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diff --git a/old/67654-0.txt b/old/67654-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index f3b97c5..0000000 --- a/old/67654-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7995 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Rambler Club's Gold Mine, by W. -Crispin Sheppard - -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: The Rambler Club's Gold Mine - -Author: W. Crispin Sheppard - -Illustrator: W. Crispin Sheppard - -Release Date: March 18, 2022 [eBook #67654] - -Language: English - -Produced by: David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The - Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RAMBLER CLUB'S GOLD -MINE *** - - - - - - The Rambler Club's - Gold Mine - - BY W. CRISPIN SHEPPARD - - AUTHOR OF - - "THE RAMBLER CLUB AFLOAT" - "THE RAMBLER CLUB'S WINTER CAMP" - "THE RAMBLER CLUB IN THE MOUNTAINS" - "THE RAMBLER CLUB ON CIRCLE T RANCH" - "THE RAMBLER CLUB AMONG THE LUMBERJACKS" - "THE RAMBLER CLUB'S AEROPLANE" - "THE RAMBLER CLUB'S HOUSEBOAT" - - Illustrated by the Author - - THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY - PHILADELPHIA - MCMXII - - - COPYRIGHT - 1912 BY - THE PENN - PUBLISHING - COMPANY - - - - - The Rambler Club's Gold Mine - - - - -[Illustration: THERE WAS MUCH WAVING OF HANDS] - - - - - Introduction - - -The boys who appear in this story are those who had the adventures -related in "The Rambler Club Afloat," "The Rambler Club's Winter Camp," -and "The Rambler Club in the Mountains." They are now in the state of -Washington, where we meet them just after the close of some lively -weeks described in "The Rambler Club Among the Lumberjacks." - -During a forest fire the boys have saved the life of Wanatoma, an aged -Indian warrior, and he, out of gratitude, has imparted to them a secret -long guarded--the location of a rich deposit of gold in the far-off -mountains. - -The boys determine to set out in search of "The Rambler Club's Gold -Mine," as they call it, undaunted by the thought of possible dangers -which the wilderness may have in store for them. Life amid the -solitudes of nature, with only the sky as a canopy, has taught them the -lesson that hardships and discomforts are sure to come, and must be -met with a cheerful spirit. - -During the journey both men and wild animals put their courage to -a severe test. But each set-back arouses within them only a more -determined spirit to conquer every difficulty. - -In "The Rambler Club's Aeroplane," the next book, is related how the -boys learned to use an airship and the many stirring adventures which -befall them while navigating the air in Wyoming. - - W. CRISPIN SHEPPARD. - - - - - Contents - - - I. THE MAP - - II. PETE IS AMUSED - - III. ALL ABOARD! - - IV. THE "OSPREY" - - V. THE OTHER BOAT - - VI. CAPTAIN JERE - - VII. THE INDIAN - - VIII. MIDNIGHT - - IX. THE BRONCHOS - - X. ON THE TRAIL - - XI. THE RUNAWAY - - XII. THE LOST PACKHORSE - - XIII. THE BIG CAT - - XIV. "WHERE IS DICK?" - - XV. RISKY BUSINESS - - XVI. HIDE-AND-SEEK - - XVII. SOME ONE TURNS UP - - XVIII. THE WRESTLING MATCH - - XIX. BOB LOSES - - XX. GOLD CREEK - - XXI. ALONG THE CREEK - - XXII. CAP TAKES A HAND - - XXIII. GOLD! - - - - - Illustrations - - - THERE WAS MUCH WAVING OF HANDS - - "IT'S A GOLD MINE THEY'RE AFTER" - - ITS LITTLE EYES WERE SNAPPING - - HE NIMBLY DODGED - - "YE CAN'T STAKE OUT ANY CLAIMS HERE" - - - - - The Rambler Club's Gold Mine - - - - - CHAPTER I - - THE MAP - - -"Yes, fellows, I guess we're in for a lot more adventures; finding that -mine isn't going to be so easy--mountains to climb, swift streams to -ford, and--" - -"Lots of wild animals between us and the gold, Bob Somers," finished -Dick Travers, with a chuckle, as he shied a towel in the direction of -stout Dave Brandon, who lay in his bunk, with one leg hanging over the -side. - -"And whoever imagined that good old Wanatoma, just because he thinks -the Ramblers saved his life, would have given us his great secret, so -that--" - -"Listen to him," chirped little Tom Clifton. "Thinks!--thinks! Why, the -Ramblers did save his life; isn't that so, Jacky Conroy?" - -He turned toward a tall, athletic-looking boy sitting near the stove. - -"No mistake about it, Tommy; that forest fire was almost the end of -poor old Wanna. And the way he's acted about this gold mine shows he's -made of the right stuff. Still--" - -The big lad rose to his feet, began to whistle discordantly, and -grinned as five pairs of scornful eyes were leveled toward him. - -The boys were on a visit to Tim Lovell's uncle, a lumberman and mill -owner whose logging camp was situated on the Columbia River in the -state of Washington. At first Jack, who was a city boy, had found -that roughing it was not altogether to his liking. There were many -discomforts; bugs and other insects, both crawling and flying, seemed -to have no manners whatever; and his nice white hands sometimes got -sadly begrimed with dirt. - -But, gradually, life in the deep forest among the lumberjacks had -awakened another spirit within him--a determination to show his chums -that he could, if he chose, be just as good a woodsman as they. With -this dawning of a new feeling, his dislikes began to vanish--that is, -when the weather wasn't rainy or cold and the boys didn't drag him too -far away from camp. - -The big lad's loud whistling was brought to an abrupt close by a pillow -which thudded hard against him. - -"Oh, you rude Tim!" he cried; and stout Dave Brandon smiled, as he -watched his six friends sending the soft missile from one to another, -and kept on smiling even when it collided violently with his head. - -"For goodness' sake, Jack, don't have any more doubts," he drawled. -"When you do, something nearly always hits me. What do I think? Don't -think--I'm trying to sleep." He gave the pillow a mighty shove which -sent it in a shapeless mass on the floor, and closed his eyes. - -"As we were sayin'," grinned Jack Conroy, when a hearty chorus of -groans had subsided, "it was mighty nice of the old Indian to do it; -but, honest, I don't like to see you poor chaps goin' around thinkin' -you'll be millionaires before the winter's over." - -"You can't see us think," chirped Tim Lovell. - -"Nor discover it, either--very often," said the big lad, witheringly. -"Quit jokin', Timmy. Now, for savin' his life, old Wanna gives the -crowd his mine; he's too old an' feeble to bother about it himself, he -says. But--" He paused impressively. - -"Well?" demanded Tim. - -"Who knows whether it's really a gold mine or not? Maybe Wanna is -mistaken--" - -"Mistaken nothing!" snorted Tim. "Didn't we have the quartz in our -hands? Didn't we see the yellow specks shinin' all through it like -little stars in a cloudless sky?" - -"Oh, my! What book have you been reading now?" asked Bob. - -"Do you think that a real, live, bona fide Indian like Wanatoma could -be mistaken?" persisted Tim. "You make me tired, Jacky Conroy." - -The big lad came back to the attack with an exasperating grin. - -"Supposin' there is a mine, are any o' you chaps really silly enough -to imagine for eight seconds at a stretch that we can find it by that -queer scrawl o' yours, Bob Somers? Looks to me like those Egyptian -hiero--hiero--" - -"Help him out, somebody--do," sniffed Tim. - -"Hieroglyphics," came in sepulchral tones from the bunk. - -"Score another for the literary boy," laughed Sam Randall. "Bet he even -knows how to spell it." - -"Jack's limit is nine letters," said Tim. - -"See here, fellows," broke in Bob Somers, warningly, "we're making too -all-fired much racket about this thing. Your voice isn't any gentle -whisper, Jack; and if it should ever get noised about the camp that -we're going off on a search for a gold mine, why--" - -"The noise would become a perfect din of hurrying feet," interrupted -Dick Travers. "No joking, Conroy. I don't know how many times you've -been howling out loud, just as though you wanted to advertise the whole -business." - -"I'll bet there wasn't anybody around," growled Jack. - -"But a chap can't always tell. And the idea of Conroy being sure about -anything! Doesn't that jar you?" - -"Something else will, if you keep up that line o' talk much longer." - -"Trot out your map, Bob," went on Dick, with an air of scorn. "You may -laugh, Jack, but we're crackerjack woodsmen. I know it seems hard to a -chap who doesn't understand--" - -"Cut it out!" howled Jack. "An' see here, Tommy Clifton, don't giggle -like that again--mind now. Bring out your great gold mine map, Bob -Somers, an'--" - -"For goodness' sake, Jack, put a muffler on that voice," cried Dick, -aghast; "curb it! Suppose Pete Colliver should be hanging around--or -Ben Vincent--or Booney--or some of the men! Remember what Mr. Lovell -told us--keep mum, mum, and mummer." - -"Let's form the United Society o' Whisperers," scoffed Jack. - -"Quit scrapping. Here's the map, fellows," interposed Bob. - -He carefully spread out a sheet of brown paper upon a table in the -center of the cabin, while Jack rudely elbowed the others aside. - -"I'll let you see it one at a time," he announced, kindly. - -Heavy lines traced the rude plan shown here. - -[Illustration: THE MAP THAT BOB DREW] - -"Why, it doesn't look a bit like that Egyptian thing with a -jaw-breakin' name Jack spoke about," remarked Tim, after a critical -glance over Bob's shoulder. "I'd call it a picture of a tree in a -hurricane." - -"Or struck by lightning," suggested Tommy, squeezing in between the -others. - -"But it's plenty good enough for our purpose," said Bob, with a smile. -"A represents our present position on the map; B the Columbia River; C -our first stop;" he ran his finger along the lines; "D the direction -we have to take; E one of the Cascade Mountains; and F, away around on -the opposite side,"--he lowered his voice to a whisper--"a stream which -flows down the slope--Wanna called it 'Gold Creek.' We have to follow -its course until a big bend is reached, and there, marked on this map -by an X, is located--" - -"Whisper it," murmured Sam Randall. - -"The Rambler Club's Gold Mine." - -"Ah! That has a mighty fine sound, Bob." - -"Now the problem is simple--" - -"Corkin' simple," scoffed Jack. "Why on earth don't you make a problem -in algebra out o' it? Let A, B, C, D, E, F represent the line o' most -resistance, an' X--er--er--" - -"Stuck again," laughed Bob. "We have to settle it on earth, Jack. Now, -fellows, this sketch on the right gives an idea of the shape of the -mountain." - -"Draw it all yourself?" grinned Jack. - -"Yes; Wanatoma supplied the description, and I furnished the motive -power," laughed Bob. "He says we can't help recognizing it by the -peculiar blunt top. How's this for a plan? Suppose we take a lumber -schooner as far as C--that's a good-sized town--buy our outfit and -horses and--" - -"An' who's goin' to carry the grub?" broke in Jack, sarcastically. -"Wee Tommy, here? Or is each fellow supposed to take along his own -sandwiches an' canteen o' water, an' shoot at every bird or animal that -pops into sight? Why, this gold mine is--" - -"Sh-sh!" began Dick, warningly. "Don't, Jack; curb it." - -"It's in the deep wilderness; an' if the bunch should ever get lost, -sure as thunder it would be when there wasn't a speck o' grub within -twenty-eight miles." - -"Oh, float away, Jacky," put in Sam Randall, scornfully. "When you find -the Ramblers lost just let me know. Since Bob Somers formed this club -we've had all sorts of adventures in Wisconsin, Oregon and Wyoming, and -aren't going to get lost in any Washington forest, eh, fellows? You and -Tim don't know us yet. Go ahead, Bob; horses, you were saying? Then, of -course, we'll need a couple of pack animals." - -"Pack animals?" grinned Jack. "Maybe you mean pachyderms, Sammy?" - -"Oh, you're really too funny for anything," broke in Clifton, whose -forehead was still puckered into a fierce frown from Jack's allusion to -"Wee Tommy." - -"Well, boys, I move that we start day after to-morrow," went on Bob. -"Hit the trail, and hit it hard, until we reach X." - -A long-drawn-out groan, coming from the direction of the bunk, -attracted general attention toward Dave Brandon. - -"Well?" asked Bob. - -The stout boy's eyes beamed quizzically. - -"Only thinking, Bob," he answered. - -"What about?" - -"Well, don't you know, we really ought to be back in Kingswood now, -deeply absorbed in the acquisition of knowledge?" - -"Acqui-acqui-sition! You don't let any o' those big ones get by you, I -notice," grunted Jack. - -"Yes; we have already overstayed our time," went on Dave, "and this -trip--" - -"It'll only take a week or two," supplied Bob. - -"And do you think for a moment, David Brandon, that we could do any -studying without settling this thing first?" demanded Sam Randall. -"Well, I rather guess not!" - -"Then we must hurry it up, and get back to the high school as soon as -possible. As it is, there's a lot of hard work before us in catching up -with our studies." - -"It won't be difficult, with nearly the whole term before us," said -Dick, in positive tones. - -"Education is the lever which uplifts the world," sighed Dave. "Now--" - -"Switch off!" cried Jack. - -"Such gems of thought are lost upon him," laughed Sam. - -"Let's get back to business," said Bob. "We needn't expect to have -any picnic on this trip." He glanced toward Conroy, whose face failed -to indicate the slightest enthusiasm. "If you want to back out, Jack, -now's the time." - -"Who said anything about backin' out?" growled the big lad. - -He walked off and threw himself at full length on a bench at the end of -the cabin. His eyes began to rove over the cheerful interior. Somehow, -it was just the sort of a den to fill any healthy boy's heart with -delight. Seven bunks were built against the walls; two lamps suspended -from the ceiling swung over the center table, while a number of -tasteful prints were scattered about. - -Jack felt that on a cold day, with the wind howling past the corners -of the cabin, and the whirr and clank of the windmill blending in with -the blasts, it would be a mighty pleasant place in which to stay. And -yet here were these boys ready to leave its comforts and start off on -a difficult and perhaps dangerous expedition with as much unconcern as -though they were merely going on a visit to the sawmills at the base of -the cliffs. - -"I do