I -imagine it’s something awful.” - -“It is,” responded the purser. “Get it real bad and you won’t care -whether you live or not. I have followed the sea for twelve years, but -once in a while my stomach goes back on me even yet.” - -“Why, I thought sailors never got sick!” - -“That’s a big mistake. You may be a sailor all your life and get it -just as bad as if it were your first voyage. You can thank your stars -that you are not one of the seasick kind.” - -“Yes; I am lucky that way.” - -Poor Gus lay in the cabin all that afternoon and all night. In the -morning he felt better, however, and though rather weak, managed to eat -a little breakfast. - -“Now I hope I’m over it for good,” he said. “If I am not I’ll just jump -overboard, that’s what I’ll do.” - -“And make food for the sharks,” laughed Mr. Whyland. “Just look out -there at the ferocious fellows moving around. That one would just make -about three mouthfuls of you.” - -As he spoke he pointed over the side to where an ugly shovel-nose shark -was swimming leisurely along. - -“Ough!” shuddered Gus, drawing back. “I didn’t see him.” - -“I suppose he would think you were a good fat morsel,” laughed Oliver. - -There was a general smile, and then Mr. Whyland pointed directly to the -westward. - -“That is the Island of Quibo, and far back of it you can see the coast -line of Central America. We are getting along, true enough.” - -That day and the next flew by rapidly. There were many things on board -the small coast steamer that were new to the two boys, and as the -purser had taken a decided liking to them they gained much information -by “nosing around,” as Gus put it. - -One evening they found themselves far out of sight of land. All hands -enjoyed a beautiful sunset, and it was nearly eight o’clock when the -little party went below. - -“Getting more used to it?” asked Mr. Whyland, as they separated for the -night after a quiet game of dominoes in the cabin. - -“Somewhat,” replied Oliver. - -“I’m not,” said Gus. “I wish something real exciting would happen. -Something that would stir up a fellow’s blood.” - -“Are you anxious to be shipwrecked?” laughed Mr. Whyland. - -“No, not that exactly; but I hate to have things so tame.” - -“Well, maybe something will happen,” was the quiet reply. - -Little did Mr. Whyland realize how quickly his thought would become a -fact. Had he done so it is not likely that he would have gone to his -cabin with such a tranquil heart. - -When they reached their stateroom the two boys sat for a long time -discussing matters in general, the principal question being what should -each do when the steamer reached San Francisco. - -“You had better telegraph to your father, Gus. He will be very anxious -concerning your whereabouts.” - -“I’ll do that, Oliver,” was the stout youth’s reply. “I begin to see -that running away wasn’t such a brilliant thing to do after all.” - -“Now you’ve hit the nail right on the head,” replied Oliver; and he -said no more. - -Half an hour later both boys were in their berths and sleeping soundly. -How long they remained in this state neither could tell exactly. - -Suddenly Oliver awoke with a start. He jumped out on the floor -wondering what had aroused him. Gus, too, was wide awake. - -“Somebody hammered on the door,” cried the stout youth. “Maybe――” - -He did not finish, for at that instant a wild cry came from the deck -overhead. - -“Fire! Fire! Fire!” - -Both stared at each other with blanched faces. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - OLIVER’S HEROISM. - - -It would be useless to deny the fact that Oliver and Gus were -thoroughly startled when they heard the cry of fire that came from the -deck of the Polly Eliza. - -They could easily realize the danger of their situation. Out of sight -of land, and in the darkness of night, which way should they turn? What -could they do? - -“Let us hurry on deck,” cried Oliver. “There is not a moment to spare.” - -There was no need to hurry Gus, for that youth was already struggling -to get into his clothing. By the time Oliver was ready, Gus was also -dressed. As they rushed out and into the cabin, they met Mr. Whyland. -He was deadly pale. - -“I was just going to call you,” he said. “I was afraid you had not -heard the cries.” - -“What is the matter?” asked Oliver. “Where is the fire?” - -“In the forward hold. It started in some loose waste that ought never -to have been allowed there.” - -“Is it dangerous?” faltered Gus. - -“I hope not; but we cannot tell. It is a hard fire to get at.” - -By this time the three were on deck. All was confusion. The pump -attached to the engine had been brought into play, and the sailors were -pouring the water into the hold as well as they were able. - -“Don’t be alarmed,” said Captain Morris, as calmly as he could. “It may -be all over in an hour. It is a small fire.” - -“But a nasty one, I take it,” put in the purser, who stood near. - -“Why don’t the men go below and try to locate the flames?” asked -Oliver, as he noted that no one went below decks. - -“Sailors have too much horror of fire,” responded Mr. Whyland; “and -Captain Morris’s place is here on deck.” - -“They might do a good deal more good by going below,” put in Gus. - -Meanwhile the fire began to spread towards the stern. All the sailors -began to shake their heads, and several said it would be better to -spend the time in getting ready to leave the steamer. - -“Leave the ship!” exclaimed Captain Morris. “Leave the Polly Eliza! -Not much! If I wasn’t so old and asthmatic I’d go down into the hold -myself.” - -Oliver stood for a moment in meditation. - -“Let me go down,” he said suddenly. “If somebody don’t go the ship may -burn up and we’ll all go to the bottom. If I can’t do any good I’ll -come up at once.” - -And without waiting for a reply, Oliver hurried towards the partly -closed hatchway. - -There was a small step-ladder at hand, and getting the sailors to help -him put this down, Oliver took a deep breath and quickly descended into -the hold. - -“There’s bravery for you!” exclaimed Captain Morris. “I should think -this would make some of you feel mighty cheap,” he added to the men. - -It was indeed a bold thing to do. The hold was one mass of thick, -stifling smoke, and breathing down there was next to impossible. - -As soon as Oliver reached the bottom he dropped on his hands and knees. -Dragging the nozzle of the hose behind him, he crawled rapidly to the -spot where the flames arose. - -A minute later and he was right beside the fire. He saw that it was -confined to some loose waste, as Mr. Whyland had said, and also to half -a dozen bales of cloth stored close at hand. - -By the time Oliver had made this discovery his eyes were all but -blinded, and his head swam as it never had before. - -“I’ll fix this pipe fast so the water will pour right on the fire,” he -thought; “then there will be no use in staying.” - -After some little difficulty this was done. The effects of the water -pouring directly on the flames told at once. But the smoke became -thicker than ever, and Oliver hurried to the hatchway. - -As soon as he appeared in the opening he was hauled out. He was so weak -he could not stand. He sank in a heap on a seat. - -“I left the hose pouring water right on the fire,” he gasped. “If -somebody will go down you can have the fire out in ten minutes.” - -“I will go,” said Mr. Willett. “I will not be outdone by a boy, even -though he be as noble as this lad.” And he disappeared down the -hatchway. - -Anxiously those on deck waited for him to reappear. At the end of five -minutes he did so. - -“It is about out,” he reported. “The hose has soaked everything, and -there is no more danger. The smoke that is coming up doesn’t amount to -anything.” - -“Thank God it is so!” exclaimed Mr. Whyland; and everybody near echoed -the sentiment. - -“Our safety is due to this young man,” said Captain Morris, grasping -Oliver by the shoulder. “You deserve a medal for your bravery.” - -At this Oliver was compelled to blush. But he blushed even more when a -cheer, led by Gus, was taken up by all hands. - -“I didn’t do so much,” he said. - -“You did enough,” rejoined Mr. Whyland. “What more could be wanted than -that?” - -“I shall never forget the service,” put in the captain heartily; “I -don’t know what I would have done had the Polly Eliza been burned. She -has been my home for so many years.” - -A little later a number of the sailors went below, and under directions -from the purser, made a thorough search of the hold. It was thought -every spark of fire had been extinguished; but to make doubly sure two -of the men were told to remain on guard for the balance of the night -and all the next day. - -“Then I suppose we might as well go to bed again,” said Gus who, now -that the excitement was over, began to feel sleepy. - -“Yes; there is no further danger,” returned Captain Morris. “To-morrow -I will hold a strict investigation as to the cause of the fire. If I -find any of the men are to blame, they shall pay the penalty, I can -tell you.” - -Mr. Whyland went below, and Oliver followed Gus to their stateroom. -Both undressed and turned in, but it was nearly daylight before either -of them dropped asleep. - -Oliver was the first to awaken. He turned to his friend and found the -stout youth tossing and mumbling uneasily to himself. - -“Fire! Save me! save me!” mumbled Gus. - -Oliver gave him a vigorous shaking, and the stout youth sat up and -rubbed his eyes. - -“Where――where?” he stammered. “Thank goodness it was only a dream! I -thought I was down in the hole, burning up.” - -“Well, you were wishing for an adventure and you got one,” laughed -Oliver. “Want any more of them?” - -“Not just for the present,” replied Gus with a shiver. “Suppose you and -the rest hadn’t put out the fire, what then?” - -“It would have been bad enough, and no mistake,” replied Oliver. - -At the breakfast-table Captain Morris again thanked Oliver for what he -had done. He said he had found out that the fire had been caused by -friction amongst the cargo, and that no one in particular was to blame. - -During the day, the sailors busied themselves in throwing out all the -burned matter and in rearranging the cargo, so that a repetition of the -affair might not occur. - -Oliver and Gus watched the operation for a while, and then turned -their attention to the sea where countless sharks loomed up in all -directions. - -“The water here is generally full of them,” said Mr. Whyland. “I have -spent a day or two fishing for them.” - -“Fishing for them?” repeated Oliver in surprise. - -“Yes.” - -“I thought you had to spear them.” - -“Oh, no; you can catch them with a hook and line provided both be -strong enough.” - -“I’d like to try the sport,” said Gus. - -“We will do so to-morrow if Captain Morris will lend us a hook and -line. He is too busy to be bothered now.” - -The answer did not quite suit Gus. Having heard of shark fishing, he -was anxious to try it at once. A little later he procured a large hook -and a stout line from the purser, and some meat from the cook, and -began to fish on his own account. - -At this time Oliver was in deep conversation with Mr. Whyland. They -were speaking of the Aurora mine, and did not notice what Gus was doing. - -Suddenly came a sharp cry for help. Gus had caught a shark and was -unable to hold the ugly monster. The two made a dash for the rail; but -before they could reach the boy’s side the line tightened, and with a -wild cry Gus slid overboard. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - GUS HAS AN ADVENTURE. - - -The accident that had happened to the stout youth was easily explained. -In order to make sure that the line should not slip through his hands, -Gus had very foolishly tied it about his wrist; and when it became -evident that he could not haul in the shark, he found that neither -could he loosen the line, which was now pulled into a hard knot. - -He then braced himself against the rail and raised the cry for help -heard by the others. But the strain on his arm was terrible, and when -the shark gave an extra heavy tug, Gus went overboard in a twinkling. - -The tension on the rope carried him fully fifteen feet from the -steamer. He struck the water with a loud splash, and then disappeared -beneath the surface. - -“Man overboard!” cried Oliver. “Good heavens! what shall we do?” - -“Man the boat!” sang out Captain Morris, who saw at a glance what had -taken place. “Quick, boys! Sharks are thick here!” - -These last words carried terror to Oliver’s heart. They could bear but -one meaning, and that was that poor Gus was in danger of being devoured. - -“What can we do?” he asked, appealing to Mr. Whyland. - -“Not much. They are getting the boat out as fast as they can. Your -friend was very foolish to tie that line fast to his wrist.” - -“See! see! the shark is making for him!” cried Oliver in a strained -voice. “What can we do? Oh, Mr. Whyland!” - -“We can do nothing. Heaven grant they reach the poor boy in time. -But――but――I fear not!” And the gentleman turned away to hide his -emotion. - -Oliver glanced around. It was terrible to be so helpless. He and Gus -were the closest of friends. He could never let his chum perish without -trying to save him. He ought to do something――he would do something! - -He looked along the deck, and his gaze fell upon a short but stout -knife that the sailors had used in cutting away some of the half-burned -bales of cloth. He picked up the knife, and taking it between his -teeth, stripped off his coat. - -“What are you going to do?” asked Mr. Whyland, hurrying towards him. - -“See if I cannot help him,” was Oliver’s determined reply. - -“But the peril――” - -“I would never forgive myself if Gus perished and I did not do a thing -to save him.” - -And before the other could interfere, Oliver was on the rail and over -the side. - -“The bravery of one boy in a thousand,” murmured Mr. Whyland to -himself. “I would give half I possess to have such a son!” - -Oliver had made a careful calculation before he left the rail, and when -he rose to the surface of the water he was not over two yards away from -Gus. He struck out at once, and in an instant was beside his friend. - -“Oliver! Save me!” - -“Is the rope fast to your wrist?” - -“Yes.” - -“Let me cut it.” - -Gus held up his arm, and the next moment the cord was severed. - -“Now strike out for the steamer,” said Oliver. “The shark is after you!” - -And side by side they struck out. - -But the shark was already close at hand. Try their best, they could not -get away from him. Gus gave a piercing shriek. - -“He is after my foot!” - -“Dive!” called out Oliver; and he set the example. - -Gus followed. When they rose again, the shark was but a few feet away. -They could see him getting ready to turn over, preparatory to opening -his jaws for a snap at either one or the other. - -The monster turned toward Gus. The stout youth gave another cry of -terror. - -“Help! Help!” - -Then Oliver thought of the knife still in his hand. Grasping the handle -of the weapon firmly, he swam up, and buried the blade deeply in the -shark’s head. - -There was a wild slashing of the monster’s tail, and the water was dyed -crimson. A moment later the boat appeared, and Gus was hauled in. - -Then the shark turned his attention to Oliver. But the boy struck out -firmly with the knife, once, twice, three times; and then the shark -turned over and floated off――dead. - -“The bravest deed I ever saw!” cried Mr. Willett, as they helped Oliver -into the boat. “After this don’t dare to tell me the age of heroes is -gone by.” - -“Can we get that shark?” panted Oliver. “I――I would like to keep some -part of the fellow as a remembrance of this event.” - -“We’ll haul him on board,” said Mr. Willett. And later on this was done. - -When they turned their attention to Gus they found that he had -fainted. It took fully a quarter of an hour’s work to restore him to -consciousness, and even then he was so weak from the terror of what had -occurred that he had to lie down for the remainder of the day. - -Now that it was all over, Oliver, too, felt rather shaky in the legs. -However, he watched the men get the shark aboard, and then spent some -time in examining the monster. - -“As large a shovel-nose as I have ever seen,” said Captain Morris. -“It’s a wonder that he didn’t make mince-meat of both of you.” - -The boy selected some of the teeth, and after they were broken out of -the jaw-bone, the carcass was sent to the galley to be tried out. - -“I guess we won’t want to go shark fishing after this,” said Mr. -Whyland. - -“No,” rejoined Oliver with a shiver; “I don’t even want to see another -of the ugly things!” - -“They are awfully dangerous creatures,” went on Mr. Whyland. “Many a -one-legged sailor has had the missing limb taken off by just such a -fellow as this.” - -“And many a sailor has had his head taken off instead of his leg,” put -in Captain Morris. “I wouldn’t do what you did for a thousand dollars!” - -“Neither would I again,” replied Oliver; “but I think too much of Gus -to let him become food for sharks.” - -After this they separated, and Oliver went down to the stateroom. No -sooner did he enter than Gus threw his arms about his chum’s neck. - -“Oh, Olly! how can I thank you?” he cried. “You saved my life!” And the -tears streamed down his cheeks. - -“Don’t try to do it, Gus. I know you would have done as much for me if -it was necessary.” - -“I don’t know. You are awfully brave. I’ll never forget it as long as I -live!” - -“I guess you’ve had enough adventures on this trip,” said Oliver. He -found his own eyes growing moist, and he thought best to turn the -matter into a laugh. - -“Yes, indeed! I sha’n’t attempt another thing while I am on board.” - -On the following day the steamer sighted Mazatlan. The course of the -Polly Eliza was now directly across the bay of Lower California. - -“We shall soon be in sight of Cape St. Lucas,” said Captain Morris; -“and unless something happens we’ll soon reach the Golden Gate.” - -Fortunately the weather remained fine, and the little party was thus -enabled to spend the days on deck. Much about the little coast steamer -pleased the boys, and Captain Morris and the others made every effort -to have the time pass pleasantly. - -“It won’t be long afore we part,” he said to Oliver. “I trust we may -meet again some day; but if we don’t you can make up your mind that -I’ll never forget what you did towards saving the Polly Eliza from -destruction.” - -“Will you remain long in San Francisco?” asked Oliver. - -“Only long enough to get my cargo. But if I can be of service to you -I’ll stay a week,” added the captain quickly. - -“I only wanted to know where the mining boards and stock companies are -located.” - -“Most of them are on Montgomery and Pine Streets. You’ll find them in -the directory.” - -“Then that’s all I want to know for the present.” - -The time seemed to drag now, so impatient were the boys to set foot on -shore. Mr. Whyland could not help but smile at both of them, though he -himself was also very eager to have the voyage over. - -But all journeys must come to an end, and one fine morning the Polly -Eliza dropped anchor just outside of one of the many wharves. - -Then the boat took them and Mr. Whyland ashore. They were not long in -scrambling up the dock. - -“San Francisco at last!” cried Oliver. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - - A FLYING GLANCE. - - -“Yes, San Francisco at last,” repeated Gus and Mr. Whyland; and the -latter added, “Now, the question is, what is it best to do first?” - -“I guess we’ll find out quick enough,” said Oliver. “Let us take a -look about the city and see if we can find out if Colonel Mendix has -arrived.” - -“Of course he has arrived; that is, unless he stopped on the way.” - -“That is just what I mean. He may have stopped in Chicago or St. Louis -for that machinery he wished to purchase.” - -“I don’t think it would be a bad plan to look over the registers at the -various hotels.” - -“That’s a good idea,” replied Oliver. “We can do that this morning.” - -“I know what I am going to do,” said Gus. “I’m going to the post-office -and see if my father has written to me.” - -“Let’s all go,” burst out Oliver. “I am as anxious to hear from home as -any one.” - -“And so am I,” laughed Mr. Whyland. - -They had landed near the foot of Brannan Street, and now walked up to -Kearney Street. A policeman directed them to the post-office, and it -did not take the party long to reach the place. - -There were letters for all three. How eagerly Oliver cut open the -envelope and read that which had been penned by his father! This was -what he wrote:―― - - “I trust that when you receive this you will have had a - safe journey. I suppose you found the trip a tedious one, - not because it is devoid of interest, but because you were - undoubtedly anxious to reach its end and begin the active part - of your quest. - - “I received your letter containing the particulars of what - occurred in New York. I believe you are able to go ahead - without my advice, and all I have to say is, be careful; for I - am now sure that Colonel Mendix is a thoroughly bad man, and - may get desperate if brought to bay. - - “I inclose you an express money-order for one hundred dollars. - Use it as you think best. I know you will not do so recklessly. - - “I suppose that Gregory boy is with you. If he is, see that he - does not get into trouble. His parents are much worried about - him. - - “I am getting well rapidly, and expect to be about before long. - In the meanwhile I trust you will keep me posted on what you - are doing, as I am getting more anxious every day. Write as - soon as you receive this.” - -Such was the gist of the affectionate father’s epistle. But there was -much besides,――kind, loving words that need not be repeated here, but -which, nevertheless, went straight to Oliver’s heart. - -“I’ll write him a letter at once,” he thought; and buying stamps -and paper, did so, stating that a long letter would follow almost -immediately. - -Gus Gregory’s face lengthened considerably when he read the letter his -father had written to him. It was kind, but firm, and told how much all -at home had suffered on account of his unexpected departure. When Gus -read how his mother had wept over his foolish act, his own eyes grew -dim, and he half wished himself back at Rockvale. - -But the latter end of the letter was more cheerful. Mr. Gregory had -intended, during the summer following, to let his son take a trip to -Europe before settling down to college work. Now, instead, he wrote -that Gus might spend the present time in California, and give up the -trip across the ocean. - -He also inclosed a money-order for fifty dollars, and said that more -might follow when he heard what his son was doing. He also hoped that -Gus was with Oliver and that they would stay together, for he knew that -Oliver was a manly fellow and one to be trusted. - -Oliver blushed when Gus showed him this part of the letter. - -“Oh, nonsense,” he exclaimed; “you are big enough to take care of -yourself.” - -“No, I am not, as that adventure with the shark proves,” replied the -stout youth. “Just wait till I write to them about that.” - -“I suppose you will make it as sensational as you can, and put me in as -a regular dime-novel hero,” laughed Oliver; and he blushed more than -ever. - -Mr. Whyland’s letter was from his business partners, and told him that -everything in the East was running smoothly. This news brought great -relief to him, and he said that now he would be able to bend all his -energies to hunting down Colonel Mendix and the Aurora mine swindle. - -“I think we had better attend to our money-orders first,” suggested -Oliver. - -This was agreed to, and they started out at once. Being strangers, they -had some difficulty in getting the orders cashed; but finally this was -accomplished, and the two boys emerged upon the streets richer than -before. - -“Now that father has written that I can stay in California for a while, -I intend to unite my fortunes with you,” said Gus; “that is, if you -will allow me to do so.” - -“I am perfectly willing, if you wish it,” replied Oliver; “but I do not -know about Mr. Whyland.” - -“I shall be pleased to have Mr. Gregory along if he wishes to come,” -said that gentleman. “But you must remember we may have some pretty -rough experiences before we accomplish what we have set out to do,” he -added seriously. - -“I am willing to put up with whatever comes, sir.” - -“The West is not the East in more ways than one,” continued Mr. -Whyland. “Many things are mighty rough here, especially when you get up -in the mountains.” - -From the express-office they started for the nearest hotel, where they -looked carefully over the register; but looked in vain. - -“Failure number one,” said Oliver. “I suppose we may have a number of -them before we are lucky enough to strike the right house.” - -“It would be funny if we ran across this Mendix the first thing,” said -Gus. “My, wouldn’t he be surprised!” - -“He doesn’t know me, I believe,” said Oliver. - -“And that is where you have an advantage,” put in Mr. Whyland. “Perhaps -you can get into his good graces, and learn much before you make -yourself known.” - -“That is certainly an idea,” returned Oliver. - -From the first hotel they went to a number of others, but nowhere could -a trace of the colonel be found. - -“I have half an idea he uses a false name while here,” suggested -Oliver. “A man like him would not hesitate at anything.” - -“It may be so. If it is, there is no use in searching further. Suppose -we go around to some of the mining stock brokers or to the exchange? We -may find out about him there. We will certainly discover something of -the Aurora mine.” - -This was agreed to, and the remainder of the forenoon was spent down in -Pine and Montgomery Streets. They entered a great number of offices, -but no one had heard of the Aurora mine, nor did any one know such a -person as Colonel Mendix. - -“This completely baffles me,” said Mr. Whyland at last. “I was sure the -mine would be known here. How can he work it if it is not known? Such a -place must give employment to scores of men. It is a great mystery.” - -“We _must_ find out about it,” replied Oliver with determination. “I -sha’n’t give up in this fashion. If I can’t find him by his name I’ll -see if there isn’t some one who knows him from his appearance.” - -“Good! I like such grit!” cried Mr. Whyland. “If your determination has -anything to do with it we shall certainly win.” - -They were out on the street once more. Oliver had the address of a -large hotel on Market Street, and this place he said he would visit and -examine the register. - -“It won’t take a great deal of time,” he said “and I don’t want a -single chance to slip of bringing him to justice.” - -“That’s right,” put in Gus. “Do the work thoroughly while you are about -it.” - -Suddenly Mr. Whyland gave a cry and pointed to a cable-car that was -just then passing. - -“See, it is Mendix himself!” he exclaimed, indicating a man on the rear -platform. - -Oliver looked, and saw that he was right. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - - AN UNSUCCESSFUL PURSUIT. - - -Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland -discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the -rear end of a passing cable-car. - -For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a -second look told him that in truth it was the colonel. - -For a moment he stood still. Then he started forward to stop the car. - -But those in charge did not see him and the cable-car went bounding on -its way with Oliver after it. - -Mr. Whyland and Gus started to run also, but soon gave up the chase. - -“I am getting too old for that sort of thing,” gasped the former, as he -leaned against a building, all out of breath. - -“And I get winded too easily,” groaned the stout youth. “Oliver must -catch the fellow alone.” - -“I hope he will succeed. We may not get another such chance.” And then -they both started on a walk in the direction in which the car had gone. - -Meanwhile the car kept moving at a rapid rate, with the boy nearly a -block behind it. Sometimes Oliver would get nearer, but then he would -lose time at some crossing and the distance would be increased. - -Finally, at the end of eight or ten blocks, he managed to come up to -the car, and as it stopped, he sprang on board. - -He gave a hasty look around. Colonel Mendix had disappeared. - -Oliver was deeply chagrined. Was it possible that he had made a mistake -in the car? - -“It looks like the same car,” he thought; “but then they all look -alike.” - -Presently the conductor came to him, and Oliver asked him if a Spanish -gentleman had been aboard. - -“What kind of a looking man?” - -Oliver described Colonel Mendix as best he could. - -“Yes, he was on; got off two or three blocks back; maybe four,” was the -conductor’s reply. - -“Thank you,” replied Oliver; and he hopped off the car and started to -retrace his steps. - -“Too bad he couldn’t have remained on the car a minute longer,” he -muttered to himself. “I suppose he has disappeared into some building -or down some side street by this time. I’ll go back and take a look -around.” - -He had proceeded about three blocks when he came face to face with the -others. - -“What luck?” cried Mr. Whyland. - -Oliver told him. - -“Too bad, after such a splendid chance.” - -“I’d keep a sharp lookout for him along here,” put in Gus; “he can’t be -far off.” - -“I have a plan,” returned Oliver. “Let us separate, and each watch -several squares. By doing that we can cover nearly all the ground -necessary.” - -“A good idea,” cried Mr. Whyland. “We will carry it out at once.” - -“And where shall we meet again?” asked Gus. - -“In front of this large building,” said Oliver, “at one o’clock.” - -They immediately separated, and each proceeded to watch in his own way. -Oliver peered into every store and office, and down every street, but -without success. At the end of the time appointed he went back to the -designated meeting-place. - -Mr. Whyland was already there. - -Neither had had any luck. - -In five minutes Gus arrived. - -“I thought I saw him,” he said. “I tried to follow, but at the end of -the block I found I was mistaken.” - -“So we are now no further ahead than we ever were,” remarked Oliver, -somewhat bitterly. - -“Never mind; we won’t despair,” replied Mr. Whyland. “Remember, we have -not been a whole day at the hunt.” - -“I’m not despairing; but the sooner we find this man the better.” - -All three were now, not only tired out, but tremendously hungry. Mr. -Whyland led the way to a neighboring restaurant, and here they indulged -in a substantial dinner. - -“Now, what next?” asked Gus. - -“I’m going around to that hotel, and then the mining board again,” said -Oliver. “I shall look for him by appearance, not by name now.” - -In this quest Oliver decided to go alone. If the three were together -they might excite suspicion. - -“Then I’ll go back to the hotel where we left our baggage,” said Mr. -Whyland. - -“And I’ll go and send a telegram to my father,” put in Gus. “I suppose -he’ll be awfully anxious about me until he hears that I am safe.” - -This was agreed to, and in a moment more Oliver was on his way to -Montgomery Street. - -“You say the man you are looking for is a tall, dark Spaniard?” -inquired one of the gentleman to whom he applied. - -“Yes, sir. I thought his name was Mendix.” And Oliver described the -colonel as fully as was possible. - -“I think you mean Colonel Guerotaz,” said the man in charge of the -office. “He is interested in several mining schemes, I believe, all up -the Mokelumne River.” - -“And where can I find this Colonel Guerotaz?” asked the boy with deep -interest. - -“I do not know. He was in here several times during the earlier part of -the week. I believe he is getting ready to go up the country just as -soon as he can get some machinery shipped.” - -This last statement made Oliver feel certain that the two colonels were -the same person. Colonel Mendix had asked Ezra Dodge where he could -purchase the machinery he wanted, and that person had informed him he -could get it in San Francisco. - -“And you do not know anything of the Aurora mine?” went on Oliver. - -“I do not. There was an Aurora mine somewhere up the Sacramento River, -and another elsewhere; but both of them were abandoned years ago.” - -Oliver’s heart sank for a moment. - -“You do not know where the Aurora mine was situated?” he faltered. - -“I don’t remember exactly. But I am quite sure it was not up the -Mokelumne.” - -“Then neither of them can be the one I am looking for,” returned the -boy, with something of a sigh of relief. - -“Are you interested in the mine?” asked the man kindly. - -“My father is. Do you know the names of the mines that this Colonel -Guerotaz is interested in?” - -“The Excelsior is the principal one, I believe. Then there is the -Cortez; but I do not know much about that, nor does any one else.” - -“And they are both up the Mokelumne River?” - -“Yes; you’ll find them on the mining-map.” - -“Thank you, sir.” - -Oliver quitted the office in deep thought. Of one thing he was -certain,――Colonel Mendix and Colonel Guerotaz were one and the same -person. Now, could it be possible that the Cortez and the Aurora were -one and the same mine? - -“It seems to me,” he thought, “about the only way he could commit such -a piece of villainy would be to change the name of the mine. If he -didn’t do that any one could easily visit the place and find out its -value. I begin to understand how poor, trusting father was duped.” - -While Oliver had been in the office on Montgomery Street he had not -noticed a tall, lank fellow lounging about the door. This man had been -deeply interested in the boy’s inquiries, and when Oliver left the -place the man was not slow to follow. - -At the corner he stepped up and tapped Oliver on the shoulder. - -“Excuse me,” he said in a low voice; “but I would like to have a few -words with you on the quiet.” - -Oliver surveyed the man from head to foot. - -“What is it you want?” he asked rather shortly, for he had never seen -the fellow before. - -“Didn’t I hear you say something about the Aurora mine?” asked the man. - -“You did,” replied Oliver with sudden interest. “What of it?” - -“I know all about that mine,” was the slow reply. - -“You do?” cried the boy. “Who are you?” - -“My name is Felix Cottle. I used to be a mining boss. I worked for -Colonel Guerotaz for two years. Then we had a terrible row, and he -kicked me out; but I know a good many of his secrets.” - -“Then, perhaps you are just the man I want to see,” replied Oliver. - -“And you are just the party I want to meet,” said Felix Cottle. “By -your manner, I take it you have it in for this Spaniard, and I would do -’most anything to get square with him. What do you want to know, and -what is it worth to you?” - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - - FELIX COTTLE. - - -Oliver looked the stranger over well before replying. Perhaps this chap -might be a tool of Colonel Mendix, in which case the less he had to do -with the fellow the better. - -“And you worked for Colonel Men――Guerotaz two years?” he asked slowly. - -“Yes.” - -“At what mine?” - -The man closed one eye and winked knowingly. - -“At the very mine you are looking for,” he replied. - -“The Aurora?” - -“That’s it, partner.” - -“Then you know its exact location?” - -“Of course.” - -“What is the mine called?” - -The man hesitated and rubbed his chin. - -“I’ll tell you what it is, stranger,” he replied slowly; “since I came -from the mines I’ve had mighty tough luck in ’Frisco, and I’m rather -hard up. Make it worth a little to me, and I’ll give you all the -information you wish.” - -“You mean you wish pay for telling what you know of the place?” - -“Well, not that exactly, only a little something to help me along. I’ve -been out of a job for over two months.” - -Oliver thought for a moment. - -“Suppose you come along with me,” he said. “I have a friend staying at -a hotel close by. He must hear what you have to say as well as I. I -will pay you for your trouble.” - -“This is a square deal?” - -“Yes. If you have any real information I will pay whatever it is worth.” - -“All right, I’ll go.” - -Oliver at once led the way to the hotel at which they had left their -traps. He found Mr. Whyland in the reading-room, looking over a copy of -the _Call_. - -He quickly acquainted the gentleman with what had taken place. Mr. -Whyland was deeply interested. - -“I guess you are right about the two colonels being the same person,” -he said. “Let us interview this stranger at once. I am willing to pay -him if he really knows anything of value.” - -Accordingly, Felix Cottle was at once brought in. He wore a rough suit -and big boots, and looked quite out of place in the well-furnished -apartment. - -“I am more at home in the mountains than here,” he remarked, as he took -a chair beside them. “I was brought up on the streets of Little Rock -when a boy; but I would rather travel a lonely trail any day than walk -the pavements of a city.” - -“You know the mining district well, I suppose?” said Mr. Whyland. - -“There ain’t much of it that I don’t know,” replied Cottle. “Before -I started to work for Guerotaz I spent twelve years and ten thousand -dollars prospecting, here, there, and everywhere.” - -“Did you have any luck?” asked Oliver. - -He was interested in the man, and besides wanted a chance to study the -stranger. - -“I had some luck the first years,――located the Alice and sold her for -fifteen thousand dollars,――but towards the last I lost every dollar I -had, and then I went to work for the colonel.” - -“And you know all about his affairs?” asked Mr. Whyland. - -The man ran his hand through his matted hair. - -“I don’t know you, and I don’t want to get into any trouble,” he said. -“I told the young man I knew some things he wanted to know.” - -“Well, you will get into no trouble with us, I can assure you,” replied -Mr. Whyland. “If you know the location of the Aurora mine and will tell -us, I will pay you well.” - -“I can take you straight to the Aurora inside of a week,” replied -Cottle in a low voice. - -“Is it a valuable mine?” - -“It was some time ago.” - -“Then that is the mine you worked in?” said Oliver. - -The man bit his lip. - -“I didn’t say so,” he said. - -“But you meant it,” put in Mr. Whyland. “Are not the Cortez and the -Aurora one and the same mine?” - -Felix Cottle started. - -“You want to know everything without paying a cent!” he cried. “I guess -I had better get out.” - -“No, don’t go,” exclaimed Mr. Whyland, catching him by the arm. “I will -pay you well. We want to get to the Aurora mine. You say you know the -road――” - -“Yes; I’ll take you there as straight as straight can be. There ain’t a -better guide in the town of ’Frisco, if I do say it myself.” - -“I suppose we’ll need a guide――” began Oliver. - -“If you don’t think so, just start out without one,” laughed Felix -Cottle in his peculiar voice. “I’ll bet you couldn’t find the mine even -if you had full directions.” - -“Why?” - -“Because of its peculiar situation. Many a man has been fooled on it.” - -“And you say you can take us there in a week?” asked Mr. Whyland. - -“I can, on horseback or muleback.” - -“And prove to us beyond a doubt that it is really the Aurora?” - -“Yes; and that it is run by Colonel Men――” - -Cottle stopped short. Oliver took him up. - -“Colonel Mendix.” He finished. - -“Yes; if you must know. But, gents, I expect you to do the square thing -to a fellow that is down on his luck.” - -“We will do the square thing,” said Mr. Whyland. “Take us to the Aurora -mine and I will pay all expenses and give you one hundred dollars for -your trouble.” - -“Is that square?” asked Cottle, leaning forward. - -“It is. If you want any references as to my reliability――” - -“Don’t want them, partner; the look on your face is enough. I’ll take -you up. A week from the day you leave ’Frisco you shall stand in the -Aurora mine. I may be a little queer, but you can depend on Felix -Cottle every time.” - -Oliver had to like the man in spite of his odd manner. Mr. Whyland was -also impressed favorably. - -After this a long conversation ensued. Cottle said that the Cortez mine -was nothing but a “fake” mine, leading underground to the real mine -of value, which was the Aurora. For several years Colonel Mendix had -reported the latter mine abandoned, which was not the case. - -“And the Aurora is really valuable?” asked Oliver. - -He spoke calmly enough, but oh, what excitement was in his breast! How -much was at stake for his father and himself! - -“I think it is,” said Cottle. “Of course the Cortez is worth something, -but the best paying rock and dirt come from the Aurora.” - -It was decided to leave San Francisco that very evening. They were to -go direct to Sacramento City, and from there fit themselves out for a -five days’ journey over and around the mountains. - -When Gus came in, he was surprised to see the stranger. He was at once -introduced, and was soon on good terms with the newly hired guide. - -Cottle remained with them for the balance of the afternoon. When -questioned as to Colonel Mendix, he said he thought the colonel would -soon be on the way to the mines. - -“And we will be directly behind,” he added. “Perhaps we may even catch -up to him.” - -“I do not wish to do that,” said Oliver. “It is time enough to meet him -when we are at the mine.” - -The party of three spent the night at the hotel. Oliver had a long talk -with Mr. Whyland, promising to share whatever expense was incurred. The -gentleman agreed to do this, but said the hundred dollars that had been -promised to Cottle must come from his own purse. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - - OFF FOR THE MINES. - - -“What grand scenery this is!” - -It was Oliver who uttered the exclamation. He rode beside Mr. Whyland, -while Gus Gregory was directly behind. Cottle, the guide, was but a -short distance ahead. - -For six hours the little party had been journeying directly for the -mountains far back of Sacramento City. The road for the present was a -well-defined one, but Cottle said that before sundown it would become -little better than a wagon-track. - -“It will be as nice a road as any one wants to travel in a few years, I -take it,” he added; “but I remember the time when there wasn’t even a -respectable wagon-track. Times change rapidly out here.” - -“One would hardly think that a handful of years ago this was little -more than a wilderness,” said Mr. Whyland; “yet such is a fact. The -earlier gold-hunters were indeed pioneers.” - -“I wish I had been one of them,” put in Gus. “What excitement it must -have been, expecting that every day would bring fortune!” - -“It was exciting; but many a man would have done better to have -remained at home.” - -“You’re right there,” said Cottle. “I knew men that got reckless in -the fever and never amounted to shucks after they came away. I’ve had -my fill of it; and if I had my life to lead over again I think I would -steer clear of prospecting.” - -The three were now on good terms with the guide. They found him a -rather peculiar individual, but thoroughly honest and obliging. He -spent most of the day in describing the country through which they were -passing, and Oliver never tired of listening to his words. - -Yet the boy’s mind was busy with other things. In what condition would -they find the Aurora mine? and what would Colonel Mendix say when they -appeared so unexpectedly upon the scene? - -He could well imagine the Spaniard’s surprise. No doubt the man would -do all in his power to ward off their advances. He might even deny all -their rights to the mine. A man who had acted as the colonel had would -not hesitate at anything. - -Towards sundown they made camp in a little grove of trees to one side -of the road. To Oliver and Gus the proceedings were novel, for in all -their lives they had never passed a night in the open. - -The mules were tethered a short distance away, a fire was started, a -pot of water was set boiling for the purpose of making coffee, and from -out of the various packs the boys and Mr. Whyland took such articles as -they wished for the evening meal. - -“To-morrow we will be getting more into a game country,” said Cottle, -as they sat down to eat, “and then maybe I’ll show you one or two good -things to shoot. Can any of you handle a rifle?” - -“I can shoot some,” replied Gus. - -“I have often gone gunning in the woods back of Rockvale,” replied -Oliver; “but I never tried my hand at any big game.” - -“We had better leave the big game alone,” laughed Cottle. “As I -understand it we are not on a hunting tour, and it would take too much -time.” - -“You are right,” said Mr. Whyland with a smile; “we are after game of a -different sort.” - -There was a general laugh, and then Gus observed,―― - -“But I would like to have a shy at a bear or something.” - -“Better leave bears alone,” put in Cottle with a shudder. “I went after -one once and it nearly cost me my life.” - -By the time the meal was finished the sun had set, and then it grew -dark rapidly; while the dew became so heavy that Oliver wrapped a -blanket about him to keep out the cold, and they all gathered together -under a big tree. - -Cottle arranged a temporary tent by throwing a double blanket over one -of the lower boughs of the tree. He said this would be ample shelter -so long as it did not rain. Then some dry boughs were strewn upon the -ground, and he invited all hands to turn in as soon as it pleased them -to do so. - -It may well be imagined that Oliver slept but little that night. The -novelty of the situation, as well as the strange sounds around him, -kept him awake until far into the small hours of the morning. He was -the first up, and by the time Cottle and the others had their eyes -open, he had the fire started and the water in place. - -“I’m as stiff as a starched collar,” groaned Gus as he arose; “if it’s -all the same, I’ll sleep in a bed to-night.” - -“You won’t see a bed for several weeks I’m afraid,” laughed Mr. -Whyland; “that is, unless you want to turn back.” - -“Turn back? Not much! I think this is a jolly good lark!” And that was -the end of Gus’s grumbling. - -They were soon on their way. As Cottle had said, the road now became -little more than a wagon-track, crossed and recrossed in many places. - -“It is lucky Cottle is along,” said Mr. Whyland to Oliver, as they -dropped a bit behind. “We could never find the right track by -ourselves. To me half a dozen appear to be the right ones.” - -“That is so,” returned the boy. “It isn’t like a city with a signboard -at every corner. One could get completely lost without half trying.” - -“We must keep close together. I will warn your friend too. Should one -or the other stray away, much time might be lost in coming together -again.” - -The path was now up the side of quite a steep mountain. It was full -of huge bowlders from around which the rain had long since washed all -the sand and gravel. To one side grew small trees and thick bushes, -while on the other was a steep incline, leading far below to a raging -mountain torrent. - -“Rather a dangerous place,” observed the boy as he gazed down into the -rushing waters; “if this mule should take a false step”―― - -“But they never do, as far as I ever heard,” said Mr. Whyland. “They -know the danger quite as well as the rider.” - -Instead of getting better the road grew worse, until Cottle stopped and -allowed those in the rear to catch up. - -“This path has been partly washed away since I was over it before,” he -said. “You want to be careful. If it gets much worse, we will have to -turn back and take another road that is better, but nearly twice as -long.” - -“We will follow you,” said Mr. Whyland. “We trust ourselves entirely in -your hands.” - -After this they kept close together. The mules no longer stepped -forward with ease. Each head was down, and every foothold was tested -before the step was taken. - -Narrower and narrower grew the path until it was scarcely two feet -wide. Here the decline on the one side became little better than a -precipice. - -At last Cottle came to a halt. - -“It is no use,” said he; “we will have to take the other path around -this mountain. Last week’s storm has ruined this road for good. Can you -turn around or back to that small turnout?” he asked of Oliver, who was -in the rear. - -“I’ll try,” replied the boy. “I guess I had better get off and lead -Dobbins.” - -“Be careful,” Mr. Whyland warned him. - -“Yes, be careful,” said Cottle; “that mule ain’t the kindest critter in -the world.” - -Throwing the reins on the animal’s neck, Oliver essayed to slide to the -ground. As he did so, Dobbins shied nervously to one side. - -“Look out there!” yelled Cottle. “Catch him quick!” - -“Yes, yes! Catch him!” echoed Mr. Whyland, while Gus sat still, too -terrorized to speak. - -Oliver tried to catch the beast as bidden, but again Dobbins shied. - -The movement threw the boy to the very edge of the path. He tried -to save himself, but it was useless; and the next instant his body -disappeared over the edge! - -[Illustration: THE NEXT INSTANT HIS BODY DISAPPEARED OVER THE EDGE!] - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - - IN THE MOUNTAINS. - - -Without an instant’s warning, Oliver Bright found himself in a -situation that thrilled him with horror. As he went over the edge of -the narrow path he did his best to save himself, but, as has been told, -it was useless; the grass he clutched came out by the roots, and then -he found himself going down and down, he knew not where. - -He turned over and over as he rolled, and uttered several wild -cries――cries that fairly pierced the heart of Gus, Mr. Whyland, and -Cottle the guide, who could do nothing to save him. - -The descent was fully sixty or seventy feet. Just before reaching the -whirling torrent below, Oliver’s body struck a projecting rock, and -this encounter, rude as it was, undoubtedly saved his life. - -This can be easily seen, when it is told that to have fallen into the -river would have been instant death. The current would have dashed him -directly on the rocks, and that would have ended all. - -But when Oliver’s body struck the rock that projected from the decline, -the blow caused it to bound several feet out of its course, and in -doing this he was hurled directly into the branches of a short and -stout fir-tree. - -By this time consciousness had forsaken him, and his body hung among -the branches, a limp, inanimate mass. - -“My heavens! the boy will be killed!” cried Mr. Whyland, who was the -first to recover from the awfulness of the situation. - -“It’s a bad tumble,” replied Cottle, shaking his head. - -As for Gus he could not say a word. Suppose Oliver was killed? The very -thought sent shiver after shiver through his frame. - -“We must hurry down to him somehow,” went on Mr. Whyland; “how can it -be done?” - -“I think there is a path a little way ahead,” replied the guide. “Come, -we will dismount and see.” - -His directions were instantly followed. Sure enough, a little distance -farther there was a break where a tiny watercourse led to the river -below. - -It did not take them long to reach the bottom of the ravine, and once -down there they hurried back with all possible speed. - -“He must have come down somewhere about here,” said Cottle, as he came -to a halt; “but I don’t see anything of him.” - -“Oh, I hope he hasn’t been carried down the river!” cried Gus; and he -added in a low tone, “Poor Olly! if he is dead, oh, what will I do? It -will break his father’s heart!” - -“I don’t see――” began Mr. Whyland, and then, happening to glance up, he -ejaculated, “here he is up in the tree!” - -In a moment more Cottle had climbed the tree and had the body on the -ground. He loosened Oliver’s collar, and applied his ear to the boy’s -heart. - -“Is he――is he alive?” faltered Gus. - -“Oh, yes; but he has had a severe shaking up. Bring some water from the -river.” - -Gus hurried off to do so. When he returned Oliver was just stirring. -Mr. Whyland put some of the water on his face and hair. - -Presently Oliver opened his eyes and sat up. - -“Where am I?” he asked faintly. “What――what――oh, I remember now! I -didn’t go into the river, did I?” - -“No, thank God, you did not,” replied Mr. Whyland. “It was a most -miraculous escape!” - -“How do you feel?” asked Gus. “I hope there are no bones broken.” - -“I feel sore all over. Give me some of the water.” - -Cottle gave him a drink, and carefully noted its effect. - -“Did it hurt when it went down?” he asked. - -“No.” - -“Then that’s all right. If you were injured internally you couldn’t -drink without having a pain. Better take it easy for a little while -though.” - -“I’ll have to,” replied Oliver with a suppressed groan; “I’m too sore -to move much. Where is my mule?” - -“Up on the path with the others. I’ll turn them back to the other -trail. All hands take it easy for an hour or so till I get back.” - -In a moment more Cottle was gone. Gus and Mr. Whyland sat down beside -Oliver, one on either side. - -“I’m so glad, Olly,” cried the stout youth. “When I saw you go over -my heart jumped right into my mouth, just as if I was going myself. -Crickety! but it was a nasty fall and no mistake!” - -In half an hour Oliver arose slowly to his feet. As he had said, he -ached in every joint, and his head, too, felt queer, but otherwise he -was all right. - -“But I never want another such tumble,” he declared. “I shall never -forget it if I live to be a hundred years old!” - -At the specified time Cottle came back. He had succeeded in turning the -mules, and had found a much better path a little to the northward. - -“Then we might as well go on,” said Oliver; “there is no use in wasting -time here.” - -“Do you feel able to go on?” asked Gus. - -“I think so. We can try it any way.” - -Mr. Whyland could not help but smile at the boy’s determination. - -“You have lots of backbone!” he declared. “Well, since you say so, we -will go on; but if you find it hurts you, don’t hesitate to speak.” And -up to the path above they went, and then back to where Cottle had left -the mules. - -Walking pained Oliver considerably, and he was glad enough when he -could sink once more into his easy saddle. Then the guide went to the -front, and the onward journey was resumed. - -By two o’clock in the afternoon they had passed around the northern -base of the mountain, and were entering a long and narrow valley. -Before them loomed a long, low range of hills, and Cottle said that -the Aurora mine was located just beyond, and about forty miles to the -north-east. - -The scenery upon all sides was magnificent, and had Oliver’s mind been -free from anxiety, and his body without pain, he would have enjoyed it -to the fullest extent. Even as it was, he sometimes reined up his mule -to drink in the prospect. - -“Beats the East all to bits!” he said to Gus as they rode side by side. - -“You are right. I would rather take a trip about here than go to Europe -ten times over.” - -“And yet you will find thousands of people who prefer the latter trip,” -put in Mr. Whyland. “Some have gone to Europe half a dozen times and -never come West once.” - -“I guess they go because it’s the style,” suggested Cottle. “But as for -me, Uncle Sam’s domain is good enough every time.” - -The riding was now much easier and all hands urged the mules to a -better gait. - -“If we can, we will make Billy Ford’s cabin before we halt,” said the -guide. - -“And who is Billy Ford?” asked Oliver. - -“An old timer who keeps a sort of cross-roads store and tavern,” -laughed Cottle. - -“A store! ’Way out here!” cried Gus. “Who in creation can he have for -customers?” - -“Miners come to him for forty miles around. Billy has been here since -prospecting first began. We won’t buy much from him because he is so -terribly high in prices; but you had better patronize him a little, -just to keep him in good humor.” - -On and on they went, until, just as the sun was setting over the -mountain they had just passed, Cottle pointed to a cabin far ahead. - -“There is Billy’s,” he said. - -In a quarter of an hour they had reached the spot. It was where the -road crossed a small mountain stream. Ford’s cabin proved to be a rude -structure of logs plastered over with mud. A sign hung outside, stating -that provisions and drinks were to be had on reasonable terms. - -As they rode up, the proprietor came out, gun in hand. As soon as he -saw Cottle, however, he lowered the weapon. - -“Hello, Felix! Who you got thar?” he asked. - -“A party bound for the mines, Billy,” was the guide’s reply; and he -jumped down and held out his hand. - -“So? All right.” The two shook hands. “Going to squat here over night?” - -“Reckon to, unless you say no.” - -“That’s all right. Come in, gents,” and Ford turned to the others. -“Suppose Cottle’s told you all about my ranch?” - -“He told us something,” said Oliver as he dismounted. - -The party were soon on the ground, and Cottle turned to take care of -the horses. As he did so, Ford walked up to him. - -“Say, Felix, it’s a wonder you didn’t strike this place last night,” he -said with a laugh. “There might have been some fun if you had. Your old -boss, Colonel Guerotaz, stopped here.