wish to thunder old Wanna hadn't said a word 'bout that wonderful -secret o' his," reflected Jack, his forehead knit into a frown. -Perhaps, even if they did succeed in reaching their destination, it -might be to have all their fond hopes dashed to the ground. "But -still," the frown vanished and a quizzical smile played about the -corners of his lips, "if stout, easy-going Dave Brandon is willing to -take the risk--why--" - -And just then his eyes caught sight of a youthful face flattened -against the window-panes eagerly peering in at the group of boys who -still surrounded the table, animatedly discussing their plans. - -The pressing process had so weirdly distorted the already irregular -features of the youth that Jack began to roar with laughter, whereupon -the face suddenly vanished, and the next instant a terrific bang -sounded on the door. - - - - - CHAPTER II - - PETE IS AMUSED - - -"Pete Colliver!" gasped Bob Somers. Hastily he snatched up the map and -stuffed it into a table drawer, while Tim Lovell sprang to the door, -which was shaking under the repeated attacks of a heavy fist. - -As it swung wide open, Pete's short, stocky figure was silhouetted -sharply against the clear, cold light of the autumn day. A breath of -fresh, invigorating air, just sharp enough to send the blood tingling -through healthy veins, and laden with the pleasant scent of forest -and field, swept in. Several brown and golden leaves, dancing merrily -across the clearing, made straight for the sill and flitted inside -the door, while through the crisp air came the chatter of a flock of -swiftly-flying birds. - -Pete Colliver's sun-tanned face wore an odd expression of injured -innocence and indignation, and his eyes were blinking curiously. - -"Wal, wal!" he exclaimed, in a deep, hoarse voice, "I was a-thinkin' -mebbe ye wouldn't let me in. Never used to keep your door locked, did -ye? Gettin' kind o' pertic'lar now, hey? What was the whole bunch doin' -around that table?" - -He stuffed his hands deep in his trousers pockets, and shot a swift -glance at Jack's grinning face. - -"Awful sorry to have kept you waitin', Mr. Colliver. Please accept our -apologies, an' forget it," said the big lad, soothingly. - -"Fine words, but they don't answer my question, feller." - -"Great day, Pete, isn't it?" began Bob. "Suppose you just came in from -the woods? How's work going on? Sit down. No--not tired? Well, I guess -if any one of us had been swinging an axe as hard as you do, Pete, we'd -be a bit weary, all right." - -"Not to mention the hours--the awful long hours, I mean," put in Dick. -"Why--honest--" - -Pete regarded them calmly, and gave the back of his slouch hat, which -always seemed on the point of falling off, a smart tap. - -"I've been a-thinkin'," he remarked, slowly, "that I'll quit the -camp for a while, an' mebbe," his blinking eyes swept the group, "you -fellers wouldn't mind havin' me along with ye? Thar ain't nothin' what -I don't know 'bout campin', an' as for shootin', when I p'int me gun at -any warmint it's as good as cookin' over the fire." - -"Goodness!" cried Tommy. "Look! Dave's actually fallen asleep. Hi, hi! -Wake up, Dave! Hi, hi!" - -"Well, did you ever?" roared Dick. "All the same, bet he's been having -some dandy inspirations for that great book of his!" - -"Inspershuns?" queried Pete, suspiciously. - -"Oh, it's not a dangerous disease; you'll never catch it," grinned -Jack; "none of these chaps ever did." - -"Speak for yourself, Jack Conroy," retorted Tom, with a touch of -indignation. - -"Wal, this here holler don't answer no questions," said Pete, dryly. -"Mind! I ain't beggin' to go; but if ye want a corkin' guide, say the -word, an' I'll drop me axe any time like it was red hot." - -"Well, the fact is," began Dick, "er--er--that is--" - -"Yes, that's the idea exactly," supplemented Bob. "You see, if we -needed a guide, Pete, we wouldn't want any one else but you. The -crowd--" - -"Don't be skeered; I won't hurt ye. Jist say what ye mean; an' I -kin see what that is--ye don't want none o' Pete Colliver; an' Pete -Colliver ain't a-gettin' down on his knees to beg ye, nuther; no, -he ain't. Jist lock yer door arter I gits out, an' fix yer peepers -on that 'ere table ag'in. An'"--he paused, his little eyes snapping -curiously--"if ye say the word, I'll yank that snoozer out o' his roost -in jist three seconds, eh?" - -This kind offer was smilingly declined. - -Pete turned on his heel. - -"Not going, are you?" asked Bob. - -"Not afore I tells ye somethin'," he answered, impressively. "I had a -wrastlin' match this mornin' with big Jim Lawson, an'--" - -"Who won?" asked Jack, mildly. - -"Who won!" snorted Pete, with a fierce frown. "That's a fine question -ter ask--now, ain't it? Ain't ye all felt me muscle? Did any o' ye ever -see a stronger arm'n that, hey?" He held it out for inspection right -under little Tom Clifton's nose, whereupon Tom stepped hastily back. -"Ye ain't wery good on answerin' questions to-day; but there's an easy -one fur ye." - -"Not bad--not so bad," grinned Jack, "but a chap loses sometimes." - -"Not with an arm like that he don't, young feller. In a couple o' -minutes Jim was a-lyin' flatter'n that fat snoozer over there. An' d'ye -know what Jim says?" - -"We will in a second," murmured Jack. - -"'Pete, ye ain't got yer eq'al in ther hull camp!'--them was his words. -Come on outside, big un; I'll jist show ye how it's done." - -"That makes the twenty-seventh time you've asked me, Pete," laughed -Jack; "I'm countin' 'em. Haven't finished readin' my book on wrestlin' -rules yet." - -"Maybe some o' you'll have to try it one day," said Pete, ominously. -"I'm a-goin'." - -The boys watched his stocky figure disappear out the door, and pass -slowly across the window, while the breeze flung back his loud tuneless -whistling. - -Then Dick, with a gesture of impatience, slammed the door shut. - -"There! What did I tell you, Jacky?" he growled. "But, oh, no; you -wouldn't listen. And now your hollering's done the business--Pete knows -something, as sure as you live; anybody can see that." - -"An' blame it all on me!" cried Jack. "Keep the door locked! Stand -around the table like a lot o' ninnies! Get as flustered as a -Jabberwock! An' just because Pete sees it imagine he knows all about -our gold mine!" - -"There he goes again!" wailed Dick. "Let's muzzle him, fellows. We -ought to call that--that place some other name. The Jabberwock, eh?" - -"Oh, you make me tired," sneered Jack. "Never saw such silly duffers." - -"Come--come, fellows!" laughed Bob. "Too bad, if any harm's done, -Jack," he added, severely. "If you speak those two words out loud -again--" - -"There'll be a speedy trial for the offender," laughed Sam, -"and summary vengeance of a terrible sort will be wreaked upon -him--hello--dinner time already?" He raised his voice: "That you, -Booney?" - -"'Deed it am, sar!" came an answering voice. "Shall I come in?" - -"As far as you like!" yelled Dick. - -The door swung open, and Daniel Boone King, a very dark spot in the -landscape, stood on the threshold, grinning good-naturedly, and showing -a row of dazzling teeth. - -"I'se here, sar," he said. - -"So our eyes have already told us, Daniel," chuckled Jack. - -"An' de dinner am ready." - -"A fact which our olfactory nerves have also perceived," remarked Bob, -with a smile. "Dave--I say, Dave--dinner!" - -"Wonderful thing what a few simple words like that will do," said Sam, -as the stout boy sprang up with remarkable alacrity. - -His round face beamed forth good nature; a whimsical light deepened in -his eyes. - -"That's a dandy! And just as I finished my beauty nap, too. Booney--" - -"Yes, Mistah Dave." - -"Is there plenty of those sweet potatoes and nice corn pone?" - -"Yessir!" - -"Good! But there won't be very long." - -"Not when you're around, Mistah Dave," laughed Booney, as the door -promptly slammed behind the group. - -Over the air came a steady musical hum from busy sawmills far down on -the beach, while columns of yellowish smoke rose lazily against a mass -of pale white clouds. - -The boys' wild dash across the clearing came to an end when Mr. Lovell, -smiling genially, appeared in the doorway of his cabin. - -Uncle Stanley was a tall, slight, active man, with a pointed beard. He -wore glasses, which gave him quite the air of a college professor. His -eyes beamed with a kindly light, while his voice had a cheery ring, -which, from the first, had won him the hearts of the crowd. - -"Well, boys," he said, "I suppose you are ready for dinner?" - -"It won't have time to get cold," laughed Bob. - -They hastily fell in behind him, and presently were seated around the -table, in a pleasant little dining-room, surveying the good things to -eat with great satisfaction. Nothing for which any healthy boy could -wish seemed lacking, except pies, tarts and ice-cream. But Booney had -made some kind of astonishing pudding, which, at any rate, tasted -sweet, and a great quantity soon disappeared. - -"I suppose your packing is all done, boys?" - -There was a touch of sadness in Uncle Stanley's tone. He looked at the -bright faces before him, and sighed at the thought of their parting so -soon. - -"Everything," answered Tim--"our guns, even, are oiled and polished." - -Mr. Lovell pushed back his chair. - -"I only wish I could go with you, lads," he said, slowly. "It pleases -me to think, however, that in moments of danger you have already proven -yourselves cool and resourceful." - -Jack grinned complacently. - -"Still, I wish to impress you with the fact that, while it is necessary -to have the spirit and ability to conquer danger, it is far wiser to -go forth with the determination to avoid it. Now, I suppose, none of -you feels that it would be best to postpone your trip until the early -spring, when--" - -A chorus, in which Jack's voice was strangely feeble, assured him that -they had not. - -"Very well, then! But, boys, don't let your hopes run too high. -Wanatoma's gold mine may prove a myth; or, perhaps, if it really does -exist, the value may be small. You must, of course, be prepared for -disappointment." - -"Guess we'll be able to stand it all right," said Tim, with a grin. - -"That is the proper spirit. And now, lads, I have a message for you." - -"A message for us!" cried Tim. - -"Yes; from our friend Captain Slater, the lumberman and former Columbia -River skipper." - -"Old Cap Slater!" gasped Jack. - -"Yes, again. It seems that in spite of his rough exterior the captain -has a warm spot in his heart for those he likes, and, much as it may -surprise you, the crowd seems to have won his favor." - -The boys looked at each other in astonishment, and Jack, quite -forgetting his table manners, burst into a roar of laughter, while a -chorus of exclamations ran around the table. - -"Well, can you ever believe it!" cried Sam. - -"An' he used to say such real rude things to us," chirped Tim. - -"And was so sorry when we came here," laughed Bob. "I told him it was -only because he didn't know us." - -"That's exactly what the captain says." Uncle Stanley smiled genially, -as his eyes ran from one to another. "He thinks you're a plucky lot." - -"But he handed me out a few big knocks, though," grinned Jack. - -"None this time, I assure you; he has quite reversed his opinion, and -intends to come over and see you off." - -"Bully for the Cap!" cried Tim. "He's not a bad old sort, after all!" - -For some time they remained, talking over their plans with Tim's uncle, -then trooped out, to roam idly about the clearing. The seven stopped -for a moment in the long cabin used by the men and finally wandered -over toward the edge of a high bluff, where they stopped to gaze at -the always enchanting panorama of river and rugged shore. The broad -Columbia stretched off, to finally become lost in a gray-purple haze. - -Beyond the mills, and close in shore, a lumber schooner, piled high -above the gunwales with short planks, lay at anchor, ready for her long -trip down the river. - -"Feast your eyes on the 'Osprey,' fellows," remarked Bob Somers; "Don -Mason, Master." - -"The staunch little craft which is to be entrusted with the precious -cargo of Rambler boys," said Sam. "Say, it's pretty low in the water -now; don't you think when Dave steps aboard it may be in danger of -foundering?" - -"Most likely there'll be nothing but groaning till she gets used to the -additional strain," grinned Dave. "Mighty good of your uncle, Tim, to -arrange it for us." - -"You bet it was! Unk's a dandy." - -"Doesn't look as if there was room for the crowd," sighed Jack, -dismally. - -"A thin affair like you doesn't need very much," quoth Tom, -satirically. "Dave's the only one that counts. Hello--what's that?" - -He pounced upon a roll of paper which had slipped from Dave Brandon's -coat pocket, and, eluding the stout boy's outstretched hand, dashed -away with a yell of triumph. - -"Bet it's some of that great volume he's writing, fellows," he -chuckled, gleefully. "Yes! Get away, Dave Brandon. Listen! Whew! What -do you think? Pages 698 to--to--gee! 700! Did you get that--698 to 700?" - -"Read it, slowpoke!" commanded Tim. - -"Then keep him away." - -"Go ahead," said Dave, good-naturedly. "My limit of resistance is four -against one; you're six." - -"Foxy lad," murmured Tom, keeping a good distance off. "Ah! First, is -the heading, 'Life in a Lumber Camp'--sounds pretty fine, eh?" - -"Read it!" yelled Tim. - -"'In the dense, somber forest surrounding the clearing lumberjacks, -with axe and saw, were hard at work. Donkey engines, by means of wire -cables of great length, were dragging redwood trunks from the place -where they had been felled over skid-roads to flumes which sent them -rumbling down to the sawmills below.'" - -"Great!" cried Dick. "Bully!" - -"'The crack of ox-drivers' whips often echoed through the forest, as -these slow-footed animals drew heavy vehicles, piled high with short -logs, toward the timber slides.'" - -"Wow!" quoth Sam. "Be-au-ti-ful!" - -"'Altogether, life in a lumber camp must not only appeal to the lover -of nature, but to those artistically inclined. Toward the dusk of -evening, when--'" - -A swift movement on Dave's part suddenly interrupted the reading. With -a cheery laugh, the stout boy stepped back, stuffing his precious pages -into an inside pocket. - -"Oh, you rude thing!" sniffed the highly disgusted Tom. - -"A thousand pities not to let us hear all of that perfectly lovely -effusion," said Tim. "Come, Dave, that's a good chap, hand it out." - -But no amount of withering comments, gentle persuasion, or direful -threats had the least effect. So Jack Conroy merely sat upon Tommy, -figuratively and actually, for being so easy. - -There was nothing for them to do but patiently await the time when the -"Osprey," Don Mason, Master, should weigh anchor. Jack Conroy and Dave -Brandon were the only lads who didn't bubble over with enthusiasm, and -long for the great moment to arrive. - -That night, after the lamps in their cabin were lighted, Pete Colliver -again pressed his face against the window-pane. - -He was promptly admitted. - -Pete immediately plumped himself down on the most comfortable chair, -crossed his legs, and proceeded, by winks and extraordinary grimaces, -to attract more than usual attention. - -"Hello! Got anythin' in your eye, Pete?" asked Jack. - -"Naw, young feller; there ain't nothin' what can even make 'em blink." - -"Well, what's the matter?" - -Pete's answer to this was a series of chuckles and other weird sounds -even more astonishing than his facial contortions. - -"If you could tell us where you feel the worst," suggested Tim, kindly, -"why--" - -Pete guffawed loudly. - -"If there's anything on your mind, then"--Tim beamed pleasantly--"out -with it." - -"Ha, ha!" laughed Pete. "An' ye don't want no guide, hey? Don't have -to go to--to Africa to git big game, do ye? Expect to bag somethin' -whoppin'! Ha, ha!" - -"Africa--Africa! Why, the extent o' your knowledge is simply -surprisin'," murmured Jack. - -Pete's grimaces and chuckles began again. Suddenly he burst into a roar -of laughter, slapped his knees, then rose to his feet, while the deeply -interested crowd stared at him in amazement. - -"For goodness' sake, Peter," cried Bob, "tell us!" - -"I was jist a-thinkin' o' somethin' kinder funny," explained Pete, "an' -I guess ye don't need ter know nuthin' 'bout it." - -"And after all our suspense!" protested Bob. - -"How can you be so cruel?" added Sam. - -"Peter is only jokin'," said Jack, hopefully. - -"Not much he ain't, feller!" - -Thereupon the whole crowd, with the exception of Dave, did their best -to draw from the stocky boy the secret of his mirth. - -But Pete could not be in any way cajoled, so they finally gave it up. - -Presently, with a huge grin, he started toward the door, bade them -good-night, and was gone. - -The boys looked at each other inquiringly. - -"Well," remarked Tim, drawing a long breath, "that chap certainly knows -something, eh, Jack? Do you deny it?" - -"How can a fellow deny what he doesn't know, you silly duffer?" -demanded Jack, frowning fiercely. - -"Now it's certain you've given the whole thing away!" - -"Like fun I have!" - -"You'll see! Most likely everybody in camp'll be taggin' after us." - -"Oh, get out, Timmy; you've said just as much about Wanna's gold mine -as I have." - -Tim gave a gesture of despair. - -"Can you beat it, fellows?" he wailed. "There he goes -again--actually--after all the mess he's made, too. Help--help--I mean -help needed to make Jacky forget those two fateful words." - -"Oh, dry up!" howled Jack, wrathfully. "Remember what happened to -Tommy." - -"My regular job seems to be stopping a row every few minutes," laughed -Bob. "If Pete does know our secret, scrapping about it won't do a bit -of good." - -"And no one can prevent us from finding--from finding -that--er--er--Jabberwock," added Dick. - - - - - CHAPTER III - - ALL ABOARD! - - -The day of departure had actually come at last. It was a beautiful -morning, with a brisk, cool breeze sending white clouds scudding -through the blue above, while the Columbia's broad surface was broken -into choppy waves. - -The boys' luggage--there wasn't so very much of it--lay piled in a -corner. Guns and hunting knives gleamed brightly wherever stray beams -of sunlight found their polished surfaces. - -Just a few hours more! Jack Conroy stared rather gloomily around. The -cozy cabin had never looked more inviting; strange how it seemed to -have improved since the moment they decided to leave it. Dave, resting -easily, with his feet stretched upon a chair, was busy scribbling -something in his note-book. All the others were too excited and eager -to stay in one place very long. They walked up and down, talking -in low tones, making a tremendous effort to appear unconcerned, but -without great success. - -"Let's go over by the bluff," remarked Bob, presently. "Coming, -fellows?" - -"Guess you expect to see the 'Osprey' take wing and fly away," said -Jack. - -Leaving the literary boy struggling heroically with the muse, the rest -walked out, kicking up the yellow leaves which were thickly strewn -about. - -For a long time they sat on a convenient log, their eyes often turning -toward the "Osprey," whose black hull and tapering masts glowed one -moment in light, then became cold and gray in the swiftly-flying -shadows that skimmed across the landscape. - -"Hi, hi--hello!" - -Pete Colliver's tremendous voice suddenly reached their ears, and, upon -turning quickly, they saw the youth approaching, with another lad a bit -shorter lazily bringing up in the rear. - -"Well, by Jove, it's Jimmy--Jimmy of Sellade!" cried Bob, shading his -eyes from the sun's bright glare. - -"So it is," agreed Tim. "Oh, joy! Cheer up, Jacky; Jimmy's comin'. -Guess he's heard all about the--er--er--Jabberwock, too." - -"An' I don't care if he has," grunted Jack. - -The crowd had made the acquaintance of Jimmy some time before. As he -came from Sellade, a town where the Columbia River steamers made a -landing, they often referred to him as "Jimmy of Sellade." He, like his -friend Pete, was a stocky, heavily-built lad, immensely strong, but -clumsy and slow. - -Jimmy's features were remarkably plain, while his expression changed -about as often as that of an Egyptian Sphynx--at least, Sam Randall -voiced this opinion. - -"I hearn tell as you was a-leavin', fellers," exclaimed Jimmy, as he -came within speaking distance, "an' I says to meself, 'I'll git over -an' give 'em the hand-shake all 'round.'" - -"Good boy!" said Bob, approvingly. - -Pete Colliver was grinning broadly. He gave a loud chuckle, and poked -his chum in the ribs. - -"Mebbe they'd like to have ye as a guide, Jimmy," he said. - -"I guess not," returned Jimmy, dryly. "I couldn't work fur nothin' -less'n fifty cents a day; an' it might be a corkin' hard job ter help -'em lug the stuff they gits." - -Dick felt sure that Jimmy's expression changed for the fraction of a -second; therefore he scowled fiercely at Jack, and winked significantly. - -"Whar's the fat un?" asked Jimmy, abruptly. - -"Guess he's havin' some more inspershuns," said Pete; "but the big -feller here says as how nobody else ever ketches it." - -"Eh!" Jimmy gave a start. "What's them?" - -"It isn't 'them,' it's 'it,'" gurgled Jack, "eh, Tommy? Near grub time, -you say? Good! Yes, Jimmy, my lad, this afternoon--see here, Timmy, if -you try to make a haystack out o' me again, maybe only six boys will -go!" - -Jack brushed away the bunches of tall grass which rested on his -shoulder, punched Sam because he happened to be nearest, and answered -the hail which came at that moment from Booney. - -Some of the lads found it rather difficult to eat breakfast, but Dave -Brandon wasn't among the number. There was a feeling of suppressed -excitement which he didn't seem to share; even Bob was glad when the -meal was over. - -"I expect Captain Slater at any moment," said Uncle Stanley. "He told -me he would surely be here." - -"To think of the Cap actually takin' the trouble to see us off," -murmured Tim; "ain't it odd?" - -"And Jimmy of Sellade, too," laughed Dick. "Our cup of joy is brimming -over." - -In another half hour, Tommy, glancing out the window, espied the -lumberman and former steamboat captain headed across the clearing, and -the crowd, at a nod from Uncle Stanley, rushed out. - -Captain Slater was stout, heavy-featured, gray-bearded, authoritative -in manner, and quick to take offense. - -"Rah, rah, rah for Cap Slater!" yelled Jack. "Now, boys--one, two, -three!" - -"Rah, rah, rah!" howled a chorus. - -Their lusty yells brought Pete Colliver and Jimmy around the men's -cabin on a run. - -The lumberman came striding over, the effect of walking a considerable -distance at a rapid rate causing him to mop his brow with a huge red -handkerchief. - -"Wal, my hearties!"--he greeted them in a gruff, heavy voice. "Actually -ready to git--actually! Howdy, Lovell! Sorry to see 'em go, ain't -ye?--declar' to thunder I am; an' that's somethin' Jere Slater never -thought he'd be." - -"Oh, we knew you would, all right," said Jack, with a grin. - -"An' they tell me yer a-goin' with Don Mason! A good, likely young -skipper, that!" - -"Hello, old feller!" - -Pete's voice rose above the captain's. - -"Run along!" growled Slater, turning sharply at the sound, and eyeing -the lad with a scowl. "Thought I know'd that voice. Both o' ye kin -toddle." - -"So we kin, when we gits ready, Cap'n," retorted Pete, calmly; "an' we -ain't ready yit, eh, Jimmy?" - -"I reckon not!" answered Jimmy, defiantly. - -"If ye could only tote them perwerse young lubbers far away, an' lose -'em, ye'd be doin' the community a thunderin' big sarvice," growled the -captain. - -"'Tain't me an' Jim's fault if we ain't a-goin', old feller," chuckled -Pete; "we asked 'em." Then, unmindful of Mr. Lovell's presence, he -added, witheringly, "Sich a wonderful lot o' dubs they is, too! Think -nobody ain't good nuff fur 'em, mebbe! Oh, yes, they is the goods, all -right!" - -"I don't think," sniffed Jimmy. - -"Can't wrastle! Don't even know when they's sized up ter beat the band." - -"Shows how much good sense they've got not to want to have yer along," -remarked Slater. "I seen ye a-hangin' 'round me camp twice this week, -an' that's twice too much. An' now, lads," he added, turning toward the -others, "ye have Jere Slater's best wishes, an' I only hopes--" - -"They bags a hull lot o' game," broke in Pete. A most astonishing -grimace distorted his face. "Them mountains is full o'--o'--all kinds -o' waluable warmints an' sich like. If you an' me, Cap'n, could only -git a crack at sumphin, eh?" - -"What's a-gittin' inter the feller's top-piece?" asked Slater, with a -wondering stare. "Never yit seen anything human put on sich a face as -that--it's nuff to hurt a man's eyes fur keeps; mine is a-blinkin' now." - -The hour for leaving had arrived. Presently the party began walking -toward the boys' cabin. - -Even Jack felt his nerves tingling with excitement. He gave a sigh of -relief when their stuff had been carried outside, then turned for a -final look at the cozy interior. - -"Makes me feel kind of blue," he confided to Tommy. "We've certainly -had a dandy time here--did you speak, Mr. Lovell?" - -"I was saying," remarked the lumberman, with a smile, "that our -friend"--he nodded toward Dave--"will no doubt find a great deal of -interest to write about." - -"Dave Brandon's wonderful work will come out in forty volumes," -chuckled Tim, who had overheard. "Why, Uncle Stanley, you don't know -how fine life in a lumber camp really is until you've read what he has -to say about it." - -At the edge of the bluff Bob gave a loud yell, the others chiming in. - -An answering hail came from the "Osprey." A sailor was soon seen -jumping into a boat which swung astern. He cast off the lines and began -to row ashore. - -A zigzag road led down by easy stages to the water. By the time they -reached it, with Pete and Jimmy straggling along in the rear, the boat -was bobbing up and down near the sawmills. - -A number of the men came out to bid the boys good-bye, so, for several -minutes, the seven were kept busy shaking hands and responding to their -hearty good wishes. - -A pleasant smell of water was in the air. The breeze had freshened, -coming in strong puffs which sent wicked little waves hissing and -breaking over the beach. Great logs near shore moved sluggishly, -sometimes entirely submerged by the rollers. - -Everything but the weapons was hurled carelessly into the bottom of -the boat. Dave, Jack, Tom Clifton and Tim stumbled aboard the rocking -craft, the tall boy, of course, tripping over almost every parcel. - -"Ho for the 'Osprey'!" yelled Tim. "Bye, bye, Uncle Stanley and Cap'n -Slater an' everybody!" - -There was much waving of hands and handkerchiefs; a loud chorus of -shouts--then the rowlocks rattled, while the measured dip of the blades -sent the heavily laden craft slowly ahead. - -"I say, old feller--Slater!" - -The gruff captain frowned at Colliver's upturned face, but something -in the lad's expression chased it immediately away, and, as he felt a -strong tug at his sleeve, he obeyed the significant wink that Pete gave -him, and stepped aside. - -"Wal?" he asked, curtly. - -Pete's eyes ran swiftly over the group. They were far too intent upon -watching the departing boat to pay any attention to him. - -"Wal?" repeated Slater, impatiently, shaking his arm loose. - -"If ye know'd as much as I do, old feller," answered Pete, in a most -impressive manner, "ye wouldn't be standin'' here doin'' nothin'." He -laid a finger warningly on his lips. "No yer wouldn't." - -"What d'ye mean?" growled the captain, in a husky whisper. - -"Jist this!" - -Pete drew himself up on tiptoe, spoke earnestly into the lumberman's -ear, and watched, with a peculiar grin, the look of amazement which -gradually overspread his ruddy face. - -"'Tain't--'tain't possible!" murmured Captain Slater, bringing out his -red handkerchief again. "D'ye expect me to believe anything like that, -ye lubber? Don't ye do no jokin' with me." - -"Joke nothin'! An' some o' yer men knows it, too. Jimmy, here--" - -Pete suddenly stopped, as Sam Randall turned toward him, while the -captain, mopping his forehead furiously, walked toward the group. - -"There goes Dave!" cried Bob. - -The stout boy was seen clambering upon the deck of the vessel. The -others soon joined him. Then the boat began to cut the water again, -and, within a few minutes, reached shore. - -The three boys took their places. - -The brawny oarsman had no sentiment in his composition; he only -wanted to get through his task in the shortest possible time; so his -passengers soon found themselves bobbing up and down, with the deep -green waves foaming hard against the boat. - -As it swung alongside the "Osprey," Sam Randall answered the yell which -came from his chums, grabbed hold of a line and climbed aboard. - -Presently all were together again. Their search for Wanatoma's gold -mine was to begin. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - THE "OSPREY" - - -The "Osprey" was a staunch, trim-looking schooner of graceful -proportions. Captain Mason, still quite young, and with enthusiasm -corresponding to his years, kept his vessel always fresh and clean. -Aft, a commodious cabin, with a new coat of paint, shone dazzlingly -white; so did the rail and gunwale, which, around the stern, rose above -the rest of the deck in an ornamental curve. - -Leaving just a passageway between the cabin, and running the deck's -entire length, were piles of smooth, finished boards bound in position -by means of heavy ropes. Enough space was left in the center to reach -the men's quarters forward; while on each side a narrow passageway -between the gunwale and lumber led to the bow. - -"Only hope I don't get stuck," murmured Dave, with some apprehension, -as he viewed the confined space. - -Two life-boats, bottom up, were fastened securely on top of the boards. - -The mass of rigging impressed the boys immensely. Their eyes ran over -innumerable blocks and tackle, shaky-looking ladders, and a bewildering -maze of rope which stretched aloft to a dizzy height. - -"What beats me," remarked Tim, solemnly, "is how they ever remember -what to do with 'em all." - -"Every mornin' the sailors learn the names all over again, I guess," -chuckled Tim. - -"In a ship like this--" began Tom. - -"This isn't a ship, Tommy," corrected Tim; "it's a schooner. You have a -whole lot to learn, son--listen: a schooner's--" - -"Huh! Much you know about nautical vessels," chirped Tommy, with a wink. - -"'Nautical vessels' is a good one," murmured Tim. "Something new; -seagoing marine nautical vessels, you meant. Who was that howled--did -you speak, Mr. Sam Randall?" - -"Yes, Timothy! Say, Bob, did you see Pete Colliver talking to Cap'n -Slater?" - -"Didn't notice 'em, Sam." - -"Well, I did--happened to turn quickly. Jiminy! Cap had about the -queerest expression on his face I ever saw; honest, if Pete wasn't -telling him something I'm much mistaken." - -"Thunder--avast there! No more o' that, my hearty!" growled Jack. "How -do you do, Cap'n!" - -A well-built young man approached. There wasn't very much of -the typical sailor about Captain Don Mason. He had dark hair, a -close-cropped mustache and deep brown eyes. But for a bronzed -complexion and the innumerable wrinkles which outdoor life had formed -over his face, he might have been taken for a prosperous young business -man. - -"Glad to see you, lads," he said, in an off-hand manner. "Not much -room, is there? Make yourselves as comfortable as you can; don't fall -overboard any oftener than necessary." He glanced critically at the -sky. "We'll be off in another moment. See you later, boys!" - -"Seems to be a nice chap," said Bob. - -"All sailors are," declared Tom Clifton. - -"Especially those on nautical vessels," grinned Tim. - -Presently they heard Captain Mason's commands ring out. Then came the -clank and banging of heavy chains, as the anchor was slowly hauled up. - -"Thunder! but don't they know how to handle those ropes, though!" cried -Tommy, admiringly, a moment later. - -The sailors were pulling away with a rhythmical swing. The creaking -of pulleys and rattle of blocks sounded above Captain Mason's voice. -Up, up rose the sails, reef-points tossing in the wind. Now the -canvas bellied out; then flapped and shook. The boom seemed to shiver -convulsively. A few strong pulls, and the mainsail caught the breeze, -straining hard. Up went the jib. - -With all sails set, the "Osprey" lurched; then her bow plunged deep -into a green flood of heaving water--they were actually off. - -Seven boys, squeezing along the narrow space between lumber and -gunwales, tumbled hilariously toward the stern. But even pleasurable -anticipations could not altogether still a pang of regret at leaving -Uncle Stanley's lumber camp. They waved their hands, shouting again -and again. - -How fine the sawmills looked, sending up columns of smoke and steam! -And there, over the bluff's rugged heights, were the cabins. The crowd -became silent--but only for a moment. - -"Had some great times," sighed Tim. "Never thought we'd meet with a -fate like this, eh?" - -"What do you mean--what fate?" grunted Jack. - -"Why, that we'd get blown away." - -"Well, as long as we aren't blown into little bits, you needn't kick," -grinned Jack. - -A fresh breeze droned intermittently through the rigging, and choppy -waves beating against the hull now and again sent up showers of -sparkling drops. - -The familiar, forest-crowned cliffs began to drop lower against the sky. - -"Want to see the cabin, boys?" - -Captain Mason, peering over a pile of boards, smiled pleasantly. - -"You can bet we do," laughed Jack. - -A creaking boom stood close over the cabin roof. The steersman, at -the stern, grinning cheerfully, nodded toward them. The schooner was -rolling slightly, while the wash and splash of beating waves seemed to -be steadily growing louder. Over the greenish expanse of water were -dotted a number of sailing craft. - -"Yes, we've encountered some pretty stormy weather," said the captain, -in answer to a question from Dave. "Here we are, lads." - -They quickly followed him down the companionway into a cozy apartment. -A table, several chairs, a small stove and a sideboard were the most -prominent objects; but the crowd soon discovered other things which -interested them greatly--nautical instruments, government charts, -besides a cabinet containing shells and curious fish which the captain -had collected occupied appropriate places. - -Dave Brandon showed a familiarity with the names quite astonishing to -Skipper Don. - -"Oh, but Dave knows everything," murmured Tommy. "Say"--he looked -around with a grin--"doesn't it seem queer to be in a room that can't -keep still?" - -"Awful odd," laughed Jack. "If you stay very quiet, lad, why--" - -"Oh, don't be so funny," retorted Tom, grumpily. "Bet I'm just as good -a sailor as you are--and then a bit more. Got your field-glass, Bob? -Good! Let's go on deck and see the mountains moving by." - -"Fellows, I'd like to stay on this boat a solid month," remarked Dave, -with a yawn. "Isn't the motion perfectly great? Imagine lying in a -nice, comfortable bunk and--" - -A howl of derision cut him short. - -With hearty thanks to the captain for his courtesy, six boys presently -dashed up the companionway to the deck, while Dave, his eyes twinkling, -slowly followed. He wandered off by himself, and some time later -they found him, stretched flat on his back between the life-boats, -contemplating a blue and white sky with infinite contentment. - -"Oh, can't you chaps let me alone?" he drawled, when Jack, with a yell -of glee, disturbed his rest. - -But, in spite of entreaties, they cruelly pounced upon their victim and -dragged him protestingly away. - -"It would serve Dave just right if we wedged him fast between the -lumber and this what-you-may-call-'em at the side, and left him to his -fate," pronounced Sam severely. - -"Dreadful pirates!" sighed Dave. - -Bob's field-glass was thrust into the stout boy's hand, as they hustled -him to the bow. - -"If you don't say that's one of the bulliest sights you ever saw, -something will happen," said Bob. He waved his arm toward a range of -the Cascade Mountains. - -The highest, a snow-capped peak, pierced a veil of whitish cloud, shone -against a patch of deep blue sky, and was lost in a mass of vapor above. - -Dave gave a cry of admiration, as he swept the field-glass across their -rugged slopes. Successively framed within that little circle of light -were enchanting views of wild mountain scenery--dense forests, tinged -yellow and brown, in many places interspersed with the rich green of -hemlock and pine; deeply shadowed ravines; great piles of barren rock, -crowned by tangled vegetation and trees whose branches sometimes hung -far over dizzy depths. Then flashed into view a foaming cascade, -tumbling from one level to another like a silver streak. - -The field-glass was raised higher--beyond the point where all -vegetation ceased; there was nothing there but a barren, desolate -waste, topped by perpetual snow. - -"By Jove, fellows, but that is perfectly immense!" exclaimed Dave. -"Your cruelty is forgiven. Whew! If the mountain we're bound for is -like those--why--" - -"I say we'll need an aeroplane, an' not horses," suggested Jack, with a -grimace. "I can see ourselves gettin' into all sorts o' nice mix-ups; -an' perhaps we won't come closer'n ten miles from that--" - -"Jabberwock--Jabberwock, Jacky!" sang out Dick, warningly. "Just -reminds me--wasn't Pete the cheekiest thing you ever saw? And Jimmy, -too? Wonder what Captain Slater--" - -"Don't you mention Pete's name in my presence again; don't even think -o' him while I'm around!" howled Jack. "My, but you do make me tired. -Run off an' play!" - -"Talk like that may lead to some one walking the plank," grinned Dick. -"An ancient custom revived! It would be a very unpleasant duty, Jacky, -but if necessary--" - -Dick nimbly eluded the big boy's hand, and retreated with undignified -haste to a place of safety. - -At noon Captain Mason invited them to lunch. By the time the meal -was over, a blanket of dark cloud had covered the blue, while lower, -faster-moving masses scudded swiftly along. The "Osprey" rolled and -shook, sheets of hissing foam tumbling back upon white-capped waves. - -The boys looked at the spread of canvas, dark and grim, towering aloft, -slowly swinging back and forth, with reef-points lashing furiously, -then at the straining booms and tightened rigging, through which the -wind was tearing with unpleasant force. - -"It's developing into a regular storm," said Tom. "Whew--just gaze at -that chap!" - -A young sailor was climbing up a ladder. They watched his figure -loom against the sky, as he mounted to a dizzy height on the -insecure-looking rope ladder. At times, he seemed to be leaning -backward. - -"Gee; if he should slip!" murmured Dick, apprehensively. - -"Oh, I guess he's too used to the business for that," assured Bob. - -But all gave a sigh of relief when, after a few moments' work, the -sailor descended. - -"Hello--hello, fellows!" came a hail from the stern. It was Tim Lovell, -who had wandered away. "Hello; a steamboat comin'--a real one!" - -"Silly dub," said Jack. "Who ever heard of an unreal one? Wonder if -it's life-size? Ask Tom if it's a nautical boat. Get out o' my way, Sam -Randall." - -The boys struggled aft as fast as the narrow passage would permit, -receiving in their haste a number of unpleasant bumps and bangs. - -They found Tim standing close to the steersman, gazing one moment at -the foaming, bubbling wake, the next toward a distant boat over which -hovered a wreath of brownish smoke. - -"See!" Tim pointed. "Bet it's a whopper. Don't give Jacky your glass, -Bob. Oh, ginger--that settles it!" - -Jack had rudely snatched the instrument, and, planting his feet hard, -steadied himself against the cabin roof. - -"Looks great!" he cried. "I wonder, maybe--I wonder if--" - -"What?" asked Sam. - -"If it can be the 'Evergreen State'; looks just like her." - -"The boat we came on!" cried Dick. "Wouldn't that be jolly?" - -"If she only stopped at the lumber camp we might be standing on her -deck now," remarked Sam. - -"Oh, I guess not; the 'Osprey' for me," declared Tom Clifton. "Anybody -can travel on a steamboat, but everybody can't get his bumps on a -lumber schooner." - -"Besides, its next stop is Rawdon, several miles below Wild Oak, where -we get off," said Bob. - -"You mean disembark; use nautical terms, Bob," laughed Sam. "Hurry up -with that glass, Jack; the rest of us have eyes, too, and want to get a -look." - -But Jack didn't hurry; whereupon Sam, Dick and Tommy made a united -attack, which resulted in the glass changing hands. - -"I'll make you sorry for that," puffed Jack. - -"Isn't she cutting through the water, though?" exclaimed Sam. "Won't be -so very long before she's up with us." - -Taking turns with the glass--Jack had promised to be good--the seven -eagerly watched the steamer's approach. Now she was coming clearly into -view, even the passengers on her deck being readily seen. Her huge -black funnels were sending up columns of smoke. - -Sam, sweeping the craft from stem to stern, gazed for several moments -in silence; then: - -"It's the 'Evergreen State,' fellows!" he exclaimed. - -"Hooray!" yelled Dick. - -"No better boat nor her runs to Portland," grunted the steersman, -throwing a glance over his shoulder. - -Slowly the distance between the boats was lessened. - -"She'll pass purty close to us, lads," volunteered the man at the wheel. - -The boys lolled on the cabin roof. The glass ran from hand to hand and -back again. A hearty cheer went up, and handkerchiefs fluttered when -the "Evergreen State" finally crept abreast. - -Then Dick, who was gazing intently, gave a short, shrill whistle, let -his hands drop for an instant, and whistled again, with such a note of -astonishment that the others sat bolt upright and stared. - -"Well?" queried Bob. - -"Why--say"--Dick's glass rose again--"say--yes, there's no mistake -about it! Say--" - -"Say what?" howled Tim. "Tell us, you silly duffer!" - -"Why, Mr. Lovell--your Uncle Stanley--is aboard that boat!" - - - - - CHAPTER V - - THE OTHER BOAT - - -A chorus of exclamations rang out. - -"Mr. Lovell! Can't be possible--you don't mean it?" screeched Tommy. - -"Yes, I do--sure as you're sixty-three inches high." - -"I'm over sixty-four!" cried Tom, hotly. "How in the world could -Mr.