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXV. - - A STORM IN THE MOUNTAINS. - - -Oliver Bright was as much surprised as Cottle to hear Ford’s words. -Colonel Mendix had stopped at the place only the night before! They -were indeed close upon his heels. - -Without replying, the guide turned an inquiring look towards the boy. -Oliver at once spoke up. - -“You say Colonel Guerotaz was here last night?” - -“Yes,” replied Ford. “Know the man?” - -“I know of him. Was he alone?” - -“No, no; had two new hands with him.” - -“Did they have any baggage? I mean heavy stuff?” - -“Not as I know of. Are you off to see him?” went on the keeper of the -store curiously. - -“We are,” replied Oliver. “What time did the colonel leave?” - -“At sunrise this morning. Oh, he’s a spry fellow, I can tell you.” - -Oliver said no more, but walked back to Mr. Whyland and Gus. - -“Colonel Mendix is just a full day’s journey ahead of us,” he said. “I -wonder if it is likely that we catch up with him before we reach the -mine.” - -“I don’t believe that would be advisable,” was Mr. Whyland’s reply. - -“Nor I,” responded Gus. “I don’t want to face the man until we reach -the mine.” - -“We will tell Cottle of this. He can easily keep a lookout ahead.” - -As soon as the mules were cared for, the little party entered the -store. It was a place scarcely twenty feet square, lit up in the -daytime by three dirty windows and at night by a couple of smoky lamps. - -The air was redolent of the aroma of various groceries, mixed with the -smell of tobacco and liquor. Oliver remained about five minutes, and -then went out and sat down on the little porch to catch his breath. - -Behind the store there was one room, used by Ford as a dwelling. In -this apartment all hands were invited to spend the night with the -proprietor; but all, with the exception of Cottle, declined with -thanks, Oliver saying that now they were in the mountains, they would -prefer to sleep in the open. - -“I couldn’t sleep in that place if I was paid for it,” he told Gus, -when the three were alone. - -“Nor I,” replied the stout youth. “Crickety! the smell was strong -enough to walk! I don’t see how Ford stands it.” - -“It is a matter of habit,” laughed Mr. Whyland. “Just as the families -of a wild tribe all live in one wretched hut. With so much pure air -around, one would think they would want just that and nothing else, but -the opposite is the fact.” - -However, not wishing to offend Ford, they had him furnish them with -supper and breakfast, and before leaving, Mr. Whyland purchased from -him a pound bag of tobacco for a dollar, which he afterwards presented -to Cottle for use in his stump of a pipe. - -Half an hour after sunrise on the following morning they bade the -storekeeper good-by and were off. Each one was in the best of spirits, -though Oliver was still sore from his frightful tumble. - -The little stretch of plain before them was soon crossed. At its -termination they came to a narrow defile, between a small mountain on -one side, and some rugged rocks and bushes on the other. - -“Were it not for these natural roadways the journey from one place to -another would be next to impossible,” said Mr. Whyland as they rode -along. - -“I believe you,” said Oliver. “However would we be able to climb this -mountain, small as it is? No mule could ascend such a steep place.” - -“Don’t be too sure about that,” put in Cottle; “it is wonderful what a -mule can do when put to it. But such an undertaking breaks them all up.” - -At noon they found themselves still in the pass. Gus stated that he was -growing tremendously hungry, but Cottle said they had better wait for -dinner. - -“We want to get out of this pass as soon as possible,” he added; “in a -couple of hours it won’t be a safe place to be in.” - -“Why, what do you mean?” exclaimed Oliver. - -“I see some bad looking clouds over there,” replied the guide, -pointing with his finger. “We are going to have a storm some time this -afternoon.” - -“A storm!” cried Gus. - -“Yes; and I won’t be surprised if it is a heavy one.” - -“Then why not seek shelter somewhere here?” went on Gus. “I am sure we -can keep dryer here than out in the open.” - -“Not much!” responded the guide. “If that storm is heavy this place -will be a mighty dangerous one. Come, we must hurry along.” - -“And why dangerous?” asked Oliver as they urged the mules forward. - -“On account of the rocks that roll down the mountain, and the wind. At -times it is something fearful. We must lose no time. I was in a storm -down in the Gedney Pass one day in September two years ago, and I will -never forget it. Hark!” - -As Cottle concluded, a low rumble far to the north-west was heard, a -rumble that seemed to rise and fall like the billows of the ocean. - -“It’s coming!” cried the guide. “Forward as fast as you can!” - -His directions were followed instantly. The mules seemed to understand -the situation and did their best. - -On and on they went, the sky above them each instant getting blacker -and the roll of thunder coming nearer. Then a puff of heavy wind swept -past them. - -“It is coming!” shouted the guide. “Hurry up, all of you.” And away he -went faster than ever. - -Oliver and Gus were close behind. Mr. Whyland brought up the rear. -Another rush of wind followed, and then it seemed to grow black as -night. - -“We are going to catch it and no mistake!” exclaimed Oliver. “I wish we -were out in the open once more.” - -“Half a mile farther will fetch it,” cried Cottle. - -He could say no more, for at that instant a flash of lightning fairly -blinded them. Then came a deafening roar of thunder that lasted fully -five minutes, followed by a perfect deluge of rain. - -Oliver pulled his hat far down over his head and eyes, and buttoned -his coat up tightly. But it was no use; in one minute he was soaked to -the skin. - -“Don’t stop!” called out Cottle during a brief lull. “We must get out -of here if we wish to save our lives!” - -Nobody replied; but every one understood the importance of his words. - -Oliver’s mule was now getting winded, and the boy had great trouble -in making him keep up the pace. He patted the animal and spoke -encouragingly to him, but all to no purpose. In a moment more they had -dropped behind. - -“What is the trouble?” asked Mr. Whyland, slacking his pace. - -“The mule won’t go. He is winded, I guess.” - -“He must go. Keep him at it.” - -Another clap of thunder followed. The mule pranced about wildly. All -the others had gone ahead, and Oliver was left alone to deal with the -animal. - -“Whoa!” he called out. “Whoa, Dobbins!” - -But Dobbins would not stop his prancing. Another clap of thunder, and a -mass of rocks came crashing down close to the spot where the mule stood. - -In a twinkling his hind feet rose in the air, and his rider was -unseated and thrown to the ground. Then Dobbins tore away, leaving -Oliver to his fate. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - - THE AURORA MINE AT LAST. - - -Oliver now found himself in an exceedingly perilous position. The rain -came down in such a torrent that he could not see five yards ahead, and -what had become of his mule he did not know. - -He picked himself up from the spot where he had been thrown, and -crouched for a moment under an overhanging rock. As he did so, a -blinding flash of lightning swept by, and on the instant a tall tree -that stood not over two hundred feet away was split from the top to the -bottom, and was wrapped in a blaze of fire! - -The sight nearly made Oliver faint. The air was charged with a peculiar -odor,――probably sulphur,――and the boy gasped for breath. - -“Struck by lightning!” he muttered. “Thank Heaven I was not nearer!” It -took him several moments to recover sufficiently to proceed on his way. -Then he stumbled on and on, falling half a dozen times. And all the -while the rain came down in sheets, until he thought a perfect deluge -had overtaken him. - -“I wonder where the others are?” he muttered. “No use to call; my voice -couldn’t be heard a dozen steps away in this wind.” - -Ten minutes passed. He had progressed probably the eighth of a mile. -The stones of the road cut into his soaked boots, and made his feet -pain as they never had before. He was all out of breath, and sat down -under an overhanging rock. - -“If this is life in the mountains I want none of it,” was his thought. -“If a rock should roll down upon me I would be crushed into a jelly.” - -He wished earnestly that he was once more with the others. What if he -should miss them by the way? The thought made him shiver. - -“I wouldn’t be alone out here for a million dollars!” he cried aloud, -and his voice sounded strange to himself. “I must hurry and catch up by -some means.” - -As he concluded, a peculiar noise ahead made him start. What was it? -Some wild animal? - -He sincerely hoped not. His weapons were all upon the mule’s back, and -if attacked he would be next to defenseless. - -The sound came from a bend above. For several seconds Oliver hesitated -about proceeding. - -And yet it had to be done. He must go ahead; there was no other way. - -While hesitating, the sound was repeated. But this time it was louder -and more capable of interpretation. In spite of himself the boy gave a -low laugh. - -“Dobbins!” he cried. And in a moment more he was around the bend. - -True enough, there stood the mule, shivering and braying all to himself. - -It did not take Oliver long to climb upon the animal’s back, and once -there he urged the beast on as before. Dobbins had had a short rest, -and struck out well. - -“Now to find the others. They cannot be so very far away. Get up, -Dobbins, you rascal!” - -In a few moments more the narrow pass came to an end and Oliver found -himself upon an open plain. He tried to peer through the darkness and -rain. - -To the southward he thought he could discern three figures moving -about. Were they his party? - -“I ought to be sure before I move away,” he told himself. “Suppose I -fire a shot and see?” - -No sooner had the thought entered his mind than he decided to act upon -it. The sound of the report had hardly died away before an answering -shot was wafted back to him. - -“Thank goodness I have found them,” he cried. And the next instant he -was off at the top of Dobbins’s speed. - -Gus came out to meet him. Despite the rain the stout youth’s face was -covered with a broad smile. - -“Crickety! but I’m glad you’re here!” he called out. “I was afraid the -storm would swallow you up.” - -“And it nearly did,” replied Oliver; “I’ve had a narrow escape.” - -By the time they had reached the others the rain began to abate as -rapidly as it had come on. The dark, angry clouds broke up in all -directions, and presently a glint of sunshine appeared far in the west. - -“Always act that way,” said Cottle. “This is the blamedest region for -such showers ever was.” - -All gathered around Oliver to hear what he had to say, and all agreed -that his escape was miraculous. - -“After this we must be more careful to keep together,” said Mr. Whyland -gravely. “He might have lost his life and none of us been the wiser. I -did not miss you, Oliver, till we were out here.” - -“Nor did any of us,” put in Cottle. “I tried to look back for you, but -the rain was too thick; I couldn’t see a thing.” - -In half an hour the sun was shining as brightly as ever. As the day was -warm all hands took off their coats and hung them on their mules’ backs -to dry. - -“We may as well make camp before any of us take cold,” remarked Mr. -Whyland; “it is only about an hour from sunset.” - -“There is a good spot just a quarter of a mile farther,” said Cottle. -“We will be there in five minutes.” - -Quarter of an hour later they were in camp. The tent was pitched on a -bit of high, sandy ground, and a roaring fire was started just outside -of the entrance. The following day was Sunday. Cottle would have gone -ahead as usual; but the boys and Mr. Whyland voted to remain in camp -and take a rest, and let the mules do the same. - -“Besides,” said Oliver, “nothing will ever be gained by breaking in on -the Sabbath when there is no absolute necessity for so doing.” - -“You are right,” said Gus. - -“I like to hear young men talk like that,” put in Mr. Whyland; “it -shows a proper spirit. Let us spend the day as it should be spent.” - -“Not many men keep the day out here,” remarked Cottle. “Many of them -don’t know what a Sunday is after they once leave the city.” - -The entire Sunday was a beautiful one. After breakfast Mr. Whyland -read several chapters out of a Bible he had brought along, and offered -prayer; and then they took a long walk about the neighborhood, leaving -Cottle lying in the door of the tent smoking his pipe and watching the -mules. - -“As I have heard remarked, this is God’s country, and so in very truth -it is,” said Mr. Whyland. “Some day all these hills will be dotted with -farmhouses and barns, and the sound of the thresher and reaper will be -heard on every hand.” - -“It is a rich country,” returned Oliver. “I would not wish for better -farming lands than these.” - -“And yet all who come here do so only for gold and silver,” put in Gus. - -“It will not be so long. The people who mine must live, and somebody -must raise the stuff for them to eat.” - -“In that direction lies the Aurora mine,” went on Mr. Whyland, pointing -with his finger to the south-east. “Cottle says we ought to reach it by -Tuesday noon.” - -“Colonel Mendix has already arrived there, I suppose,” said Oliver. -“Won’t he be surprised when we appear on the scene?” - -“No doubt he will do all in his power to outwit us.” - -“But he shall not do it,” said Oliver decidedly. And he meant it from -the bottom of his heart. - -Sunrise on Monday found them once more on the way. Riding was now much -easier, and they made rapid progress, all traveling side by side. - -That night they encamped near the edge of another mountain torrent. It -was a beautiful spot, the prettiest they had yet stopped at. - -Oliver sat on a flat rock, his chin in his hands. It was the last -night’s camp on that lone spot. What did the morrow hold in store? - -All through the night he slept but little. Once Gus awoke and noticed -it. Rolling over, he whispered,―― - -“Don’t worry, old boy; it will be all right, mark my words.” - -“I trust so,” replied Oliver. “I wish it was over.” - -He was the first to be stirring, and he cautioned Cottle to halt as -soon as the mining district should appear in sight. Then in a short -quarter of an hour they were off. - -On and over the plain, five, ten, fifteen miles. Then they began slowly -to ascend a steep but small mountain, halting at the top. - -“There,” said the guide, pointing to a spot not a quarter of a mile -away, “there is the Cortez mine, and just below it is the Aurora!” - -[Illustration: “THERE IS THE CORTEZ MINE, AND JUST BELOW IT IS THE -AURORA.”] - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - - AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION. - - -The Aurora mine had been reached at last! - -Oliver Bright, as he sat on his mule, drew a long breath. His tedious -journey had come to an end. - -“The Aurora mine!” he repeated. “That way, beyond that row of -buildings, is the Aurora mine?” - -“It is the shaft leading to it,” said Cottle. “It is a very peculiar -mine, running, as it does, parallel to the mountain for some six -hundred feet. I could never understand how Colonel Guerotaz, as he -is called, could abandon it, seeing as it paid so well; but when he -approached it from the extremity of the Cortez I began to smell a -mouse, and what you have told me makes it as plain as day. He will be -greatly surprised to see you.” And the guide gave a long, low laugh. - -“I have been thinking I had better go down alone,” said Oliver. “He -will know you, Mr. Whyland, and you too, Cottle.” - -“I have been thinking the same thing,” replied the former. “But you had -better take Gregory with you, and if you get into any trouble fire off -your pistol. You know what to say.” - -“Of course,” replied Oliver; for he and Mr. Whyland had had too many -conversations on the matter for him to make any mistake. - -A little later Oliver and Gus rode forth from the bushes in which the -confab had taken place, and headed directly for the group of buildings -below. - -“Hope you ain’t nervous, Olly,” said the stout youth, as they moved on -at a rapid gait. - -“I am anxious but not nervous,” was the low reply. “This Colonel -Mendix has grossly wronged my father, and I intend to have matters set -straight.” - -“I’m feeling mighty funny myself――” - -“If you want to go back――” began Oliver. - -“Not a bit of it; not if I knew I was going to have my head taken off,” -cried Gus. “What, after all you did for me on the Polly Eliza! Not -much!” and he spurted on ahead. - -In a few minutes they had arrived at the row of buildings. Only a -single man was in sight, the rest probably being at work. - -“Is Colonel Men――I mean Colonel Guerotaz anywhere about?” asked Oliver. - -The man stared at them. - -“Reckon you’ll find him over there in the office,” was the slow answer. -“Anything particklar?” - -But Oliver did not reply. Riding over to the building indicated, he -dismounted, followed by Gus, and rapped loudly upon the door. - -“Come,” said a sharp voice from the inside; and they entered. - -It was a plain room, furnished with a desk, a small safe, and half a -dozen chairs. In one corner lay a number of specimens of ore; and that -was all. - -In front of the desk sat Colonel Mendix, deep in the perusal of a -number of written statements. He glanced up in surprise as the two -entered. He had expected to see some of his own workmen. - -“Hello! Who are you?” he exclaimed. - -“Is this Colonel Guerotaz?” asked Oliver, advancing as calmly as he -could, though his heart beat as it never had before. - -“That’s my name,” was the short reply. “And you are?” - -“A couple of mine-hunters all the way from San Francisco,” returned -Oliver. “This is my friend Mr. Gregory. My name is Oliver.” - -The Spaniard bowed. - -“I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Oliver,” he said, falling into a natural -mistake, as Oliver had intended he should. “You are looking for a mine?” - -“Yes; a mine that was located a number of years ago.” - -“And what mine was that?” - -“The Aurora.” - -The Spaniard turned pale, and clasped his hands together. - -“I――I――know of no such mine around here,” he faltered. - -“Not at all?” asked Oliver sharply. - -“No, no; I am quite sure. What makes you think there is a mine by that -name near here?” - -“I did not say it was near here, did I?” asked the boy innocently. - -“Oh!” Colonel Mendix breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought――” - -“But I am told it is quite near here,” went on Oliver. - -Colonel Mendix jumped to his feet. - -“Who told you that?” he demanded. - -“Mr. Arthur Bright.” - -“Arthur Bright! I don’t know such a man.” - -“His son says you do.” - -“His son!” the man staggered back. “Where did you meet his son?” - -“His son was in San Francisco about a week ago.” - -“I――I――did not know he had a son,” faltered the colonel. - -Oliver could not help but smile, the man was so confused. - -“If you do not know the man it is not likely that you would know he had -a son,” he said. - -Colonel Mendix jumped to his feet. - -“I want none of your smart sayings, young man!” he said. - -“And I haven’t anything very smart to say,” replied Oliver. “I only -want to know the location of this Aurora mine.” - -“What do you want to know that for?” - -“I want to find out about it for Mr. Bright.” - -“Did he send you?” - -“No; but he could not come himself, and so I came for him. He said the -mine was somewhere out here, and I promised to look it up.” - -Colonel Mendix looked at Oliver sharply for a moment. - -“Who ran this mine?” he asked slowly. - -“Colonel Mendix.” - -At the mention of that name the Spaniard could not help but flinch. But -he quickly recovered. - -“Ah, yes, I knew Colonel Mendix,” he replied. “He went to South America -several years ago.” - -“He did?” - -“Yes. If you are after the mine he opened I can tell you all about it. -But it is of small consequence, I can assure you.” - -“Why?” - -“Because the mine is utterly worthless. Colonel Mendix had great hopes -of it proving a bonanza and sunk a good deal of money in it. The -investment made him a poor man.” - -“Was it all his own money he used?” - -“I think he had some Eastern capitalists interested; but when he saw -the mine was a failure he never tried to settle the matter; simply sold -off the machinery to pay off the indebtedness, and cleared out.” - -“Have you heard from him since?” - -“Never.” - -“And where is the mine? I would like to be able to tell Mr. Bright that -I had seen it.” - -“It is about a quarter of a mile below here, and half-way up the -mountain. Follow the wagon-track that leads to the south and you cannot -miss it.” - -Of course Oliver knew that the man was telling a falsehood; yet he -wished to hear all the colonel might have to say. - -“And the claim is quite abandoned?” he asked. - -“Entirely. It would not pay to reopen it under any consideration. This -mine of mine, the Cortez, pays but poorly, and it is by far the best in -the district.” - -“Thank you, we will take a look at the mine you speak of and then come -back,” said Oliver; and the two withdrew, leaving the Spaniard gazing -after them earnestly. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII. - - COLONEL MENDIX IS ASTONISHED. - - -“I believe that man would lie when the truth would do!” burst out Gus, -when they had ridden out of hearing. “Of course you don’t take any -stock in what he says.” - -“No, indeed! Even if Cottle had not told us all about his little trick, -I would never believe him after he had passed himself off as somebody -else. We will ride on in the direction he indicated as far as he can -see us, and then turn back to where we left Mr. Whyland.” - -This was done; and fifteen minutes later they had rejoined their friend -and the guide. - -“I was getting a little worried,” said the former; “well, what luck?” - -Oliver told him of what had occurred. - -“The old fraud sent you off to the Johnny Brill mine!” burst in Cottle. -“Brill opened it, and when it was nearly played out, turned it over to -Mendix; why I never knew, excepting that the Spaniard wanted to palm it -off as the Aurora.” - -“That was probably his scheme,” said Mr. Whyland. “He is a deep one. I -wish I knew just where he keeps all of his papers.” - -“There was a safe in the place called the office,” replied Oliver. - -“Yes; but he may have some place in San Francisco――” - -“Guess not,” returned the guide. “I reckon you will find all you want -right in that little building.” - -“If we could only get hold of them――” - -“I’d ride in and take possession,” continued Cottle. “If you have a -right to the mine I wouldn’t wait a minute.” - -“We have if it’s the right mine,” said Oliver. - -“I can vouch for it that it is. I know every foot of the ground around -here.” - -“Here is the description of the mine,” said Oliver, producing the -papers. “Listen, I will read them off;” and he did so. - -“That’s it to a T, and no mistake. The Cortez is only a blind to the -regular mine. I’d swoop down on him.” And the guide shook his head -decidedly. He would have been better pleased if there had been a -regular muss with a bit of shooting added. - -“I wish I knew where the sheriff of the county was located,” began Mr. -Whyland. - -“The sheriff is Dan Shattock,” replied Cottle. “He lives over to Fennel -Gulch.” - -“And how far is that from here?” - -“About thirty-five or forty miles.” - -“If I gave you a letter to him could you bring him back with the -necessary papers?” - -“Certainly. Only Dan will want pay in advance.” - -“I will give you the hundred dollars that you have earned. You can pay -him whatever is necessary, and I will pay you back with good interest. -Come, I will write the letter without delay.” - -“Yes, do,” said Oliver. “Colonel Mendix may smell a mouse and try to -head us off ere long. He had not expected to be disturbed, but now you -can rest assured he will be on his guard.” - -Mr. Whyland sat down immediately to compose the letter. It was not a -very long epistle, but it was just to the point. Oliver read it over -and offered several suggestions that the other deemed valuable, and -then the letter was folded and placed in Cottle’s hand. - -“I’ll be off at once,” said the guide; and he mounted his mule. - -“And how long before you will be back?” asked Oliver. - -“Depends on where I catch Dan Shattock. Not longer than three days, I -reckon.” And with these final words Cottle rode away. - -“I trust he will be lucky enough to find his man at once,” said Mr. -Whyland. “Having the sheriff here will be a great help to us.” - -“I suppose Gus and I had better ride back to carry out the deception,” -said Oliver. “Mendix will be looking for us.” - -“And I will remain in camp down here in the hollow,” said Mr. Whyland. -“I think as long as the colonel does not see me we will be safe. But if -you need me, fire off a shot as before agreed.” - -A moment later Oliver and Gus were on the return. They followed the -track they had come by, and in less than half an hour had passed the -abandoned mine, and were once more at the Cortez’s office. - -“Well, are you satisfied now?” asked the colonel as he came out to meet -them. - -“That mine is certainly abandoned,” replied Oliver, raising a light -laugh, far, however, from natural. - -“Yes; it is utterly worthless.” Colonel Mendix paused. “Was that all -you were hunting in this region?” - -Oliver hesitated for a moment, not knowing exactly what to say in -return. - -“It was all we wanted to know about the mine,” he answered slowly. “But -you tell me that mining around here doesn’t pay?” - -“Hardly. It did years ago, but we have nearly reached the end.” - -“If you have no objection I would like to take a look around your -mine,” said Oliver. “I was never in a mine just like this.” He did not -deem it necessary to say that he had never been in a mine of any kind. -“It must be an interesting sight.” - -Colonel Mendix frowned slightly. The idea of these two suspicious young -men prowling about the place did not suit him. - -“It is not such an amusing sight,” he replied with a short laugh. - -“Still you don’t object, I suppose,” said Oliver. - -“Oh, no; I――I――will send for a man to show you through. It is not often -we have visitors away out here. Take seats while I send for the man.” - -He indicated a couple of chairs, and the two boys seated themselves. -Oliver’s heart beat like a trip-hammer. What would be the result of -this strange visit to the mine? - -“Have you good stout boots?” went on Colonel Mendix; “you need them in -a place like this.” - -“Oh, we always wear tough sole-leather,” laughed Gus. “We have been -knocking about too long to do otherwise.” - -This reply put the colonel off the track once more. But he went on,―― - -“You are from the West then?” - -“We came from Central America,” replied Oliver; “but we have been -spending some time in San Francisco.” - -“Ah, I see.” - -There was a short pause after this. Oliver felt the colonel’s sharp -eyes bent full upon him, and to avoid confusion he bent over and began -an examination of the sole of one of his boots. - -“That is getting a little worn,” he said to Gus; “I guess I will pare -that edge off with a knife.” And getting out his penknife he began to -do so. - -While at work several men came into the office and asked for -instructions. Oliver became much interested in what was said, referring -as it did to the transfer of some heavy machinery from San Francisco -to the mine. He laid down his knife, pulled up his boot, and drank in -every word. - -From this he learned that on the day following a party of six men with -eighteen mules were to start for the coast. On arriving there, the -machinery was to be put up in packs, loaded on the mules, and then -brought to the mine. The trip would occupy the best part of a month. - -This conversation gave the boy considerable satisfaction. It would -decrease the force of men in the mine by six, and this would count -for much if the sheriff should have any trouble in establishing -their claim. He trusted that Colonel Mendix would not discover their -intentions before the start was made. - -When the men were about to leave, the colonel motioned for one of them -to remain. - -“Here, Restrepo, I want you to show these two young men through the -mine,” he said. And then followed some instructions in Spanish to the -effect that the trip should be a short one and nothing of importance -should be shown. - -“_Si, signor_,” replied the fellow, touching his cap. - -“This man will show you through,” said the colonel, turning to the two; -and there was nothing left to do but to follow the man out; and this -they did. - -No sooner were they gone and the door closed, than the colonel sank -back in his chair in deep thought. - -“That Oliver’s face reminds me strongly of one that I have seen -before,” he muttered to himself. “I do not like the manner of either of -them. Bah! I must be getting nervous. What can two boys do?” - -He was about to turn again to the papers before him, when his eyes -rested upon the penknife Oliver had left lying on the floor. Half -abstractedly he picked it up. - -“Oliver Bright!” he ejaculated, as he read that name upon the handle. -“That boy must be Arthur Bright’s son! Ah, I see it all! He is spying -upon me!” He clinched his hands. “I must attend to this at once!” he -cried. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX. - - IN THE AURORA MINE. - - -The guide that Colonel Mendix had furnished the two boys was a tall, -swarthy Spaniard of sinister aspect. He had been in the colonel’s -employ for many years, and was his favorite tool upon all occasions. - -“Follow me, please you,” he said brokenly; “we go down quick.” - -He led the way from the office across a strip of yard piled high with -crushed ore and dismantled machinery of old-fashioned pattern, and at -length they came to the opening of the mine, directly into the side of -the mountain. - -“It must be dark in there,” said Gus as they passed the threshold. - -“Not dark, many lamps,” said Restrepo. “Come, close by me, please you.” -And leaving the pure light of day behind they entered the passageway. - -For the instant the boys could see nothing. But gradually their eyes -became accustomed to the gloom, and then they distinguished far ahead a -number of flames flickering like so many yellow stars in a dark sky. - -“This is the first lode,” said the Spaniard. “Pay good many year ago; -not much now.” - -“And how many others are they?” asked Oliver eagerly. - -The man hesitated. He had been cautioned not to say too much. - -“Only few,” he replied evasively. “I show, please you.” And on they -went. - -They had nearly reached the lights when a man, carrying a lantern, came -running towards them. - -“Back!” he cried. “Half a minute! Back!” - -“What is the matter?” exclaimed Gus in sudden terror. - -“Fire blast,” answered Restrepo. He turned and motioned them back. - -They lost no time in returning to the entrance. A few seconds later a -dull roar was heard, followed by the sound of falling rocks. - -“All right now,” said the Spaniard; “no more for an hour.” - -“I wouldn’t want to be around when any of these blasts go off,” -shuddered Gus. “Might kill a fellow without half trying.” - -“You are right,” replied Oliver. “Ever kill any one?” he asked of -Restrepo. - -“Killed two last year,” was the grim reply. “But their fault, no other. -They not run away far; stand close; blast go off; both get heads -blowed away, please you.” - -“Horrible!” cried Oliver. And he made a mental vow that should he ever -become master of the mine he would take extra precautions against such -tragedies occurring. - -“I suppose some men get so reckless they don’t value their lives,” -remarked Gus. “Mr. Whyland was――” - -Oliver gave him a sharp pinch in the arm. “Take care what you say!” he -whispered. - -In an instant Gus understood the slip he had made. - -“Oh!” He drew a deep breath. “Mr. _Ryder_ told me they don’t seem to -care whether they live or not.” - -Oliver was relieved to hear his friend turn the slip he had made. - -“Well, Mr. _Ryder_ ought to know,” he replied. “But I should think -every man’s life would be sweet to him,” he went on. - -“And so it is,” broke in a voice behind them. - -Both boys started. Turning, they beheld Colonel Mendix close at hand. - -“I thought I would come down and show you through myself,” he said -blandly; “it is not often that I have visitors, and I think it my duty -to show you all the points of interest. Restrepo, you may go to work -again.” And he added some words in Spanish to the man, who departed at -once. - -Oliver could not help but feel uncomfortable. Why this sudden change in -the colonel’s manner? Did he suspect anything? - -Then he began to wonder if Colonel Mendix had overheard the slip Gus -had made. He sincerely hoped not. It might prove the cause of trouble. - -But the colonel appeared to suspect nothing. He led the way, chatting -gayly, pointing out this object and that in the most natural manner, -until both boys were completely disarmed. - -“Never seen a mine like this before?” he said. “Well, it is a sight -well worth a good many miles of travel. Of course to us it is a very -humdrum business, blasting and crushing day in and day out.” - -“And do you never leave the mine?” asked Oliver. - -“Very seldom. Once in a while I take a trip to ’Frisco on business, but -that is all. I have no family ties, and this life here suits me just as -well as any other.” - -Before the boys were aware an hour had slipped by. Colonel Mendix led -them into a number of abandoned passages, and they did not see the -miners quit work for the day and leave the mine. - -“Now, if you can do a little climbing, I will show you the richest lode -in the mine,” said the colonel at length, when he was sure they were -left alone. - -“I guess I can climb anywhere you can,” replied Oliver with a laugh; -“and I can help my friend along.” - -“Perhaps you had better stay behind,” suggested Colonel Mendix to Gus. - -“No, no, I’ll go wherever he does,” cried the stout youth. - -A look of disappointment crossed the Spaniard’s face. - -“Very well then. Follow me.” And he led the way up a narrow passage, -and through a small hole into a rough sort of chamber. - -“We can only get to it this way,” he said. “To leave it one must take a -different route.” - -“How is that?” asked Oliver. - -“Because to reach it this way one must drop down a distance of fifteen -feet, and it is too much of a job getting back. But the other way the -return is very easy, though rather long. Here is the place to drop, -over these rocks. Do you think you can do it?” And he held the lantern -over the edge. - -“I guess I can,” replied Oliver; “but――but――” - -“But what?” asked the colonel sharply. - -Oliver did not know what to reply. - -“Here, I will hold the lantern for you,” continued Colonel Mendix. “You -go over first and I will follow, and we will catch your friend.” - -This seemed fair enough, and getting down, Oliver swung himself over -the ledge and dropped. - -About ten feet below his feet struck some slanting projection; but it -was too slippery with water to catch a footing, and he went down fully -fifteen feet farther. - -“Hello!” he cried. “I――” - -“Now you,” cried the colonel to Gus. And before the latter could say -a word he found himself pushed to the brink and sent rolling over. He -clutched the edge with his hands, but was unable to draw himself up, -and went over just as Oliver had done. - -“What do you mean?” he demanded. “You pushed me over!” - -“It is a trap,” whispered Oliver, helping Gus to his feet. “Are you -coming down?” he called to the man above. - -“I don’t think I shall,” was the mocking reply. “That is one of the -worst pits in the mine, and if I once got in I am afraid I would never -get out again.” - -“You don’t mean――” began Oliver, with his heart in his throat. - -Colonel Mendix gave a loud laugh. - -“I mean, Oliver Bright, that I have found you out,” he replied. “You -thought you were smart, but you are not smart enough to outwit me. You -are completely in my power. It may be that you do not realize it just -at present, but you will, later on, never fear. You cannot get the best -of me as easily as you may imagine.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXX. - - A PERILOUS SITUATION. - - -Oliver Bright was never so taken aback as when he found himself and Gus -Gregory in a deep pit in the Aurora mine, and in Colonel Mendix’s power. - -The turn of affairs was so unexpected that for a moment he could not -utter a word. The villainous colonel had found him out, and what the -result would be no one could conjecture. - -“American boys are not always so smart as they think themselves,” -continued the Spaniard, as he seated himself upon the ledge above and -looked down upon the two. - -“What do you intend to do?” asked Oliver. - -“That is my business,” was the cold answer. “First, however, I want to -ask you a few questions.” - -“Maybe we won’t answer them,” returned Gus sharply. He ached all over -from the tumble he had had. - -“You had better,” was the pointed reply. “Both of you are completely in -my power; I hold your very lives in my hands.” - -Oliver could not help but shudder. As for Gus, he gave a half-suppressed -groan. - -“First, I want to know who sent you out here?” went on Colonel Mendix. -“Was it Arthur Bright?” - -Oliver was silent. - -“Did you hear my question?” - -“I did.” - -“And why didn’t you answer?” - -“I shall say nothing until you help us out of this pit and conduct us -back to your office,” was the boy’s determined reply. - -“What! do you defy me?” - -“I do. You have no right to treat us in this fashion.” - -“Ha, ha! right! Might is right out here. You must answer my question.” - -“And I refuse to do so.” - -“Think well. I am not a man to be trifled with.” - -“I don’t need to think it over. I shall not answer a single question -till we are back in your office.” - -“Then you will tell me everything?” - -“Perhaps I will.” - -“I would not trust you. I think I had better leave you here.” - -“Leave us here!” cried Gus in terror. - -“Exactly. Leave you here to the darkness and the rats.” Colonel Mendix -gave a cold laugh. “Oh, I can tell you the rats are nice companions, -especially when they crawl all over you and nip you in the legs.” - -Gus gave a shiver. The idea of a rat attacking him! - -“Perhaps _you_ would like to tell something,” went on the colonel. - -“Don’t you do it,” put in Oliver. - -“Not much,” replied Gus. “If you don’t say anything, you can depend -upon it neither will I.” - -“Come, what do you say?” went on the Spaniard impatiently. - -“I refer you to my friend,” said Gus. “He is the only one to do the -talking for this crowd. Your threats don’t frighten me for a cent,” he -added boastfully, more to keep up his courage than aught else. - -“And you would rather be left here to starve to death?” - -Neither of the boys replied. - -“Very well then,” said the colonel, rising; “I will leave you to -yourselves for the night. Perhaps in the morning you will have a -different story to tell.” - -“You are going to leave us here?” asked Oliver. - -“Yes; unless you tell all I want to know.” - -“I will tell nothing.” - -“Then good-night to you. There is no use trying to escape. Even if you -manage to get up here again, I shall take pains to close the passage -in such a way that you cannot get out.” And, with another loud laugh, -Colonel Mendix took up his lantern and disappeared, leaving the two -boys in total darkness. - -“Crickety, but we are in a pretty mess and no mistake!” said Gus, as -the last ray of light left them. - -“You are right; but don’t let us despair,” returned Oliver. “I think I -did what was right; but it is rough on you.” - -“Don’t mind me,” said Gus. “I owe you a good deal. The question is, -what is best to be done?” - -“Listen!” - -They did so. Far in the distance they could hear the echo of Colonel -Mendix’s footsteps, and the moving of several stones, and then all -became silent. - -“Do you think he spoke the truth about the rats?” asked Gus with a -shudder. - -“I don’t know, Gus; there may be rats here. But he evidently wanted to -frighten us all he could.” - -“Ugh! it makes me shiver to think of them. I wish we had a light.” - -“I have some matches. I will strike one and see what kind of a place -this is.” - -“Hold on till I tear some pages out of my note-book and make lighters -out of them. We want to save our matches.” - -“That’s so.” - -Gus soon had the lighters made. Then Oliver struck a match, and they -gazed about them. - -The place into which the Spaniard had led them was a veritable pit, -some thirty or forty feet in diameter. On all sides the walls rose to -the height of twenty feet or more――steep walls, which caused Oliver to -shake his head sadly as he gazed at them. - -“Pretty tough job to climb them,” he said; “but perhaps it can be done.” - -“It will _have_ to be done. You do not intend to stay down in this -confounded hole?” - -“Not a minute longer than I have to. Remember, Mr. Whyland will grow -anxious if we do not return in a reasonable time.” - -“Colonel Mendix puts me in mind of a snake. His eyes are so cold and -calculating they make me shiver every time I look at them.” - -“Now if we only had a lamp,” said Oliver. - -“But we haven’t.” - -“I wonder if we could get this piece of wood to burn,” went on the -other, holding a stick he had picked up. - -“You might, if you split up the end. Here, let me do it with my knife.” - -As Gus spoke Oliver felt in his pocket for his knife. - -“My knife is gone!” he exclaimed. “I left it in the colonel’s office -when I fixed the sole of my boot.” - -“Didn’t it have your name on?” - -“Why, of course! I see it all now! Colonel Mendix had an easy job -finding out who I was! What a fool I was to leave the knife lying -there!” - -“Never mind; it can’t be helped now, Olly, so let us make the best of -it. Here, I have the stick ready.” - -Gus handed back the stick. Oliver lit another match and applied it to -the split end. It was rather damp, but at last caught fire. - -“There! that is better than nothing!” declared the stout youth. “It is -bad enough to be down here, without being in the dark. Now let us look -around and see what the chances for escape are.” - -Oliver did not reply. He was looking at a name that was cut on the -stick. The name was JAMES BARR. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXI. - - SEEKING DELIVERANCE. - - -As will doubtless be remembered, James Barr was the name of the -surveyor who had been sent by Mr. Bright to assist Colonel Mendix in -locating the Aurora mine. - -Oliver’s surprise can therefore be imagined when he saw this same -individual’s name cut in the stick his friend had picked up to be used -as a firebrand. - -“James Barr!” he cried. “It must be the same. How wonderful!” - -“What are you talking about?” asked Gus. - -Oliver told him. - -“And he is reported to have lost his life in a flooding of the mine,” -he concluded. - -“It is strange,” said Gus; “but still it counts for nothing. Barr might -have cut his name on that stick in a moment of idleness.” - -“Of course; but it shows that he was here. And if that is so it is -pretty good proof that this is the Aurora mine.” - -“That is so. I did not think of that. I thought that was all settled -before.” - -“There is nothing like being doubly sure. But come, let us see if we -cannot find some means of escape while the stick lasts. When that is -gone we will be in darkness, for I see no more wood about.” - -Holding the stick up sideways, so that it would burn and light the way, -the two advanced on a tour of discovery. - -It soon came to an end. On all sides were the same perpendicular rocks. - -“Not much encouragement there,” remarked Oliver grimly. “But we must -find some way out. Here, hold the torch, while I see if I cannot scale -this side.” - -Gus took the extended torch, and Oliver made a desperate leap forward. - -He gained a hold, and arrived three-quarters of the way up. Then he -slipped, and rolled down to his friend’s feet. - -“Not that time,” he cried; “but I think I can do it.” - -Again he tried, and again the same result. - -“This clumsy coat and the heavy boots bother me,” he declared. “I will -take them off.” - -“How am I to get up, even if you do?” asked Gus dolefully. - -“One thing at a time, Gus. Here, take the things. One, two, three!” - -With a mighty spring Oliver made the jump. Half way up he paused. Was -he going to fail again? No; he clung fast, reached up overhead, and -drew himself up into the gloom. - -“All right!” he called back. “Throw me the stick and then perhaps I can -help you up.” - -Gus flung the firebrand as best he could. Oliver caught it and stuck it -in a crevice. - -“Now make the jump up the rocks and catch my hand,” he called down, and -he leaned as far as possible over the edge. - -Gus did so. Three times he failed. The fourth, Oliver caught his wrist, -and a moment later, puffing and blowing, both stood on the edge of the -pit, but on the side opposite to that where they had entered. - -“Crickety! I don’t want to try any more such jumps!” panted Gus. “I’ll -be out of wind for a month.” - -“And I trust we don’t get into any more such holes,” laughed Oliver. -“But the thing of it is, have we bettered ourselves by the movement?” - -“That we can’t tell till we see where this passage leads to,” returned -the other, pointing to a narrow opening in the rocks. “If that is only -a blind we are as bad off as we ever were.” - -“I think that if I were down here alone I would go mad,” said Oliver. - -“I am sure I would. Heou! let us get out as soon as we can!” - -Taking up the light, they proceeded down the narrow passage. It was a -low cavern, so low that in many spots even Gus, the shorter of the two, -was compelled to stoop. - -“Hold on,” cried Oliver who was in advance; “here is a stream of water. -We don’t want to be drowned!” - -“Indeed not! Is it deep?” - -Oliver made an examination with his hands. - -“Quite deep. But here is a spot that is not very broad. I can jump it -easily, and I guess you can do the same.” - -Holding out the firebrand, he made the leap, and landed safely upon the -other side. - -“Now you,” he called to Gus; and in a moment they were together again. - -It was not long before they entered what appeared to be a large -chamber. Here, from some place far above, streamed in a faint light. - -“Hurrah!” cried Oliver. “There is open daylight at last! If it was not -for the fact that the sun has set it would be lighter still. Come, let -us go on.” - -But they could not do so. On the opposite side of the chamber, if such -it might be called, could be seen nothing but the solid rocks. - -“Blocked!” cried Gus in dismay, and Oliver echoed the cry. “What shall -we do now? Go back?” - -“No, no! I think――” Oliver sprang aside and pointed to a corner. “Oh, -Gus, what is that?” - -The stout youth looked towards the spot indicated, and turned pale. And -small wonder; for there, lying on its back, was the skeleton of a human -being. - -Both of the boys approached it slowly. It was the first time they had -seen so ghastly an object, and it filled them with awe. - -“Some poor miner that wandered in here and could not get out,” said -Gus. “See, nothing but his bones remain to tell the tale!” - -“And if he wandered in here and could not find any way out, what are we -to do?” asked Oliver in almost a whisper, so horrible was the thought. - -“Don’t――don’t say that!” cried Gus; “my nerves are already unstrung. -We must do what we can, and do it quickly too; for it will soon be -night and then morning, and if we don’t find anything to eat――” And he -finished with a groan. - -Oliver put his hand to his brow. What should they do next? Which way -should they turn? - - - - - CHAPTER XXXII. - - A VALUABLE FIND. - - -As Oliver stood thinking, a bright object lying upon the ground -attracted his attention. He picked it up. It proved to be a silver -match-box. - -“Hello! here is something!” he said, and turned it over in his hands. -Upon one side were the initials J. B. - -“This must have belonged to James Barr also,” he went on. “I wonder if -that skeleton――” - -He did not finish. Gus shook his head. - -“It looks that way,” he said. “Open the box and see if there is -anything in it.” - -Oliver did so, and brought forth several pages that had been torn from -a diary. - -“Here is something,” he said. “Hold the light so that I can see what it -is.” - -With trembling hands he unfolded the sheets and scanned them over. He -had hardly read a dozen lines before he gave a loud cry. - -“Oh, what shame, what baseness!” he cried. “This is the dying statement -of James Barr, in which he says that Colonel Mendix has enticed him -hither and made him a prisoner; that he is dying with a fever, caught -some time before, and that the colonel wished to get him out of the way -for fear he may expose the fact that the Cortez mine lies wholly within -the Aurora mine limits; and that Colonel Mendix, _alias_ Guerotaz, is -in reality a Spanish counterfeiter named Guito!” - -Oliver was both pained and delighted over the discovery he had -made,――pained that James Barr had come to so heartless a death, and -delighted to know that he now had the means within his power to cause -Colonel Mendix’s immediate arrest, providing, of course, he could gain -his own liberty. - -“What a rascal that Spaniard is!” he exclaimed. “Just think of his -luring poor Barr to his death while the man was sick with the fever! I -would like nothing better than to give the brute a sound thrashing, and -he deserves a thousand!” - -“Never fear but what the law will take care of him,” replied Gus. “They -are not letting counterfeiters off so easily, to say nothing of Barr’s -death, and this mine swindle.” - -“If we were only out of this hole!” - -“That’s just it. But gracious, I don’t know how to turn!” - -“Let us go back to that watercourse,” suggested Oliver after a moment’s -thought. “That must lead somewhere.” - -“You are right. I never thought of that; but if there is escape that -way, I wonder why Barr didn’t――” - -“He was probably too sick with the fever,” said Oliver, partly to keep -his own courage up. “Come on. _Nil desperandum!_” - -In a few minutes they were back at the watercourse. Here they found a -narrow passage, scarcely a foot in height, leading upwards. - -“Shall we try it?” he asked. - -“Certainly. Try anything.” - -So Oliver crawled into the hole on his hands and knees, and Gus -followed. They had not gone far before they found the rock giving way -in many places to dirt. - -“I take that for a good sign,” said Oliver. “I think we are near the -top of the hill, but how far from the opening I cannot tell.” - -For ten minutes more they continued on their painful journey. Then -Oliver came to a halt. - -“Nothing but rock ahead,” he said. - -Both he and Gus were ready to cry with vexation. Had they taken all -this trouble in vain? - -“Are you sure?” - -“That is all I can see. Wait till I dig over it where there is a bit of -dirt.” - -Oliver went to digging vigorously. But with his bare hands it was slow -work, and he was about to give up in despair, when suddenly his hand -struck an opening beyond. - -“There is a passage!” he exclaimed. “Wait till I enlarge the opening.” - -He worked away for fully quarter of an hour more. Then he squeezed his -way through and helped the stout youth to do the same. - -“This is better!” remarked Gus, when they found themselves in a much -larger passage on the other side of the opening. “Now let us hurry; the -stick shows signs of going out.” - -There was no need of urging; Oliver was traveling at the height of his -speed. Up and up they went, the passage growing wider as they advanced. - -“Hold up,” cried Oliver, suddenly stopping short. Then he put the -firebrand behind him and peered ahead. “Hurrah! I see the light of -evening shining into the other end of this passage. We are out of it at -last!” - -And such proved to be a fact; for five minutes later they emerged, and -found themselves at the very top of the mountain, at a spot where they -could look down upon the mine buildings. - -“Thank God we are out of that hole!” cried Oliver. “Oh, how good it -seems to be in the open air once more!” - -“Won’t that Spaniard be taken aback when he learns that we have -escaped,” said Gus. “He was so positive he had outwitted you!” - -“We must find our way back to camp at once. Mr. Whyland will be getting -anxious concerning us.” - -“You are right. Let’s see, I think the spot is in that direction.” - -“So do I, just beyond the three tall trees.” - -A minute later, after a whiff of fresh air, they struck out for the -camp. They had hardly appeared in sight when Mr. Whyland came running -out to meet them. - -“You have been gone longer than I expected!” he exclaimed. “Where are -your mules?” - -“We have got a long story to tell,” said Oliver and Gus in a breath. -And sitting down beside the sheltered fire Mr. Whyland had started, -they related their adventures. - -Of course the gentleman was much astonished. - -“It sounds almost too strange to be true,” he said. “Let me see that -statement that was left by James Barr. No doubt it will prove of the -utmost importance to us.” - -He took the leaves, and by the light of the blazing fire read them -aloud. All hands listened with rapt attention. - -They contained but little more than what Oliver had intimated, saving -the telling of where much of the proof of Colonel Mendix’s villainy -could be found,――in San Francisco, and in a number of places in Brazil. - -“I guess we have _him_ in _our_ power now,” said Mr. Whyland when the -reading was finished. “If only Cottle was here, we might go ahead.” - -“I think we can afford to wait a day,” laughed Oliver, he felt so -relieved to be safe in camp once more. “Colonel Mendix still thinks we -are in the mine pit.” - -“That is so. If he saw you now he would think you were a ghost.” - -“I would like to play ghost on him and scare him into a fit,” said Gus. -“He deserves it.” - -“He will get more than a ghost scare when we get after him,” observed -Oliver sternly. “He will find out that leaving us there to perish is no -light offense.” - -“I cannot understand how I was so blind to his real character when I -went into the mine deal with him,” put in Mr. Whyland. - -“That proves he is a born actor as well as rascal,” said Oliver. - -“I can’t help but feel sorry for that James Barr,” observed Gus. “I -suppose he trusted Mendix just as much as anybody did.” - -“Undoubtedly,” rejoined Oliver. “If he had stood in with the Spaniard, -it isn’t likely he would have been left to die in that horrible -fashion.” - -“I presume you two lads are pretty well fagged out,” said Mr. Whyland a -few minutes later. “You had better turn in and try to get a good sleep.” - -“Fagged out don’t express it,” yawned Gus. “I am half asleep all over, -as the saying goes.” - -“You’ll be stiff enough in the morning, I’ll warrant,” laughed the -gentleman. “You are not accustomed to such climbing as you had to do in -the mine.” - -“No.” Gus shuddered. “My, but it was awful! I didn’t dare to think of -not getting out for fear my hair would turn white!” - -“I can realize now the horror of a cave-in in a coal-mine,” put in -Oliver. “It’s one of the most dreadful things that can happen to any -one.” - -“You are right, my lad,” said Mr. Whyland. “But come, there is no use -to dwell upon what you have gone through. Try to forget it, and give -your mind and body a chance to recuperate.” - -“Well, I’m going to try it, anyway,” grumbled Gus, as he prepared to -retire. “If I get a nightmare, just poke me in the ribs somebody.” - -“We will!” laughed Oliver. - -“You see, I don’t want to go through it again, even in my sleep.” - -After this there was quite a bit more of talking, and finally they -retired, to rest, if not to sleep. - -On the following morning as they were getting breakfast, they were -surprised to see a horseman approaching from the direction of the mine. - -“Who can it be?” questioned every one. - -“Perhaps it’s the colonel,” said Oliver. “Suppose you hide, Mr. -Whyland, and let only Gus and I meet him.” - -“A good idea.” - -The gentleman stepped behind some rocks. As he did so the horseman came -nearer, and they saw that it was indeed Colonel Mendix. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIII. - - BROUGHT TO BOOK. - - -“Good-morning, Colonel,” began Oliver as they went forth to meet their -visitor, though with pistol in hand. - -The Spaniard nearly fell from his horse. - -“What, you!” he shrieked. “You!” - -“Yes, Colonel Mendix, I and my friend, as you see. You did not have us -quite so much in your power as you thought.” - -“How――how did you escape?” faltered the Spaniard. - -“That is our business.” - -The man’s brow darkened. - -“What do you want here, any way?” he demanded. “You have no right to -hang around my mine.” - -“Your mine? You mean my father’s mine.” - -“Bah! Not so. Your father’s mine is abandoned.” - -“My father’s mine is here, and in full operation. The Cortez and the -Aurora mines are one and the same.” - -“Who says so?” - -“Felix Cottle for one――” - -“His word is worth nothing. He is――” - -“He tells the truth.” - -“Right you are,” said a voice from behind; and turning, the two beheld -the guide, who had just ridden up. - -“Back already?” exclaimed Oliver. - -“Yes; and all O. K.,” replied Cottle with a knowing wink. “Collared my -man on the fly.” - -“Cottle!” cried Colonel Mendix, changing color. - -“Yes; just in time to see you get your deserts,” with a short, dry -laugh. “Reckon we are square now, Colonel.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“That there young man will tell you, him and Mr. Whyland.” - -“Whyland!” The colonel was deadly pale now. “Is he――” - -“Yes, he is here,” said a calm voice; and the gentleman stepped -forward. “Colonel Mendix, when we parted in the East years ago, I guess -you did not expect that we would meet some day out here.” - -The Spaniard bit his lips. He was trembling with fear. - -“I――I――what do you want?” he faltered. - -“We want our rights,” replied Oliver. - -“There is nothing here for you.” - -“I think there is,” returned Mr. Whyland. “Mr. Shattock!” he called -out, and a tall, sharp-eyed stranger rode from under cover. - -“The sheriff of the county!” muttered Colonel Mendix, and on the -instant his backbone seemed to desert him. - -It was an exciting moment for all. To Oliver Bright it was a time of -triumph. The termination of his quest was at hand, full of the promise -of success. - -As for Colonel Mendix, it took the Spaniard several seconds to recover -from the shock he experienced when the sheriff appeared upon the scene. -He saw at once that matters had taken a most serious turn. - -“Well, Colonel Guerotaz, this appears to be a grave business you have -been engaged in,” said the sheriff, as he dismounted from his horse and -strode over to where the Spaniard sat. - -“I do not know what you are talking about,” replied Colonel Mendix as -stiffly as he could. - -“You don’t?