--it's a joke; and a mighty poor one, Dick Travers." - -"Joke nothing!" thundered Dick, excitedly. "See him--see him--there -he is, waving a handkerchief; shouting, too--saw his mouth open. He's -right by that little boat--life-boat, I mean. Get away--" - -Jack had the glass again. - -A moment's breathless silence; every eye was upon him. They saw his -eyebrows arch in surprise, his lips move. - -"Well?" cried Tim, hoarsely. - -The glass slipped into Bob's outstretched hand, while: - -"It's Uncle Stanley, sure as shootin'," fell from Jack Conroy's lips. - -Steadying himself, Bob leveled the instrument. The "Evergreen State" -flashed into view with delightful clearness; she seemed to be but a -stone's throw away. - -Eagerly Bob scanned the passengers crowding to the rail. Yes! That -man with the handkerchief was certainly Mr. Lovell. He saw him raise -a megaphone to his lips; over the air came a string of words, but the -steady splashing of water and the briskly rushing wind made them but a -confused medley of sound. - -They strained their ears, and again came the voice. - -Too bad! Not a word could be understood. - -Bob saw the megaphone lowered, then waved in the air. The people, -cabins, rails, life-boats, ropes and tackle--every little object looked -so exasperatingly near--and yet they could not hope to learn what Mr. -Lovell had said. The "Evergreen State" was already forging ahead. - -"What does it mean?" gasped Dick, with a wild fear that something was -destined to prevent them from continuing their trip. - -"Mean?" howled Tim, savagely. "Why, you can just bet your boots that -Uncle Stanley has heard something--all Jacky's doin's--he never -expected to go on that boat; I know he didn't--" - -"And he'll try to meet us," interposed Sam, "and--and--" - -They stared gloomily at each other, quite forgetting the presence of -the steersman and the curious glances he turned toward them. - -"Bring out that plank!" cried Dick. "I hate to use the 'Osprey' for -such a purpose, but let the ancient custom be revived." - -"Is it fur the tall un to walk?" The man grinned. "What has he went an' -done, lad?" - -Dick turned sharply around. - -"Why, he--he--" - -"Jabberwock! Jabberwock!" roared Jack. "An' he has the cheek to blame -it all on me!" - -Silence for a moment; then: - -"There's something in the wind," came from Dick. - -"We all are," drawled Dave; "I'm going for shelter." - -As they gloomily struggled along the deck, the "Osprey" was rolling -heavily; spray flew over the gunwale and splashed their faces; tiny -pools trickled along the deck. The wind was steadily rising into a -gale; dark, ominous clouds in the distance scudded along, flinging -ragged edges off into areas of rain. - -Bending over to escape the blasts, the crowd made their way to a more -comfortable spot between the piles of lumber. - -What was the meaning of Mr. Lovell's presence on the "Evergreen State"? - -No one knew; but all had certain ideas. The discussion grew animated. -Jack defended himself with spirit; he also tried the effect of vigorous -thrusts with his fists--his usual way of ending an argument--and -presently all but Bob and Dave had moved well out of reach. - -"The 'Evergreen State' stops at Rawdon," remarked Bob, reflectively; -"that's about five miles the other side of Wild Oak landing, where we -get off. So, if Mr. Lovell is really after us, he intends to come back -from the steamboat wharf." - -"Most likely," admitted Dave; "but it's no use to bother now." - -"Bet he's found out that we're goin' to a whole lot o' trouble for -nothin'," suggested Jack. "Better know it now'n later on." - -"Old pullback! Scared?" jeered Tim, from a distance of ten feet. - -"Well, don't let this great boat-ride be spoiled," said Dave, sniffing -the air with keen relish. "Hello! Seems to me that Sam and Tom are -looking rather pale." - -The two lads, wearing strange, woebegone expressions, stood silent. -Quite suddenly they had begun to lose all interest in the gold mine, in -Mr. Lovell, and everything else. They only wanted to quietly slink away -and be alone. - -"Poor chap!" murmured Bob. - -Several heavy showers finally chased the boys to cover; but each -time it cleared away all were up on deck again, gathered in the most -sheltered spot they could find. - -The mountains had dropped low on the horizon, a somber mass of jagged -peaks through the heavy gray atmosphere. The "Osprey" continued to -stagger and roll amidst a flood of surging waves and creamy foam, her -timbers seeming to jar and creak as she plunged her bow deep into the -water. - -Toward mid-afternoon, Wild Oak finally came into view as a mass of tiny -white dashes against darker surroundings. The field-glass revealed a -collection of buildings, behind which rose a series of rugged hills and -frowning cliffs. - -"Boys!" said Captain Mason, coming upon them suddenly, "I can't land -you in this gale o' wind; no, sir! Wouldn't dare to risk it--I've been -obliged to take in my topsails." He cast a glance of commiseration -toward the two with the woebegone expressions. - -"What--what in the dickens shall we do?" wailed Tommy. - -"Keep aboard as far as Rawdon, or further." - -"Goodness gracious!" groaned Sam. "Isn't it awful?" - -"It might be a great deal more awful if you tried to land," said the -captain, dryly. "However, don't lose heart, boys." He shot a glance at -the sky. "This blow will probably soon simmer down." - -But they didn't believe him; and, as Wild Oak became stronger and -stronger in the landscape, stared gloomily toward it. Perhaps never -before had a town appeared quite so attractive to them. - -"Only to think," murmured Bob. - -"Don't think," said Jack. - -They gazed at the buildings and long wharf for some moments in silence. -A sawmill and lumber-yard stood near the water's edge, beyond rose a -structure with a tower, while straggling up over the hill were a number -of frame houses, some partly hidden by clumps of trees. - -"This field-glass makes me tired," grumbled Jack. "Hold me back, -fellows, or I may forget an' try to jump it. That wharf seems just a -few feet away. An' what do you think? A goat just winked at me; honest -he did. Why, Jehoshaphat, I can almost touch the sawmill with my hand." - -"I always wanted to see Portland, anyway," observed Dick. - -A howl followed his words. - -"If necessary," said Jack, "I shall take charge o' this vessel myself, -an' sail it around in circles till the weather changes." - -But an hour later, in spite of gloomy predictions, it did seem as -though the wind was lessening; hope quickly revived. Rawdon, a town of -considerable size, was already in view. - -"I'll lay to until you can make it." - -The captain had hailed them. - -"Isn't he a daisy!" cried Tim, delighted enough to dance a jig, if -space had allowed. "Cheer up, Sam and Tommy; you'll be all right soon." - -"Get out," mumbled Sam, ungratefully. - -Fifteen minutes later came the sound of Captain Mason's commands. -Eagerly the boys watched his crew, as they executed order after order -with speed and precision. The mainsail, flapping furiously, was -lowered; the jib hauled down; then, as the anchor shot out of sight -with a splash, the "Osprey" was rolling under bare poles, with the town -of Rawdon directly before them. - -But it was an hour later when the good-natured and careful skipper -decided at last that it would be safe for them to make a start. - -"I can't afford to take any chances with future statesmen, lawyers, or -doctors," he chuckled, as he finally turned to his men and gave orders -to get the boat ready. - -It was quickly lowered, and piled up with luggage. The two indisposed -boys tumbled in--another moment, and they were off. - -On the next trip, Jack, Tim and Dick were taken ashore, and, at length, -came the turn of Bob and Dave. With hearty thanks to Captain Don Mason, -they took their places in the rocking boat, to land, after a rough -passage, at a long, rickety-looking wharf. - -"Hooray!" cried Tim, regardless of the stares bestowed upon them by -several natives. "Hooray! Now the fun begins! First of all, let's hunt -up Uncle Stanley." - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - CAPTAIN JERE - - -Captain Jere Slater had never been more astonished in his life; there -was something in Pete Colliver's manner which had almost assured him -that the stocky boy spoke the truth. Standing with his hands behind -his back, the captain glared after the departing boat, and uttered -a peculiar grunt, as the crowd at length waved a salute from the -"Osprey's" deck. - -Then, nodding to Mr. Lovell, he unceremoniously inserted his hand under -Pete Colliver's arm, and, with a gruff "Come along, young feller," -fairly dragged him away. - -A huge grin overspread Pete's face, while he winked expressively at -Jimmy, who stood aghast at such familiarity on the captain's part. - -"Now, Pete,"--Slater's tone spoke of a determination not to be trifled -with--"I want ye to talk, an' talk purty fast; or you an' me will have -the wust fallin' out we's ever had yit." - -"If ye'll stop pinchin' me arm black an' blue, I'll tell yer everythin' -I know." - -Pete chuckled gleefully, tapped his slouch hat, and executed a clumsy -jig which made Cap Slater's temper rise to the boiling point. - -"Out with it, ye little lubber; quick now!" With an effort, he kept his -voice down. - -"Oh, ye can't skeer me none," jeered Pete. "Ye'd best cool off. I ain't -never looked inter a face what was redder." - -This remark did not in the least appease Cap Slater's impatience. But -before the fierce scowl which tied his forehead into little knots had -subsided, Pete was speaking. - -"I hearn it from the big un a-talkin'," he said. "Fust, I says ter -meself, 'It ain't nuthin' but gab.' Then, of a suddent, I hears 'im -ag'in. Oh, I'm a purty smart feller, I am." He poked Slater playfully -in the ribs. "Says I: 'Mebbe 'tain't all guff, neither'--see? So I -inwestigates; an' it weren't hard, with a voice like hisn--the big un, -I mean. It's a gold mine they's after." - -[Illustration: "IT'S A GOLD MINE THEY'RE AFTER"] - -"If this ain't 'bout the queerest thing I ever hear tell of, throw -me in the crick!" said Captain Slater, hoarsely. "A parcel o' lads like -them a-totin' theirselves off, to git chawed up by warmints--if they -don't run up ag'in somethin' wuss! How d'ye know some o' my men knows -about this?" - -"'Cause I told 'em," answered Pete, calmly. - -Jimmy, his eyes fixed upon the lumberman's face, stepped back a pace or -two and prepared to run. - -But Captain Slater was controlling his temper splendidly. - -"An' what fur, ye little sardine?" - -"Was there anythin' ter prewent me, old feller?" Pete squared his -shoulders aggressively. "Would they let me in on it? No, sir! Would any -o' 'em give me a wrastle? No, sir!" - -"Wal, yer even a little wusser'n I thought." Captain Slater's words -were jerked out with angry emphasis. "Ye kin git now; an' git fast; an' -don't never let me see yer ag'in!" - -Pete's mouth flew open with astonishment; he saw the lumberman turn and -begin striding hurriedly after Mr. Lovell, who was already well on his -way up the cliff. - -"If that ain't gratitood fur ye!" Pete clenched his fists and made a -series of wild motions. Jimmy felt like taking it on the run again. -"Kin ye beat it? What's a-git-tin' inter the old codger's head, anyway? -Kin git, kin I? So I kin; an' it's after 'im!" - -"Ye ain't goin' to hurt him none, are ye?" asked Jimmy, anxiously. - -But Pete, striking the back of his hat a violent blow, and muttering -angrily to himself, made no reply. - -On the top of the cliff, near Mr. Lovell's cabin, Captain Slater, -panting from his exertions, hoarse and perspiring, stopped a moment -to get his breath. He again mopped his face with the huge red -handkerchief, then, with a grunt, strode toward the partly open door, -almost colliding with Mr. Lovell, who was about to step outside. - -"Captain Slater!" said the lumberman, in surprise. - -"It's me, fast enough. I most tumbled over myself a-gittin' here. -Lovell--" - -"Yes, captain!" - -"I wants a word with ye; an' if ye've got a chair as won't break down, -I'll plump myself where I kin rest a bit." - -"Come in, come in!" responded Mr. Lovell, with a smile; "I'm mighty -glad to have you pay me a visit. As neighbors, we don't see each other -often enough." - -"I didn't come here to spill no fine-soundin' words," growled the -captain, ungraciously. "What I'se got ter say is a-comin' straight from -the shoulder." He dropped heavily on a chair in the office, and puffed -a moment, finally exclaiming: - -"Lovell, is them boys goin' after a gold mine?" - -The two men looked each other squarely in the eye. - -"They are," answered Mr. Lovell, calmly; "I suspected from Colliver's -actions that he knew something about it, and now I know." - -"Ye sartingly do! Lovell"--Cap Slater leaned over; his brawny fist -banged down on a near-by desk--"Lovell, them two young lubbers ain't -the only ones what knows it, either." He paused impressively. "Pete has -went an' told some o' my men." - -"I'm sorry to hear that, captain!" - -"Ye know what the talk o' findin' gold will do, hey? It kin bust up a -lumber camp, or anything else, quicker'n ye kin fire a lazy logger. -An', wusser'n that, in this case, it kin put them lads in danger. -They'll be follered." - -Uncle Stanley, sorely disturbed, paced the room. - -"You think so, Captain Slater?" he queried, anxiously. - -"I sartingly do!" - -"I only wish I had known this an hour ago. They never should have been -allowed to go--never!" - -A shadow fell across the doorway; Pete Colliver, his face wearing an -impudent grin, was staring in. - -"There's the little sardine what done it, now!" said Cap Slater, -wrathfully. "If I was you, Lovell, I wouldn't stan' him an' his -impudence around this camp three minutes longer; I'd chuck 'im out so -hard he'd never stop rollin'." - -"It ain't ye what could do it, old feller," snarled Pete, with a leer, -"an' I gives ye a bit o' adwice--don't start nothin'!" - -Highly enraged, Captain Slater sprang to his feet, but Mr. Lovell's -restraining hand stopped him. - -"One moment, captain!" he said, firmly. "Pete!" he turned toward -the stocky lad. "I am amazed at your conduct. Do you know that your -reckless talk may put boys who have always treated you well to -annoyance, and, perhaps, danger? What have you to say for yourself?" - -"I has plenty to say; an' I ain't skeered to say it, nuther," answered -Pete, defiantly folding his arms and stepping inside. "Nobody has -anythin' on me. That there crowd thought I wasn't good nuff fur 'em. -An' if I couldn't t'row any one o' the lot in five seconds, my name -ain't Pete. None o' 'em didn't want me along, hey? An' jist 'cause I -work in the woods an' don't wear no swell suits with fancy fixin's! Ye -needn't wobble yer head, old codger; it weren't fur nothin' else. An' -I says," Pete's face grew redder with excitement and anger, "'I don't -keer if I does spile their little game.' They ain't got nuthin' on me." - -"Ye rewengeful young toad!" bellowed Captain Slater. - -Mr. Lovell again interposed. - -"Leave the room, Pete," he said, sternly, "and you needn't return to -the woods at present--not until--" - -"Fired, eh--fired!" howled Pete, misunderstanding. "Wal, did ye ever -hear anythin' to beat that? An' all 'cause Old Slater ain't got the -sense o' a grasshopper. Fired, hey? Wal, I'm glad o' it! Mebbe I wasn't -sick of this place, anyway. Jimmy, I say, Jimmy--I'm t'row'd out! Wal, -Pete ain't askin' ter stay, is he? If this isn't the meanest--" - -"Colliver, leave the room instantly!" thundered Mr. Lovell. - -Shaking with anger, Pete flourished his fist toward Captain Slater, -turned on his heel and stamped outside, where Jimmy, who had been -eagerly peering in at the window, joined him. - -"Is it true, Pete?" he asked, breathlessly. "Fired?" - -"Yes! An' old Cap Slater done it! Here, you Jimmy, come along with me." -And in the same fashion that the captain had served him a short time -before he dragged Jimmy to the edge of the clearing, where he tripped -him up on the dry grass. - -Pete's eyes were now shining with a peculiar light. He glanced around -to see that no one was near, then, flopping himself beside Jimmy, he -exclaimed in a hoarse voice: - -"Say! What's to prewent me an' you from a-follerin' that fine crowd, -hey?" - -"Oh!" cried Jimmy, somewhat bewildered. - -"I say, what's ter prewent our lookin' fur the gold mine ourselves? -Ain't I been t'row'd right down afore the capting? Ain't that the -limit? Think I'll stan' fur anythin' like that, Jimmy?" - -Jimmy thought not. - -"Wal, ye ain't wrong there. Mebbe we kin find out where it is. They -ain't got no more right to it'n we have. 'Sides, can't we have the -bulliest time a-huntin'? Are you with me in this?" - -Jimmy was now sitting bolt upright. - -"In with ye, Pete?" he gasped; "I reckon I be! Whoop! Won't we--" - -"Close down!" Pete's hand fell sharply on Jimmy's shoulder. "Don't be -like the big un. What are ye a-starin' at?" - -"I ain't starin' at nothin'. I was a-wonderin' how in the dickens we -could git to that 'ere gold mine fust." - -A fierce scowl passed across Pete's face; his fists were clenched; he -rose to his feet, and, after an instant, picked up a switch with which, -to Jimmy's relief, he began to lash the tops of the grass. - -"I knows a heap sight more'n anybody thinks I does," he growled. "One -day, I--I--is any one a-comin'? No! Wal, one day, I seen 'em all -lookin' at a drawin' clos't to the winder--heard the big un say as how -Bob Somers done it." - -Jimmy grunted rather dubiously. - -"So up I crep'," went on Pete. "Jist fur fun, ye understan'--there -ain't nothin' mean 'bout me. An'--say--if we could git a-holt o' that -thing, eh?" He wagged his head knowingly. - -"Ye--ye wouldn't swipe it?" cried Jimmy, aghast. - -"Of course not; but--but, if Somers was ketched alone some day! See the -p'int, Jimmy? He might git kind o' scared, eh?" - -Pete felt his muscular arms. - -"Wouldn't s'prise me," admitted Jimmy. - -"An' he'd fork it out fur a spell. If I'd know'd I was a-goin', it -wouldn't have been me who would have gived the thing away to Slater's -men." He kicked the turf spitefully. - -"An' them fellers ain't got sense nuff to git over the mountains fast, -like you an' me," remarked Jimmy, presently. "Think we kin ketch up -with 'em, Pete?" - -"Bet yer life! Let's hit the trail fur Wild Oak to onct. Why, even if -we only jist gits there as soon as them, Jimmy, they can't stake off -the hull earth; a little piece'll be left fur me an' you. A gold mine -is worth bil-bil-billions." - -"Billions!" said Jimmy, staggered. "Why--why, that's an awful lot, -ain't it?" - -"Ye kin bet it is. We'll git our guns now; an' beat it afore old Cap -Slater comes out; 'cause, if he gives me any more o' his gab, I'd be -fur a-huntin' wengeance, sure. Fired, eh!--fired! Pete Colliver'll -show 'em; by gum, he will! I can't hardly wait, Jimmy; come on!" And, -shaking his fist toward Mr. Lovell's cabin, the stocky boy walked away, -closely followed by his chum. - -It didn't take them very long to gather together what belongings they -could readily carry. The two had practically lived all their lives in -the deep forest, and, as long as they had a few rounds of ammunition, -felt perfectly safe. - -When the two, a few minutes later, hurriedly left the men's cabin, -fired with new and strange feelings, neither heard the call which Mr. -Lovell sent through the air nor saw the lumberman trying to attract -their attention. - -"If them two loses theirselves off the face o' the earth, it 'ud be -a mighty good thing fur the old planet, I'm a-thinkin'," growled Cap -Slater. "Let 'em toddle. I'm a-goin', Lovell." And, without further -ceremony, the former steamboat captain turned and began to walk toward -a logging road which connected the two camps. - -Old Cap Slater felt in no mood to enjoy the sights and sounds of the -forest. His feet ploughed through the dry leaves and sent them flying. -He had no eye for the swiftly changing effects of sunlight and shadow, -which one moment made the woods extend off into fairylike traceries -of brown and gold, and the next transformed their depths into gray, -somber masses. His brow was still contracted, and sometimes he grunted -in an angry fashion. - -In a little more than half an hour the captain came in sight of a -collection of log buildings, and heard the sound of his own sawmills -mingling their hum with the soughing of the tree tops. Leaving the -road, he made for the heart of the forest, soon reaching a snorting -donkey engine, the cable of which, winding slowly around a drum, -dragged a prostrate tree along a skid road. - -"Daubert!" he yelled, hoarsely; "Daubert!" And, as no answer was -returned, he drew from his pocket a whistle, and sent a piercing sound -over the air. - -Ted Daubert, foreman, soon located the lumberman, and came hurrying -toward him, with a worried look on his bronzed, weather-beaten face. - -"Daubert,"--Slater folded his arms--"how many o' the men has quit work -this mornin'?" - -"Eh?" The foreman seemed to start. "How did ye know, Cap'n? Why, ye -left camp afore--" - -"I'm askin' questions, not answerin' 'em; quick now!" - -"Five!" - -"An', by gum, I s'picion I knows who some o' 'em is, too--big Jim -Reynolds, eh? Wal, he ain't so bad! Who else?" - -"Tom Smull, Alf Griffin, Bart Reeder, an' Dan Woodle." - -"As sartain as ye ain't a speckled trout, Daubert, I know'd Smull an' -Griffin had toted theirselves off; they's the wust o' the lot. Git my -horse ready; an' tell that lazy cook o' ourn to stuff every scrap o' -grub he kin find inter the saddle-bags--d'ye hear? What's yer mouth -open fur, hey?" - -"Kin I ask where yer a-goin', Cap'n?" - -"Ye kin ask, but you'll git no answer. Do what I tell yer. An', -Daubert"--the captain raised a stubby forefinger and shook it warningly -under the foreman's nose--"if everything ain't all right when I gits -back ter camp there'll be an explosion that'll fire the hull shootin' -match clean inter the next state--understan'? That's somethin' fur ye -all to bear in mind." - -Daubert knew from experience that further questions were useless. He -walked, grimly silent, by the captain's side, as they made their way -to the log buildings. The lumberman's instructions were immediately -followed. - -At length Captain Slater, mounted on a speckled horse and resting -an old-fashioned gun across the saddle, uttered a gruff command and -flapped his reins. - -There was no backward glance from the cold gray eyes as he rode away, -a stern, commanding figure, erect as a general on the field. His form -scarcely seemed to sway, though the animal crashed through tall grass -and bushes, on a steady gallop toward the road. - -The captain's grizzled, weather-beaten face wore a look which plainly -showed that, like a knight errant of old, he was ready and eager for -battle; no danger--nothing--could daunt him. - -A moment more, and the intervening trees shut from view the speckled -horse and his determined rider. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - THE INDIAN - - -Wanatoma, aged warrior and friend of the boys, sat before his log -cabin in the midst of the forest wilderness. He had retreated to this -lonely spot when increasing years robbed him of his power as chieftain. -Wanatoma could not bear to see himself supplanted by a younger man. -The braves no longer circled before him in wild, fantastic dances; his -voice in the council of the tribe carried with it but little weight; -so, proudly, he had withdrawn to the solitude, where nature, kinder -than man, makes no distinction between youth and age. - -The Indian's black hair was streaked with gray; his once powerful -shoulders were slightly bent; his eyes were dimmed, but the fiery -spirit of the warrior still smouldered within him; he quailed before -neither man nor beast. - -For a companion he had a Great Dane, a dog of enormous size and -strength, generally tractable, but which his master, if he chose, could -transform into a savage animal almost as formidable as a panther. - -Wanatoma's log cabin was situated upon a level stretch on the side of -a high hill. Close by towered a wall of barren rock crowned by a thick -growth of timber. - -It was early on the evening preceding the departure of the boys. The -Indian, wrapped in a blanket, had taken a position near a good-sized -fire, for the gusts of wind sweeping by were chill and frosty. The -Great Dane, stretched at full length, lay a few feet away. - -As Wanatoma saw the dog's head suddenly raised and his ears twitch -forward, he stopped his almost ceaseless rocking to peer intently -toward the west. In another moment, the Dane, with a low, ominous -growl, rose to his feet and started off; but a soft word from Wanatoma -brought him to a halt. - -"Ugh!" grunted the Indian. - -Presently he walked to the brow of the hill, keeping his eyes stolidly -fixed on the line of woods below. Although the sky was still bright -and clear, the landscape was fast deepening in the twilight. Trees, -bushes and tangled thickets seemed rapidly merging together in somber -masses; the rocks alone maintained their sharpness. - -Wanatoma's eyes and ears did not serve him well, so, with a sigh, he -leaned against a sapling and waited, while the Dane began to growl and -show an array of dangerous-looking teeth. Only a few sharply-spoken -words prevented him from dashing down the slope, and when, several -minutes later, a sudden crackling of twigs sounded he answered with a -deep bay that echoed weirdly from the surrounding hills. - -"I wonder what for the white man come now?" murmured the Indian. "Mebbe -boys; mebbe not--we see." - -The crackling which had ceased began again; voices, too, came over -the intervening space; evidently a party was forcing its way through -the brush, and an occasional angry exclamation showed it to be not an -altogether pleasant task. Then shadowy shapes came into view, gradually -detaching themselves from the background, until five separate forms -stood upon a rocky ledge a short distance below the Indian. - -"Hello--hello, Wanna!" came a salutation, in a rough voice. "Is your -dog loose?" - -"He no hurt white man. Who?" - -There was no answer to this, but the crackling began once more; the -men, panting from their exertions, disappeared behind a mass of bushes, -then reappeared, and soon four struggled up the remaining stretch to -where Wanatoma, with folded arms, stood waiting. - -The fifth held back; in the dim light, he had caught a glimpse of a -huge dusky form from which now and then came an angry growl. - -"How!" exclaimed Wanatoma. He solemnly shook the hands extended toward -him. "Cap Slater's men! What for you come--not to see Indian?" - -"Jist to hev a few words with ye," laughed one. He was a big powerful -man with a deep voice. "Hey, Tom Smull," he yelled, "don't be skeered. -Some o' me fren's, Wanna; Alf Griffin, Bart Reeder an' Dan Woodle. Come -up here, Tom Smull! 'Member me, Injun--Jim Reynolds?" - -"Hey thar, make 'im tie up that critter; he's big nuff to chaw a man's -leg off," came from Tom Smull. - -"Dog no hurt." Wanatoma looked at his visitors searchingly. "You have -something to say to Indian? What?" - -"I kin tell ye mighty quick," began Griffin, but a sharp thrust in the -ribs stopped him. - -"We jist wanted to ask ye a few questions, friendly like." Jim Reynolds -grinned, shot a glance over his shoulder at the indistinct form of Tom -Smull, and patted Wanatoma's shoulder. "Me an' you has allus been good -friends, eh?" he asked. - -The Indian nodded gravely and walked forward, speaking sharply to the -Great Dane. - -Tom Smull, seeing that nothing had happened to his friends, and not -enjoying the rough sallies flung toward him, took courage, coming up -as the others ranged themselves around the fire. He was a short man of -powerful physique, with long, sandy hair and bushy eyebrows, and wore -a thick, stubby beard. The ends of a red handkerchief tucked around -his neck flapped in the breeze. Nature had been sparing of its favors -to the lumberman. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why Tom Smull's -disposition resembled that of a surly bear. - -"Yes, Wanna, we jist wanted to ask a few friendly questions," repeated -Jim Reynolds. "We've hearn tell that ye know somethin' 'bout a gold -mine; an' that ye've told them boys what has been stayin' over to -Lovell's camp whar it is." - -"An' if that ain't a fine thing to do, when men as ye hev know'd fur -years is a-slavin' in the woods; an' ye could jist as well hev--" - -"Cut it out, Tom Smull!" roared Jim Reynolds. "Now, Wanna, bein' as you -an' me hev been sich good fren's, we kinder thought as how ye might let -us in on it. Ye kin count on big Jim Reynolds doin' the squar' thing by -the boys--an' you, too, Injun. An' 'sides, it ain't a bit likely them -youngsters kin find it. So we know'd we jist had to ask ye, an' out -ye'd come with it, eh, Wanna?" - -But little daylight now filtered between the trees; gloomy darkness was -fast settling over the forest; a brisk fire threw a dancing glimmer -upon Wanatoma's picturesquely garbed figure and bronzed face. For an -instant his beady eyes flashed strongly, then the stolid expression -returned. He looked calmly at Reynolds and his rough companions, all of -whom were glaring eagerly toward him. - -"How does white man know?" he asked. - -"How?" echoed Griffin. "Don't make no difference, Injun; we know it, -an' that's enough." - -"We'll do the squar' thing by ye, Wanna," Reynolds again said, -persuasively. "Whar is the mine?" - -Wanatoma stood silent. - -"Yes! Whar is it?" roared Tom Smull, paying no heed to Reynolds' -warning glances. "We're bound to know, Injun. Ain't that right, boys?" - -A loud chorus of gruff assents came from the lumbermen. - -"Indian does not choose to tell," said Wanatoma, quietly. - -Tom Smull and Alf Griffin's voices rose in angry protest. - -"Ye'd better tell us peaceable-like," roared Tom, "or it'll be the wuss -fur ye. We hain't walked our legs 'most off, besides fallin' over -rocks, an' gittin' ketched in all sorts o' thickets, to hear no sich -words as them." - -"I should say we hain't!" cried Griffin; "an' it won't pay to go ag'in -what we says, nuther, Injun." - -"Go slow, boys," whispered Jim Reynolds; "yer spilin' the hull -business." - -"Git out! Smull an' me kin do the trick," growled Griffin. He cast an -anxious look at the Great Dane, which sat on his haunches close beside -his master. "Will ye answer, Wanna--yes or no?" - -"Indian no tell." - -"But see here, Injun--" - -Reynolds, with an emphatic wave of his hand, cut short Griffin's angry -voice, and said: - -"Honest, Wanna, it ain't right to let a parcel o' boys have it all, -when hard-workin' men, an' fren's o' yourn at that, need it so much -wusser'n they." - -"Ye couldn't expect none o' us to stan' fur it, nuther," said Bart -Reeder, a tall, slender, freckle-faced man. - -"We ain't a-wantin' to rob the boys, understan'," put in Dan Woodle. -"Did ye ever hear anybody say a word ag'in big Jim Reynolds? He's a -squar' man, all right; an' when he says the boys'll have their share he -means it, eh, Jim?" - -Jim nodded earnestly. - -"Ye kin bet I do," he said. "It'll be share and share alike." - -"Prowidin' me an' you agree to it," remarked Griffin, in a low tone, to -his chum, Tom Smull. - -There was an instant of silence. The lumbermen crowded eagerly around -the aged warrior, whose stolid face, turned full toward them, shone -brightly in the firelight. From the mysterious, somber depths of the -forest came a low, mournful roar, as the ever-increasing breeze swayed -the tree tops. - -"Indian has spoken," said Wanatoma, slowly. "He is a friend of the -white man. But boys save Indian's life, and Wanatoma can no forget. I -give promise, and always does the Indian keep his promise. Is the white -man like that, or does he change as the wind?" - -His voice was stern; he stood out among the rough lumbermen a -dignified figure, unyielding to either flattery or threats. - -"Wal, kin ye beat that?" cried Tom Smull, violently. "We didn't come -this far to hear all them fine words, eh, Griffin? Are you fellers -a-goin' to stan' fur this?" - -"No--no!" yelled Griffin. - -"If ye don't tell us to onct, ye'll be the sorriest-lookin' Injun what -ever hit this part o' the state!" Tom Smull shook his fist. "I asks ye -ag'in, will ye tell us whar that gold mine is?" - -"No!" - -Wanatoma's stern voice vibrated with decision. - -"Ye won't, hey?" snarled Tom Smull. "Ye'll be changin' yer mind purty -quick, I'm a-thinkin', Injun!" - -"An' that's whar ye're right, Tom!" yelled Griffin. "We'll see! If soft -chatter don't bring him, somethin' else will!" - -Forgetting caution, in his rage and disappointment, and hoping to -frighten the Indian by strenuous methods, the lumberman sprang forward. -Wanatoma, calm and unflinching, faced him. - -A great dusky form suddenly rose high from the ground, while a -deep-toned bay sent the astonished men falling back in a panic. Alf -Griffin had a glimpse of a pair of savage eyes and an open mouth, but -his wild howl of terror was stifled, as a crushing weight thudded -against his chest. - -He went flying over backward, rolled into a mass of brush, and, next -instant, the Great Dane, snarling savagely, was standing over his -prostrate form. Griffin, too terrified to move, felt a hot breath fan -his cheek, and gave a smothered yell for help. He was convinced that -his last moment had come. - -The lumbermen stood motionless, none daring to approach the infuriated -dog. Smull flashed a weapon. - -But Wanatoma, with upraised hand, sprang forward. A few sharp commands, -and the Dane backed slowly away, uttering another thrilling bay. - -"He who has no respect for Indian's white hair must suffer," said -Wanatoma, in a voice that trembled. "I want peace; but, listen, Big -Jim, always is the Indian ready for battle, and has no fear." - -He stood erect, facing the silent men, defiance in every line of his -bronzed, aged face. - -Still shaking with terror, Alf Griffin struggled to his feet, and, with -his eyes fixed on the Great Dane, slunk quickly behind his companions. - -There was something in the old warrior's manner which impressed the -rough lumbermen with a feeling of awe. Jim Reynolds spoke up: - -"Ye only got what ye desarved, Alf Griffin, an' I tell you right now -that any man what tries to do Wanatoma harm has Big Jim Reynolds to -reckon with. Me an' him is still fren's, even if he won't tell us 'bout -the mine. But, Wanna," he paused an instant, "I'm a squar' man, an' -gives ye fair warnin'; I s'picion we knows nigh 'bout whar that mine is -located. Anyhow, it won't be hard to trail them boys; an' I reckon if -a gold strike is ever staked out the ones that are goin' to do it are -standin' right here. So-long, Wanna." - -The Indian, with folded arms, nodded gravely, and watched the men file -out into the darkness. - -But a moment more, and the flaring light had detached them from the -somber background for the last time; their forms suddenly melted into -gloom, and only the sound of crackling twigs and stumbling feet told of -the presence in the wilderness of other human beings beside the Indian. - -Wanatoma, almost motionless as a statue, gazed at the gloom of the -hillside, at the stars which were beginning to show faintly above; -then, as the weird, shrill cry of some nocturnal bird jarred over the -air, he sighed, and turned toward the fire. - -The blanket was wrapped around his form again. With his hand on the -Great Dane's head, he began to rock to and fro on his rude log seat, -gazing into the depths of the fire, as though he could read in the -glowing flames what the future held in store for the youthful searchers -after the Rambler Club's Gold Mine. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - MIDNIGHT - - -"Well, how are you goin' to find Mr. Lovell among about five thousand -people?" asked Jack Conroy. "Say somethin', Timmy." - -"Let's hunt up the steamboat landing," suggested Tim. "Don't believe -many people got off the boat, and everybody 'ud notice a stranger. If -Uncle Stanley intended going to a hotel, maybe he asked directions, an' -one of the natives still lazying on the string-piece heard him." - -"How do you know one's lazying there?" asked Tom. - -"There always is, son; it's a universal custom. Where's the steamboat -landing, boy?" - -An urchin, holding a fishing pole in one hand, and staring open-mouthed -at the crowd, pointed along the wharves. - -"'Tain't more'n ten minutes' walk," he answered. "Want me to help -carry yer stuff? Sure ye do." - -Hearing his words, four other boys dashed over, and the owner of the -fishing pole was unceremoniously pushed aside. - -Bob laughingly settled the loud wrangle which began. - -"Each one of you chaps grab something," he commanded. "Come on, -fellows." - -Armed with their guns, the seven walked briskly to the street, a wide -thoroughfare running along the water-front, with low buildings and an -occasional sleepy-looking warehouse. - -There were but few people about. A goat, defiantly tossing its head, -blocked the way, so the boys laughingly walked around it. - -Soon the street rose steeply, winding close to the edge of a hill, -where they stopped a moment to look at the waves breaking against -its base. A hundred yards further along, a picturesque wooden bridge -spanned a small stream which came into view from behind a mass of -tumble-down shacks. - -Then they reached a level stretch bordered on both sides by tall trees. -A long pier with a glaring white sign indicating its use was soon -after sighted. - -"By Jove, if he isn't actually there, Tim!" cried Jack, with a chuckle. - -"Who--who--Uncle Stanley?" exclaimed Tim. - -"No; the lazy chap I spoke about. And there's another one, besides." - -"Then let's interview the two who typify the universal custom," laughed -Dave. - -In a few moments the seven, with Jack Conroy in the lead, walked out on -the wharf, and approached a small, grizzly-faced man who sat near the -far end, dangling his feet over the edge. - -His eyes ran over them curiously, but he did not change his position. - -"Afternoon!" remarked Jack, pleasantly. "How do you do, sir? Takin' it -easy, eh?" - -"Middlin'; can't say no more," answered the old man, with a drawl. "I -ain't got nuthin' to do, an' hev plenty o' time to do it in." - -"Better'n bein' rushed about it," grinned Jack. "Say, were you here -when the boat came in?" - -"I reckon!" - -"Did you see a gentleman with a brown beard and wearing spectacles get -off?" - -The old man appeared to meditate. - -"Did I see a gentleman with a brown beard, an' wearin' specs git off?" -he repeated, slowly. - -"How about it?" asked Tim, eagerly. "Did you?" - -"No; I calc'late as how I didn't. Why?" - -"Oh, ginger! We just wanted to know." - -"That's what most people asks questions fur; an' allus they wants -sumphin fur nothin'. Whar d'ye come from, hey?" - -"From the place we last stopped," laughed Jack. He fished out a dime -from his pocket. "Would you mind accepting this?" - -"Never declined nothin' in me life; an' I ain't young nuff ter begin -now," grumbled the old chap, extending his hand. "Thank'ee. Ask Luke -Jarrett over thar. Everybody looks alike to me ten feet away." - -Luke Jarrett admitted having watched a brown-bearded man wearing -glasses until he disappeared down the road. "An' he was a-walkin' like -all creation," he confided. - -"In the direction o' Wild Oak?" asked Jack, eagerly. - -"Ye hit it right. No, I didn't hear 'im ask no questions o' nobody; he -jest lit out." - -"Which means," said Bob, "that we'll have to light out, too. How far is -it--about five miles, eh?" - -Dave groaned, while Jack protested vigorously. - -"Five miles! Great Scott! An' with all our stuff! Let's find a rig." - -"Get out," sniffed Dick. "We can hire Luke and the biggest of these -boys; how about it, Bob?" - -Bob's eyes lighted up quizzically. - -"If we can't stand five miles on a nice, smooth road, fellows--why--" - -"It would look mighty bad for us ever reaching that Jabberwock," said -Dave, very softly. He smiled. "Anyway, we've proved that universal -customs are sometimes good things." - -A bargain was quickly made with Luke and two of the boys; then, -flinging a good-bye to the old chap on the string-piece, the crowd -started off. - -It was just the kind of weather for walking. The cool, brisk air sent -the blood tingling through their veins. The road fell steadily behind, -and within a quarter of an hour houses were passed only at intervals. -Upon looking back from a height, they saw Rawdon spread out, a confused -mass of grayish buildings climbing up and down gentle slopes, while -beyond lay farmhouses and rugged hills. Range after range extended off, -until the gloomy gray sky seemed to creep down and shut them from view. - -The road soon left the Columbia River, keeping so far inland that it -disappeared entirely. - -"Wouldn't it be fine if we should meet Uncle Stanley on the way?" -remarked Tim; "eh, Bob?" - -"It might not be so fine for the Jabberwock," answered Bob, with a grim -smile. "Unless," he added, a sudden thought having come to him, "your -uncle's changed his mind, Tim, and intends going with us." - -"Ginger; I wonder if that can be!" murmured Tim. "Say, Bobby--I wonder!" - -One by one the chipped and dingy milestones were passed, and by late -afternoon Wild Oak came into view. All heaved a great sigh of relief. - -"I couldn't have stood it for another twenty-four hours," grinned Dick. -"Who'd want to live in a hilly place like this, eh, Sam?" - -The way led down the side of a steep slope, and rose again, looming up -grimly in shadow, on the opposite side. Between great oak trees which -lined the road glimpses of houses and whitewashed fences were seen; -and, presently, Tom exclaimed: - -"Hello, there's that building with a tower; what is it, Luke?" - -"Wild Oak Hotel," answered Jarrett. - -"Is there any other?" - -"Nope!" - -"Let's steer for it," advised Bob; "most likely Mr. Lovell went -straight there." - -"'Twon't do ye a bit o' good," said Luke; "it ain't open now; only -ketches visitors as is daffy enough to come hyar durin' the summer." - -"Oh!" cried Tim, disappointedly. - -"The feller as owns it is Phil Irwin, a ranchman; has a cattle ranch -over to Marlin Springs, seven mile from 'ere; owns lots o' hosses, too. -They calls 'im 'Cattle King Irwin.'" - -"Good!" cried Bob, in a tone which instantly caused the other boys to -stare toward him. - -"Good?" murmured Dick. "Why? I can't quite catch the point." - -"Oh, it isn't a sticker," laughed Bob. "A ranchman, ranch-house and -horses! Catch on?" - -"The idea has lodged within," exclaimed Tim, tapping his forehead. -"Bully for you, Bob. Only hope the cattle king'll spare us about nine -good mustangs." - -Another fifteen minutes took them down by the shore, along the main -street of Wild Oak. Several roads branched off from this, all lined -with small houses and stores. - -The crowd, with their retinue of baggage-carriers, immediately created -an enormous sensation. Children, a scattering of men, besides numerous -feminine members of the population, viewed them with absorbing -interest. - -Jack Conroy, cool as usual and grinning broadly, began to ask questions -right and left. Had any one seen a brown-bearded gentleman wearing -spectacles? - -Several had. - -"He was walkin' up an' down this here street fur a spell," volunteered -a tall lad. - -"No; didn't see where he got to. Hev ye tried the mill?" - -"I'll go over and find out," said Tim. - -"The rest