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Well, it is simply this: That you have done everything in your power -to defraud Mr. Whyland here and one Arthur Bright out of their lawful -share in a certain mining scheme connected with the Aurora mine――” - -“Not so,” cried the colonel. “The Aurora mine is one of no value, just -as represented to them.” - -“They are willing to swear otherwise, at least Mr. Whyland is, and -Felix Cottle is willing to testify――” - -“I don’t care. I have my rights. My word is as good as――” - -“And there is other proof,” put in Oliver. “James Barr――” - -Colonel Mendix jumped up as if shot. - -“James Barr! James Barr is dead.” - -“We know that. And we also know how he came to his death.” - -The Spaniard started. - -“But his dying statement remains――” - -“His dying statement? Why, he was drowned in the mine――” - -“No, not drowned, but made a prisoner while suffering from fever,” -replied Oliver. “And when you shut us up in the pit in the mine we came -across his skeleton, and near it found a statement in a match-box for -safe-keeping.” - -“It is false.” - -“It is the truth. That statement is now in Mr. Whyland’s possession. -Perhaps he will read it to you.” - -“That is not necessary,” said that gentleman. “I will put the statement -in Sheriff Shattock’s hands. It is enough to say that it proves our -claim to what is known as the Cortez mine, as well as the Aurora, and -also that Colonel Guerotaz, _alias_ Mendix, is in reality a noted -counterfeiter named Guito.” - -At the last words a shrill cry burst from the Spaniard’s lips. The -revelation had been so unexpected that it completely unnerved him. - -“You――you――” he began. - -“You had better not say much,” suggested the sheriff. “It may all count -against you at the trial.” He walked over and put his hand upon Colonel -Mendix’s knee. “You are my prisoner.” - -“Your prisoner!” - -“Exactly. You will please dismount at once.” - -“This is an outrage――” - -“Come, say no more. There are others who suspect you, and I have heard -before that you were supposed to be an escaped criminal.” - -“I will not submit. I will――” - -“You will submit,” replied the sheriff firmly. “Here, hold out your -hands―― Hello! Stop him!” For Colonel Mendix had on the instant wheeled -around his horse, and was galloping off at the top of the animal’s -speed. - -“Catch me, if you can!” he cried mockingly. “Catch Cirilo Guito if you -are able!” - -And away went horse and rider like a whirlwind. - -“Well, by thunder!” ejaculated Felix Cottle; “he’s going to try to -sneak!” - -“After him!” shouted the sheriff. “Come on, all of you!” - -“We’re with you!” responded Cottle. “He must not be allowed to reach -those hills yonder. If he does, it will be like looking for that pin in -the haystack, and worse.” - -Off went the sheriff and the guide, with Mr. Whyland not far behind -them. - -Oliver and Gus stared at each other. What should they do? - -“Come, Gus,” cried the former. “The more the better in a case of this -kind.” - -And he started for his animal, tethered but a short distance away. - -“But the camp”――began the stout youth. - -“Must take care of itself. There is no one about to rob us, anyway. -Come.” - -Gus needed no second urging. Indeed, he would not have remained behind -alone under any consideration. - -It took some time to put their animals in proper condition for use. By -the time they had mounted, the crowd ahead were just disappearing over -the brow of a low hill. - -Side by side, the two boys urged their animals along at top speed. -Oliver had his weapons ready for use, but trusted he would not be -called upon to use them. - -Crack! The sharp sound of a rifle broke the stillness. They rightfully -guessed that the sheriff had fired on the fugitive, but whether he had -reached his mark or not they could not tell. They continued to move -forward with eyes and ears painfully on the alert. - -The top of the hill gained, they could see Mr. Whyland and the others -climbing a rocky slope over to the westward. Near the top of the slope, -among some scanty brush, the boys could see Colonel Mendix, astride of -his horse, urging the animal along with hand and spur. - -Oliver could have fired at the man with ease, but the thought of -bloodshed held him back. He wished to capture the Spaniard as much as -did any of the others, but he would not run the risk of having the -rascal’s blood on his conscience. - -As Oliver and Gus began the ascent of the rocky slope Colonel Mendix -appeared at the extreme top. For a single instant he looked back and -shook his fist at his pursuers. - -Again the sheriff fired, and so did Felix Cottle; and this time the -fleeing criminal was wounded in the leg. He gave a shrill cry of pain, -sent back two shots in return, both of which flew wide of their mark -and disappeared. - -“He is gone!” gasped Oliver. - -“Don’t you think they will get him?” queried Gus. - -“I don’t see how they can; the woods over yonder are so thick. But -come, we may as well follow the others;” this as the stout youth began -to lag behind. - -“I’m so stiff, from yesterday,” groaned Gus. But, nevertheless, he -urged his horse on, and they steadily decreased the distance between -themselves and Mr. Whyland and the others. - -From the way the sheriff headed, it was evident he thought Colonel -Mendix was trying to ride in a circle. Sheriff Shattock’s words soon -proved this. - -“This Mendix, as you call him,” he said, “is trying to get back to the -mine. No doubt he wishes to clean out the office-safe before leaving -this section of the country.” - -“Then would it not be better if one of us went back toward the mine?” -suggested Mr. Whyland. - -“I reckon it would be.” - -“I’ll go to the mine if you say so,” put in Felix Cottle. “I’m better -acquainted around the place than any of you.” - -“All right; go,” said the sheriff; and at once the guide turned back on -the trail. - -He soon came upon the boys, to whom he explained the situation. Gus -wanted to return with him, but Oliver was for following Mr. Whyland; -and so they went on, leaving Felix Cottle to ride on to the Aurora mine -alone. - -“If we hurry we can catch up with Mr. Whyland,” said Oliver. “Come, -Gus; remember the chase is not likely to last long.” - -“I’ll do my best!” cried the stout youth. “Look-out, Oliver!” he went -on suddenly. - -He dropped down on his horse’s back, and instinctively Oliver did the -same. There were two reports, and a clipping through the leaves of the -trees followed. - -“My gracious, he’s firing on us!” gasped Gus. “We must try to keep out -of sight.” And he shuddered so greatly that he almost fell from his -saddle. - -“To the left――where the bushes are thicker!” exclaimed Oliver. - -He led the way; and hanging low behind his horse’s neck, Gus followed. -Soon they were once again well screened. - -In the meanwhile the shots fired by Colonel Mendix had served one good -purpose. The sheriff had lost sight of the rascal; but now the reports -helped the officer of the law to locate him, and he struck off on a -side trail, with Mr. Whyland close at his heels. - -The ground was rocky and uneven and full of loose stones, and the -horses made but poor headway. But in this matter they were no worse off -than was Colonel Mendix, and both were satisfied that they were making -just as good progress as the man they were pursuing. - -Five minutes later Oliver and Gus joined Mr. Whyland and the sheriff. -They came through a belt of timber and found the two men on the -defensive. - -“Hullo, it’s the boys!” cried Mr. Whyland. “Have you seen anything of -Mendix?” he went on anxiously. - -“He is over to the left, in the clump of pines,” responded Oliver. “But -be careful. Did you not hear him fire on us? The bullets whistled right -over our heads!” - -“We heard the shots,” said the sheriff. “The pines, eh? Then he is -making for the mine without a doubt.” - -“Is there no way of heading him off?” asked Mr. Whyland. - -“I believe there is――down at the mountain torrent some distance below -here. But no time is to be wasted.” - -Without further words they rode on through some low brush and over a -rocky plain. While on the latter spot, all hands kept a sharp lookout -for stray shots; but none came. Clearly Colonel Mendix had passed down -along the watercourse, just as the sheriff had surmised. - -“Wait!” - -The sheriff uttered the word in a low tone, as he halted on the very -edge of a large, overhanging rock. - -The others drew up behind him. - -Leaping to the ground, Sheriff Shattock moved cautiously to the front, -and peered over. - -“What do you see?” whispered Oliver. - -“Nothing, as yet; but wait. If I am right, he will come along the road, -just below here.” - -“And if he does?” put in Mr. Whyland. - -“I reckon I’ll make him come to terms,” was the slow but determined -response. - -A minute――and another――passed. To the boys they seemed hours. - -Suddenly the sheriff leaped up. - -“Halt!” he shouted, and aimed his pistol downward. “Halt!” - -Looking over the edge of the rock, the others saw Colonel Mendix riding -along a narrow path beside the watercourse. - -At the sound of the sheriff’s voice the Spaniard looked quickly around, -but he did not slacken his animal’s speed. - -“Did you hear?” demanded Sheriff Shattock. “Halt! I have a dead aim on -you.” - -At this Colonel Mendix uttered a loud cry to his horse, and away bound -the animal on a swift gallop. - -The sheriff fired, and the sound of the shot, echoing and re-echoing -through the cañon, frightened the animal below. He leaped to one side; -and in a trice horse and rider were in the mountain stream, and being -borne along by the swift current. - -“Just my miserable luck!” muttered the sheriff. “See, he knows enough -to duck under, and thus avoid another shot!” - -“What is best to do now?” asked Oliver anxiously. - -“We must go down to the slope below here and try to head him off. -Quick! there is not a moment to lose!” - -Again the sheriff went on, with the three others stringing after him -in single file. The flat rock was passed, and once more they found -themselves among the loose stones and short, thorny bushes. The sheriff -was the best rider of the party, and he soon drew ahead. Gus was the -worst laggard, and he begged Oliver not to leave him alone. - -“This bit of the country may be full of snakes and wild beasts,” said -the stout youth. “And I don’t want to face anything like that all -alone.” - -“I don’t doubt but what there are both snakes and wild beasts here,” -returned Oliver. “But I doubt if they molest us if we leave them -alone.” - -“But suppose a big mountain lion should leap out after us”―― - -“Oh, pshaw! Even that wouldn’t be any worse than having Colonel Mendix -use us for targets.” - -“That’s true too!” Gus gave a groan. “It’s a pity he can’t drown -himself in that river! It would be a good job done.” - -“Such rascals don’t pass out of existence so easily, Gus. But come, we -really must hurry along. If we don’t, we’ll miss Mr. Whyland and the -sheriff altogether. And I must confess I haven’t the least idea where -we are or in what direction our camp lies.” - -“Nor I. Well, I’ll do my best.” - -The thought that they would be left behind and become lost did more to -urge Gus ahead than anything else. They proceeded over the rocks on -a fairly brisk trot; and when the slope leading down to the mountain -stream was reached Mr. Whyland and the sheriff were but a hundred yards -in advance. - -The edge of the stream was hidden by an irregular growth of bushes, so -it was impossible to see what was beyond until these were parted. The -sheriff, finding a shallow spot, made his horse wade out into the open. - -“There he is!” - -“Where?” - -“Over on the opposite side! He is just crawling up the bank behind a -clump of overhanging trees!” - -The sheriff pointed with his finger, and Mr. Whyland and the boys, who -were just coming up, saw that he was right. - -“Where is his horse?” - -“Already on shore. Come; there is but one thing to do now,” went on -Sheriff Shattock. - -“What is that?” asked the three others simultaneously. - -“We must ford the stream.” - -“Can we do that?” asked Oliver. - -“Yes. Just below here it widens out and is not over a foot and a half -deep. I will show you the spot. And we will be certain to head off our -quarry, for he cannot turn back on that side.” - -Without giving Colonel Mendix time to discover them they drew -back behind the bushes and followed the sheriff’s lead along the -watercourse. In less than five minutes they came to the spot he had -mentioned. Here the stream was three times its natural width and one -could have almost leaped from rock to rock without wetting a foot. - -The horses went over readily enough, although they were dry, and longed -to drink. But they could not stop to humor the beasts. They reached the -opposite shore and drew up behind a convenient bowlder. - -A clatter of hoofs was heard, and an instant later Colonel Mendix -dashed past on his horse, rider and animal leaving a stream of wet -behind them. - -“Stop!” commanded the sheriff again. “You can’t escape us now!” - -The Spaniard muttered something in his native tongue, and went on -faster than ever, with the others in hot pursuit. - -“He intends to escape if he can,” said Gus. He was completely fagged -out and ready to drop from his saddle. - -“Come on!” - -It was the cry of the sheriff as he made after Colonel Mendix, riding -as he had never ridden before. He was warmed up to the chase, and meant -to end it in a very few minutes. - -The way was a treacherous one, and the rascal ahead was compelled -shortly to slow up. Soon the sheriff was again within hailing distance. - -“Stop, or I’ll fire!” he commanded. - -The Spaniard turned. He held a pistol in his hand and pointed it at -Sheriff Shattock’s head. - -Before he could pull the trigger, the officer fired his own weapon. The -shot struck Colonel Mendix’s horse, and the animal leaped into the air -and fell down, throwing the Spaniard over his head. - -When they drew near, they saw that in falling the Spaniard had struck -his head upon a sharp rock, and that the blood was flowing profusely -from a wound in his temple. He was unconscious, and it took fully ten -minutes to bring him to his senses. - -“I give up,” he said in a faint voice. “The fates are against me, and I -am in the hands of the law at last.” - -Shortly after, the whole party rode to the office of the Cortez mine. -Here the safe was opened, and an examination of its contents proved all -the statements made against Colonel Mendix to be true. - -Sheriff Shattock at once took charge of the criminal. By the suggestion -of Mr. Whyland he appointed Cottle as temporary superintendent of the -mine until the law should have taken its course. - -The situation of affairs was fully explained to all the men at -work,――some thirty in number. They were surprised; but as none of them -had ever liked Mendix, they took the change in good part, especially -after Mr. Whyland told them that they should every one be well rewarded -if they remained true to their duty. - -Then Oliver and Mr. Whyland sat down to figure out the probable value -of the mine. It was a tedious, but highly gratifying task. - -“One hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars!” gasped Oliver, as he -surveyed the figures. “Can it be possible?” - -“It is,” laughed the gentleman. “Your father will be a rich man.” - -“What welcome news it will be to him! This mine was our last hope. Had -it failed us we would have been thrown upon the world without a dollar. -But I am glad for your sake also, for you did so much towards getting -our rights.” - -“Not half as much as you, my boy. The real credit is wholly yours.” - -On the following day, after all necessary preparations were made, -Oliver and Gus departed with the sheriff and the prisoner on the -return. At Ford’s store the sheriff left them, but the two boys had no -difficulty in following the trail back to Sacramento. - -“Now for the first train home!” said Oliver. “Father must hear the good -news without delay.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIV. - - CONCLUSION. - - -“Too bad! I thought there would surely be some word from Oliver to-day.” - -It was Mr. Bright who spoke. He sat in an invalid chair on the side -porch, propped up by soft pillows. Donald, the man of all work, had -just returned from the post-office with the information that there were -no letters. - -Mr. Bright was getting well rapidly, but the lines of care were plainly -to be seen upon his brow. He started up with a deep sigh. - -“Nearly two weeks since I received any word,” he murmured to himself. -“How slowly the time drags! Can it be possible that he was too hopeful -and that the Aurora has proved worthless after all?” - -He passed his hand over his brow. - -“If that is so what is to become of us? I am getting too old to work, -and he has no trade to which he can turn his hand.” - -As he concluded, the latch on the gate was lifted, and, looking up, the -sick man saw Dr. Tangus enter the yard, and walk up the gravel path. - -“Good-morning, Mr. Bright,” he said stiffly. - -“Good-morning, doctor,” was the low reply. “Take a seat on the bench. I -am sorry there is not a chair here.” - -“This will do very well.” The learned man paused for a moment. “How are -you feeling?” he asked. - -“Much better, thank you. Another week and I think I will be all right.” - -“I am glad to hear it. I suppose you know the purpose of my visit -to-day.” - -“You are after the payment of that money.” - -“Yes. You know it was due yesterday.” - -“I know it was. But cannot you wait a few days longer? I am expecting -word from my son by every mail or by telegraph.” - -“Concerning that mining scheme you mentioned?” - -“Yes.” - -Dr. Tangus tossed his head. - -“I don’t believe that amounts to much,” he said. “You are altogether -too sanguine about it.” - -“My son Oliver――” - -“That boy isn’t as smart as you think he is. His going off on a -wild-goose chase――” - -“It was no wild-goose chase, doctor.” - -“I think it was. But, of course, that is none of my business. All I ask -is that you pay the money due.” - -“I cannot do that just at present.” - -“Then I will have to put the case in my lawyer’s hands――” - -“At once?” - -“At once.” - -Mr. Bright felt a deep pang shoot through his heart. His pecuniary -difficulties were to be dragged before the public at last. - -“Well, if you must,” he began slowly. Then he stopped short and -half rose from his chair. That figure hurrying so swiftly down the -road towards the house seemed strangely familiar. Was it――could it -be――“Oliver!” he cried out, “Oliver, my boy!” - -“Yes, father, home again!” was the glad response; and a moment later -father and son were in each other’s arms. - -“I did not write or telegraph because I wanted to surprise you,” said -the boy. “How do you feel?” And then, noticing Dr. Tangus, “Excuse me, -Doctor, I did not see you before. How do you do?” and he held out his -hand. - -Dr. Tangus took it coldly. - -“So you are back from your wild trip,” he remarked. - -“Yes, sir; and glad of it.” - -“Dr. Tangus has just called for his money,” put in Mr. Bright. “He says -he must be paid at once or he will go to law. Tell me the worst, my -boy.” - -“There is no worst to tell,” replied Oliver. “Dr. Tangus shall be paid -whenever he wishes the money. The Aurora mine has been located, and is -to-day worth one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars.” - -“Oliver!” - -“It is true, father, every word of it. Here are the papers to prove the -fact.” And the boy drew from his pocket a large envelope and handed it -over. - -“And your father owns an interest in this mine?” asked Dr. Tangus. He -felt mighty cheap. - -“My father owns five-eighths of it. Of the other three-eighths, one -part belongs to the estate of one James Barr, and the other two to Mr. -Whyland of Boston, who has very kindly loaned us his check for three -thousand dollars to help my father out of his difficulties;” and Oliver -passed the check over for inspection. - -“Seems straight enough,” grunted the doctor. “I will call again -to-morrow. I have no more time to spare to-day;” and catching up his -hat, he left without another word. - -“Oliver, you have saved us from ruin!” cried Mr. Bright with tears in -his eyes. “But for you it would have gone hard indeed with us.” - -“I am glad the search has ended so well,” said the boy; “glad for your -sake, and glad for my own.” - - * * * * * - -Several years have passed. Oliver is now at college, and has for a -room-mate Gus Gregory, who is as stout and as full of good-humor as -ever. - -The Aurora mine is in active operation, managed by competent and -trustworthy men. James Barr’s interest was purchased by Mr. Whyland, -and the money went to support the surveyor’s aged mother, his only -known relative. - -The Spaniard, known to the reader as Colonel Mendix, is now in prison, -suffering the full penalty of the law. Let us trust that when he comes -forth once more it will be with the determination to lead a better life -in the future. - -Mr. Bright still lives at his old home, surrounded with all the ease -and comfort that money can procure. Of Oliver he never tires of talking. - -“One boy in a thousand,” he says. “Thank God for giving me such a son -in my old age!” - -And with these words let us say good-by. - - - THE END. - - - - - THE STRATEMEYER POPULAR SERIES - - - 10 volumes Illustrated and handsomely bound in gold and colors - Attractive new cover designs Price $.75 per volume - - -[Illustration] - -Since the passing of Henty, Edward Stratemeyer is the most widely read -of all living writers for the young, and each year extends the vast -and enthusiastic throng. In obedience to the popular demand we have -established this POPULAR SERIES comprising ten representative books by -this great writer, on which special prices can be made. The stories are -bright and breezy, moral in tone, and while full of adventure, are not -sensational. These books, at a popular price, will be a rare treat for -the boys and girls. - - 1. The Last Cruise of the Spitfire Or Luke Foster’s Strange Voyage - - 2. Reuben Stone’s Discovery Or The Young Miller of Torrent Bend - - 3. True to Himself Or Roger Strong’s Struggle for Place - - 4. Richard Dare’s Venture Or Striking Out for Himself - - 5. Oliver Bright’s Search Or The Mystery of a Mine - - 6. To Alaska for Gold Or The Fortune Hunters of the Yukon - - 7. The Young Auctioneer Or The Polishing of a Rolling Stone - - 8. Bound to be an Electrician Or Franklin Bell’s Success - - 9. Shorthand Tom the Reporter Or The Exploits of a Bright Boy - - 10. Fighting for His Own Or The Fortunes of a Young Artist - - - Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., Boston - - - - - THE FAMOUS “OLD GLORY SERIES” - - By EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - _Author of “The Bound to Succeed Series,” “The Ship and Shore - Series,” “Colonial Series,” “Pan-American Series,” etc._ - - Six volumes Cloth Illustrated Price per volume $1.25 - - -[Illustration] - - UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA - Or The War Fortunes of a Castaway - - A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA - Or Fighting for the Single Star - - FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS - Or Under Schley on the Brooklyn - - UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES - Or A Young Officer in the Tropics - - THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE - Or Under Lawton through Luzon - - UNDER MACARTHUR IN LUZON - Or Last Battles in the Philippines - - -“A boy once addicted to Stratemeyer stays by him.”――_The Living Church._ - -“The boys’ delight――the ‘Old Glory Series.’”――_The Christian Advocate, -New York._ - -“Stratemeyer’s style suits the boys.”――JOHN TERHUNE, _Supt. of Public -Instruction, Bergen Co., New Jersey_. - -“Mr. Stratemeyer is in a class by himself when it comes to -writing about American heroes, their brilliant doings on land and -sea.”――_Times, Boston._ - -“Mr. Stratemeyer has written a series of books which, while -historically correct and embodying the most important features of -the Spanish-American War and the rebellion of the Filipinos, are -sufficiently interwoven with fiction to render them most entertaining -to young readers.”――_The Call, San Francisco._ - - -_For sale by all booksellers, or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price by_ - - Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., Boston - - - - - SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE SERIES - - By EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - - VOLUME ONE - - _ON TO PEKIN_ - _Or Old Glory in China_ - - Cloth 330 pages Illustrated by A. B. Shute $1.25 - -The hero, Gilbert Pennington, goes from the Philippines with the Ninth -Regiment to take part in the rescue of the beleaguered British Embassy -at Pekin by the international forces. Mr. Stratemeyer has risen to the -occasion by giving, in addition to one of his very best stories, a -store of information concerning China and the Chinese, conveyed in a -natural and entertaining manner. - - -The demands of boy readers are peculiar, and the author who can -satisfy them, not once or twice, but uniformly, must possess rare -ability in an extremely difficult field. Such an author is Edward -Stratemeyer.――_Sunday News, Newark, N. J._ - - - VOLUME TWO - - _UNDER THE MIKADO’S FLAG_ - _Or Young Soldiers of Fortune_ - - 320 pages Cloth Illustrated by A. B. Shute Price $1.25 - -“Under the Mikado’s Flag” relates the adventures of two young -Americans in Korea and Manchuria during the outbreak of the great war -between Russia and Japan, one of the leading characters being Gilbert -Pennington, the hero of “On to Pekin,” and the other, Ben Russell, who -with his brothers, Larry and Walter, is so well known to the thousands -of readers of the famous “Old Glory Series.” It closes with the great -Battle of Liao-Yang, and is as valuable for the information conveyed as -it is interesting as a story. - - -Mr. Stratemeyer is undoubtedly improving very greatly on the average -book for boys.――_Star, St. Louis, Mo._ - -He knows how to attract and hold boy readers.――_Evening Standard, New -Bedford, Mass._ - - - VOLUME THREE - - _AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR_ - _Or A Young American in the Japanese Navy_ - - 300 pages Illustrated by A. B. Shute Price $1.25 - -“At the Fall of Port Arthur” is another of Mr. Stratemeyer’s spirited -war stories. It relates, primarily, the adventures of Larry Russell, -so well known to countless thousands of readers of the famous “Old -Glory Series.” Larry is on board his old ship, the _Columbia_, which is -carrying a cargo for the Japanese government, and is made a prisoner. A -chase ensues, followed by a thrilling sea fight, and the young American -escapes to one of the Japanese cruisers. The young sailor joins the -Japanese navy, and under Admiral Togo assists at the bombardment of -Port Arthur. Life in the Japanese navy is described in detail, and also -life in Port Arthur during the siege and bombardment, which has few -parallels in history. - - -Mr. Stratemeyer is easily foremost among all writers of boys’ books -dealing with great events as they occur.――_Observer, New York._ - -“At the Fall of Port Arthur” is very well told.――_Chronicle, San -Francisco._ - -The story is timely, describing life in the Japanese navy in -detail.――_Times, Buffalo, New York._ - -Mr. Stratemeyer is one of the few writers for boys whose works -may be relied upon for historic accuracy without sacrifice of -interest.――_Journal, New York._ - -Presented with the skill of one of the cleverest juvenile writers of -the period.――_Globe-Democrat, St. Louis._ - -A rattling good story for boys.――_Republican, Denver, Col._ - - - - - PAN-AMERICAN SERIES - - By EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - - VOLUME ONE - - _LOST ON THE ORINOCO_ - _Or American Boys in Venezuela_ - - 12mo Cloth Illustrated Price $1.25 - -This volume tells of five American youths, who, with their tutor, -sail from New York to La Guayra, touching at Curaçao on the way. They -visit Caracas, the capital, Macuto, the fashionable seaside resort, -go westward to the Gulf of Maracaibo and lake of the same name, and -at last find themselves in the region of the mighty Orinoco, and of -course they have some exciting experiences, one of which gives name to -the book. Just the book boys and young men should read, in view of the -general interest in matters Pan-American. - - -Its pictures of South American life and scenery are novel and -instructive.――_The Literary World, Boston._ - -The scenes described are of the sort to charm the hearts of adventurous -boys.――_The Outlook, N. Y._ - - - VOLUME TWO - - _THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS_ - _Or American Boys in the West Indies_ - - 12mo Cloth Illustrated Price $1.25 - -This is a complete tale in itself, but has the same characters which -have appeared so successfully in “Lost on the Orinoco.” The boys, -with their tutor, sail from Venezuela to the West Indies, stopping at -Jamaica, Cuba, Hayti, and Porto Rico. They have numerous adventures -on the way, and then set out for St. Pierre, Martinique, where they -encounter the effects of the eruption of Mt. Pelee, and two of the boys -are left on a raft to shift for themselves. Life in the West Indies is -well portrayed, and the tale will appeal to many an older person as -well as to the boys. - - - VOLUME THREE - - _YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE ISTHMUS_ - _Or American Boys in Central America_ - - 306 pages Cloth Illustrated by A. B. Shute Price $1.25 - -This is a complete tale in itself, but forms a new volume in the -surprisingly popular Pan-American series. It relates adventures in a -tour covering Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and the Isthmus of Panama. The -party travel the various canal routes, and have a number of highly -interesting experiences. The volume contains a vast amount of timely -information, and will be read with interest by young men as well as -boys. - - -It is a splendid book that will not only amuse and interest the reader, -but will supply him with most valuable instruction and information upon -subjects which every young American who takes pride in his country, and -what pertains to it, ought to know.――_American Boy._ - - - VOLUME FOUR - - _YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE AMAZON_ - _Or American Boys in Brazil_ - - 300 pages 12mo Illustrated by A. B. Shute Price $1.25 - -An absorbing tale of sight-seeing and adventures in Brazil. The five -boys and their tutor travel the whole seacoast from Rio de Janeiro to -Para, and then move up the Amazon into the rubber country and beyond. -The volume is filled with pen-pictures of life as it exists in Brazil -to-day, and will be heartily enjoyed by all young people. - - -The Pan-American Series by Edward Stratemeyer has been declared by the -boys of this country to be the most up-to-date of all reading for the -young. Filled with action and good fellowship.――_Waverley Magazine._ - -Mr. Stratemeyer has acquired the art of weaving a good deal of solid -information with his web of startling adventure.――_San Francisco -Bulletin._ - - - - - COLONIAL SERIES - - By EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - - FIRST VOLUME - - _WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST_ - _Or a Soldier Boy’s Battles in the Wilderness_ - - 12mo Cloth Illustrated by A. B. Shute 302 pages $1.25 - -[Illustration] - -Washington’s earlier life has received scant attention, notwithstanding -its possibilities. Mr. Stratemeyer has woven into an excellent story -something of Washington’s youthful experience as a surveyor, leading on -to the always thrilling Braddock’s defeat. The hero, David Morris, is -several years younger than Washington, with whom he becomes intimately -associated. Pictures of pioneer life are given; scenes with friendly -Indians; and old-time games. - - - SECOND VOLUME - - _MARCHING ON NIAGARA_ - _Or The Soldier Boys of the Old Frontier_ - - 12mo Cloth Illustrated by A. B. Shute Price $1.25 - -This tale is complete in itself, but many of its characters have -appeared in “With Washington in the West.” - -The story relates the doings of two young soldiers who join the -Colonial forces in a march on Fort Niagara, during the time of the -war with France, when the whole territory between the Blue Ridge and -the Great Lakes was in a state of unrest. Many side lights are thrown -into the colonial homes, and much useful information is given of the -pioneers who helped to make our country what it is to-day. - - -David Morris is a fine fellow, and about him is woven a fine “Injun” -story that is sure to delight the boys.――_Universalist Leader, Boston._ - -Mr. Stratemeyer is an entertaining story-teller, and his books are -clean.――_Herald, Rochester, N. Y._ - - - THIRD VOLUME - - _AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL_ - _Or a Soldier Boy’s Final Victory_ - - Illustrated by A. B. Shute 12mo Cloth Price $1.25 - -This volume relates the adventures of Dave Morris and his cousin Henry -during the two last campaigns against the French for the possession -of Canada and the territory below the great lakes. The scaling of the -heights of Quebec under General Wolfe, and the memorable battle on -the Plains of Abraham, are given in detail. There are many stirring -scenes of battle, but the tale is not all of war. Pictures of the -rough-and-ready camp life of that day are given, and there are also -adventures while fishing and hunting, and with the Indians. - - -Since the passing of Henty and Alger, Mr. Stratemeyer controls the -field in this particular branch of literature. The chief charm -of his stories lies in the fact that an enormous quantity of -valuable information, collected from the most reliable sources, -is deftly woven into the narrative without taking away from the -interest.――_Philadelphia Inquirer._ - - - FOURTH VOLUME - - _ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC_ - _Or Pioneer Boys of the Ohio_ - - 12mo Cloth Illustrated by A. B. Shute Price $1.25 - -This volume tells of times in our country immediately after the war -with France for the possession of Canada. The tale is complete in -itself, but in it are introduced a number of characters which have -already figured in this series, including that brave young soldier, -Dave Morris, his sturdy cousin, Henry, and their common friend, Sam -Barringford. Pontiac, the great chief of the Ottawas, is also a leading -figure and much is told of his work in organizing his great conspiracy -against the whites. A fight with the Indians and the French in a -snowstorm is especially realistic, and the entire book carries with it -the atmosphere of colonial times. - - -Boys are attracted to stories by Edward Stratemeyer, and they will -enjoy “On the Trail of Pontiac.”――_Plain Dealer, Cleveland, O._ - - - - - American Boys’ Biographical Series - - By EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - - VOLUME ONE - - _AMERICAN BOYS’ - LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY_ - - 300 pages Illustrated by A. B. Shute and from Photographs $1.25 - -Here is told the whole story of McKinley’s boyhood days, his life at -school and at college, his work as a school teacher, his glorious -career in the army, his struggles to obtain a footing as a lawyer, his -efforts as a Congressman and a Governor, and lastly his prosperous -career as our President, all told in a style particularly adapted to -boys and young men. The book is full of interesting anecdotes, all -taken from life, showing fully the sincere, honest, painstaking efforts -of a life cut all too short. The volume will prove an inspiration to -all boys and young men, and should be in every library. - - -For nearly a year Mr. Stratemeyer has been gathering material and -giving careful study to the life of the young William, his childhood, -his boyhood, and all his inspiring and romantic history. The story was -nearing its end when the awful finale came and tragedy ended the drama -of President McKinley’s life.――_New York Journal._ - - - VOLUME TWO - - _AMERICAN BOYS’ LIFE OF - THEODORE ROOSEVELT_ - - 300 pages 12mo Illustrated from Photographs $1.25 - -[Illustration] - -This excellent work for young people covers the whole life of our -strenuous executive, as schoolboy, college student, traveler, author, -hunter and ranchman, as assemblyman, as civil service commissioner, as -Assistant Secretary of the Navy, as a daring rough rider, as Governor -of New York, and lastly as President. Full of stories taken from real -life and told in a manner to interest both young and old. - - -We unreservedly recommend Mr. Stratemeyer’s books for boys. They -are wholesome, accurate as to historical details, and always -interesting.――_Boston Times._ - - - - - GOOD BOOKS FOR BOYS - - By EDWARD STRATEMEYER - - - _LARRY THE WANDERER_ - _Or The Rise of a Nobody_ - - Cloth Illustrated Price $1.00 - -This is a plain tale of everyday life, written especially for boys and -girls who do not care particularly for stories with a historical or -geographical background. Larry is a youth who has been knocked around -from pillar to post for a number of years. The unravelling of the -curious mystery which surrounds the lad’s identity makes good reading. - - - _JOE, THE SURVEYOR_ - _Or The Value of a Lost Claim_ - - Illustrated by A. B. Shute 12mo Cloth Price $1.00 - -This story relates the trials and triumphs of a sturdy country youth, -who is compelled, by the force of circumstances, to go forth into the -world and earn, not alone his own living, but also support for his twin -sister and his invalid father. - - - _TWO YOUNG LUMBERMEN_ - _Or From Maine to Oregon for Fortune_ - - 320 pages Cloth Illustrated Price $1.25 - -A splendid story, the scene shifting from Maine to Michigan and the -Great Lakes, and then to the Columbia and the Great Northwest. The -heroes are two sturdy youths who have been brought up among the -lumbermen of their native State, and who strike out in an honest -endeavor to better their condition. An ideal volume for every -wide-awake American who wishes to know what our great lumber industry -is to-day. - - -Mr. Stratemeyer’s books are not only entertaining but -instructive.――_Daily Press, Portland, Me._ - - - _BETWEEN BOER AND BRITON_ - _Or Two Boys’ Adventures in South Africa_ - - Illustrated by A. Burnham Shute 354 pages Price $1.25 - -Relates the experiences of two boys, cousins to each other, one -American and the other English, whose fathers are engaged in the -Transvaal, one in farming and the other in mining operations. While the -two boys are off on a hunting trip after big game the war between the -Boers and Britons suddenly breaks out, and while endeavoring to rejoin -their parents the boys find themselves placed between hostile armies. - - -A stirring story of the South African War.――_The Journal, Indianapolis, -Ind._ - - - * * * * * - - - Transcriber’s Notes: - - ――Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). - - ――Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected. - - ――Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. - - ――Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLIVER BRIGHT'S SEARCH *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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