of us had better divide up into parties, and do a bit of -scouting," suggested Bob. - -This idea was applauded. - -"Go ahead, boys," urged Dave, laughingly. He sprawled down on a bit of -turf. "If Mr. Lovell comes this way I won't let him get by." - -"Goodness, what tremendous energy!" snickered Jack. - -Luke Jarrett and the two boys agreed to lend their assistance, and -within a few minutes the stout boy was left alone to guard their stuff -and keep a lookout for the lumberman. - -He had not been settled in a comfortable position very long before he -saw Sam Randall and Dick Travers pushing toward him on a loping trot. - -"I say, Dave," almost yelled the latter, in a state of great -excitement, "Mr. Lovell hired a rig and went back to Rawdon; some man -saw him. Gee! Wish those other chaps would come up. Just think of -having to hoof it all the way back there to-night." - -"That's all I'm going to do--think about it," said Dave, decidedly. - -"But--but--" - -"No force could possibly budge me." - -The others finally came up, and listened gloomily. - -"There isn't a particle o' use in the whole crowd going," argued Tim; -"let's draw lots." - -"All right," agreed Bob. - -A few minutes later six were howling with merriment, while Tommy -Clifton, highly indignant, held a paper which had written upon it the -word "stung." - -"Tommy's scared," grinned Jack. - -"Scared nothing!" snapped Tom, hotly. "I'll show you if I'm scared." - -Bob leaned over and whispered in the stout boy's ear: - -"I'll go with him, Dave. Mind? Not a bit of it." - -Tommy was scowling suspiciously. - -"Quit your kidding, Bob," he said. "Come on, Luke, and you chaps. -Humph--scared! Jacky might be, but I'm not; no siree! What! you're -coming along? Gee!" A smile of keen satisfaction lighted his eyes, but -Tommy's voice was still grumbling as he added: "Huh, but you fellows do -sometimes make me tired." - -After arranging where to meet, Bob Somers and Clifton began trudging -off, with the others straggling in the rear. The crowd watched them -until their figures had disappeared around a curve. - -Sam Randall declared that there was nothing very pleasant in the -prospect of loafing about Wild Oak for goodness knows how many hours, -and all but Dave agreed. - -Nothing could induce the latter to budge from a comfortable position; -he treated threats, scorn and persuasion with equal indifference, -smiling broadly all the time. And so they lingered until dusk began to -settle down; then the five picked up their luggage, and, with many -sighs and groans under its weight, sauntered down in the direction of -the lumber-yard and sawmill. - -It was a dingy, dark locality by the board fence, with piles of lumber -towering high above. Pools had collected in the street; heaps of refuse -lay about. So the crowd hurried along at a good clip. They walked out -on the sawmill wharf to look at the Columbia, still tossing angrily, -while dark, stormy clouds scudded before the wind. - -"Seems that the universal custom is not in force here," remarked Dave, -dryly. - -"Oh, it's only because it's too near a place where people have to -work," said Tim. "Let's skip." - -The lamplighter was leaving a trail of feeble, glimmering spots to mark -his progress; lights began to sparkle from cottage windows; starlike -points, seemingly poised in space, suddenly started up on the hills. It -was all very dark and dreary; and voices which they occasionally heard -had a strange, uncanny sound. - -Jack Conroy began to have uncomfortable thoughts of moonless nights in -the mountain wilderness, with, perhaps, wild animals prowling about, -or high precipices, unseen in the blackness, close to their camp. - -"If finding that Jabberwock is as hard as finding supper in Wild Oak, -we're going to have a tough time," grumbled Dick, softly. "Don't people -have to eat out here, I wonder?" - -"An' some o' these natives may hear a few wild croaks if we don't get -it mighty soon," laughed Tim. "Hadn't we better yell for help?" - -But the difficulty was at length solved by a passer-by, who directed -them to a very hilly street where they found the Wild Oak Restaurant, a -little frame building surrounded by a group of stately trees. - -With sighs of thankfulness, they entered; each threw his load in a -corner, while the astonished and agitated proprietor, who would have -bravely faced a band of outlaws, stood nervously wondering whether -their guns were loaded and might be accidentally discharged. - -Of course they ordered the best in the house, and managed to spend -a wonderful amount of time over each dish that was set before them. -It was the only known occasion when a piece of pie remained on Dave -Brandon's plate for more than one minute and thirty seconds. - -An anxious expression settled over the proprietor's face, and finally -he approached, smiling discreetly. - -"I--er--er--I generally close up 'bout nine o'clock," he began, -hesitatingly, "an'--" - -"There isn't much chance o' your doin' it to-night, old chap," grinned -Jack Conroy, calmly. - -"Eh?" said the man, looking bewildered. - -The big boy quickly explained, and then Dave, with eyes blinking, spoke -up: - -"If you have any extra mattresses and a lot of straw you might be able -to put us up for the night." - -"Ha, ha! Nice way o' puttin' it! Ye kin hev a room, sure," answered the -man, promptly, "an' some o' them blankets you've toted with yer ought -to take the hardness out o' the floor. I'll keep open as late as ye -like; but day prices don't go at night--understan'? I can't afford to -lose nothing." - -"You won't," assured Jack. - -A bargain was finally struck, and the boys, with minds at ease, settled -back contentedly. The hours slipped by with provoking slowness; -conversation lagged; Dave fell asleep, while the others yawned and -stretched. - -Finally a dingy old clock on the dingiest of old mantelpieces rang out -in quavering strokes the hour of eleven. - -"Can't stand this any more, fellows," exclaimed Dick, drowsily. "Who -wants to take a spin--you, Jack? Well, come ahead. I say, Dave--Dave!" - -"Lemme be," mumbled the stout boy. And Dick, who had leaned over to -tickle him with a straw, found his wrists seized in a vise-like grip. -"Don't bother," laughed Dave; "I'm coming." - -The proprietor opened the door to let them out. - -A shaft of light fell across the street, and lighted up in ghostlike -patches the old rugged oak whose branches almost swept against the -corner of the house. In the silence of the night, their footsteps -clattered noisily, as they began to trudge down a steep slope. - -From one street into another the boys turned, each seeming more dismal -than the last. Here and there oil lamps threw weird-shaped lights over -gray stuccoed walls, and fantastic shadows trailed across, to lose all -outlines in shapeless patches of dark. - -At the base of a hill, a lonely lamp shot its rays upon a wooden -bridge, and disclosed high banks upon its borders, while a fresh -rippling gurgle told of a stream rushing swiftly over a rocky bed. -The strong odor of weeds and moisture-laden air came up from the dark -depths into which they peered. - -"Ugh!" shivered Jack. "Spookish, eh? Worse'n bein' right out in the -woods." - -"It's something to stir the imagination, fellows," yawned Dave, -sleepily. - -"And send cold chills down one's spine, too," said Sam. "Listen--was -that anything? Bob's going to signal, you know." - -"Nothin' but a dog barkin'," answered Jack, presently. - -"And Bob's voice never sounded anything like that," chuckled Dick. -"Feels like the edge of the world here; Hobgoblinville. Are those -buildings or trees back there?" - -"Suit yourself," said Dave. He drew from his pocket a huge note-book, -and, leaning against the rail, began to write. - -"Another inspiration," chirped Sam. - -"Those illusive words!" sighed the stout boy. "I can feel the whole -thing--but how to grasp it!" He hastily dashed off several lines. -"Anyway, the idea is there. Going?" - -"Smell's already pushed me a yard," responded Jack. - -They climbed another hill, walking slowly and sleepily, and, as time -wore on, wandered through narrow lanes where the trees met overhead, -trod the wooden sidewalks of broad, open streets, or stopped on some -eminence to gaze off into the expanse of darkness. - -"Midnight!" - -Dave spoke the word as he stood, watch in hand, beneath a lamp which -flickered in the breeze and sent forth through a broken pane a strong -odor of coal-oil. - -"If those chaps would only come!" sighed Sam. - -Another half hour passed, then: - -"Hello--there's the signal!" cried Dick Travers, excitedly. - -Tired, sleepy feelings were as instantly swept away as though they had -been treated to a cold shower-bath. All came to a halt, listening -eagerly. - -Another moment, and a peculiar call suggesting the hoot of an owl was -borne to their ears. - -"Hooray," burst out Tim, "it's Bob and Tommy sure!" - -Regardless of the sensation which might be caused in sleepy Wild Oak, -the five responded with tremendous effect. - -An answer almost instantly followed the echoes of their lusty yells, -and joyously the crowd walked toward Cattle King Irwin's hotel, the -rendezvous agreed upon. - -It was not long before a couple of shadowy figures appeared in view, -passing before the dim light thrown by a far-off lamp. - -With a whoop, Tim darted forward, the others following close at his -heels. - -They arrived panting, to find the envoys seated calmly on a door-step, -with a head gazing wonderingly down upon them from a second story -window. - -"Well, well," cried Tim, breathlessly, "did you see Uncle Stanley?" - -"We did not," answered Tom, wearily, "and for a very good reason, too; -eh, Bob?" - -"Why--why--" - -The chorus of questions was stilled by Bob Somers. - -"It's this way," he said; "one of the steamers bound east stopped at -Rawdon this afternoon. We hunted up the agent, and he was sure, from -our description, that Mr. Lovell got aboard. So the whole--" - -"Thing is still a mystery," finished Tom. - -A gruff voice floated down from above. - -"Go on now--get away from here with all that gab, or 'twon't be no -mystery what happens next." - -A head thrust out of a window nodded vigorously. - -"Oh!" cried Bob, looking up, somewhat startled. - -"Where'd ye come from?" - -"That's what they all ask. Beg your pardon, sir!" - -"Beg your pardon, sir, also!" added Jack, with a grin. - -Several other similarly polite remarks did not appease the wrath of the -man above, so they started off, quite oblivious to the words hurled -after them. - -"Grouchy old gent!" murmured Jack. - -"Never had such a walk before," Bob was saying. "Black as pitch; -couldn't even see the road. Tired? Well, just a bit. Found a place for -us to sleep, eh? That's great." - -Tim's thoughts were running in another channel. - -"See here, Bob," he asked, "what--what are we goin' to do about this -thing?" - -"Do!" Bob squared his broad shoulders aggressively. "Why, there's only -one thing for us to do, Tim; and that is--" He waved his arm toward the -north. - -And the others understood, and cheered. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - THE BRONCHOS - - -It was late in the afternoon of the next day when the boys, following -a well-defined cattle trail which led over range after range of hills -and through broad valleys, came in sight of a collection of white -buildings--the ranch-house and barns of Cattle King Irwin. - -Eagerly they pushed ahead, watching with a satisfaction born of fatigue -and hunger the outlines of the grim old structure slowly expanding -before their eyes. It was a picturesque, time-stained building, -L-shaped, two-storied, with a little tower rising from the center, rows -of windows on all sides, and surrounded by a broad veranda. - -The ranch-house wore a sleepy, deserted look, although a thin column of -brownish smoke issuing from a chimney at the rear told of life within. - -"Only hope he's home," murmured Jack, wearily. "Don't believe my -back'll ever feel right again." - -"It's been a mighty hard tug with all this stuff," admitted Bob, "but -if everything goes right, Jack, we'll soon have a few sturdy broncs to -take us the rest of the way. Hello! There's some one coming now." - -The big square door of the ranch-house had suddenly swung open, and -an enormous man stepped onto the piazza. He stood gazing earnestly -in their direction, as if not quite certain of his eyes, then walked -slowly down the steps to meet them. - -"Gracious, isn't he a whopper?" whispered Dick. - -"Talk about your giants," murmured Tom; "he's one." - -But the big man's full-bearded face was lighted up with such a pleasant -expression that any feeling of constraint which his size might have -inspired was instantly dispelled. - -"How do you do, sir?" Jack greeted him politely. "You are Mr. Cattle -King Irwin, I suppose?" - -"Bless me," exclaimed the ranchman, in a deep, rumbling voice, "where -in the world did you boys come from?" - -Dick chuckled at the familiar question, while the others repressed a -smile with difficulty. - -"Oh, we heard 'bout your havin' horses for sale, an' thought we'd drop -over the hills an' take a look at a few." - -"Horses! You're not dealers, are you?" Mr. Irwin's eyes twinkled. -"Bless me, but this is the biggest surprise I've had for some time. -Easy to see the lot of you have been living pretty much out in the -open, too; brown as berries. Well, leave your stuff on the veranda and -come in." - -They followed his towering form into a great square apartment. The -ceiling was raftered, and the walls paneled in oak. Near one corner -stood a small table, while out in the room was another of greater -length, with long benches on either side. - -The big ranchman waved his hand. - -"Plenty of chairs; a settee by the window--make yourselves at home, and -tell me what all this means. How does it happen that youngsters like -you are tramping around this lonely region?" - -"I'll tell you," began Jack, easily; "my young friends here are out -lookin' for a bit o' adventure, an' of course need some one to see -after 'em; so I consented to come along an'--" - -"Huh!" said Tom, in a voice so loud that general attention was -attracted, whereupon Tommy, somewhat confused, jerked his finger toward -Bob Somers. "He's the one, sir," he said. "Go ahead, Bob." - -Jack grinned indulgently, and flopped down beside Dave, who was already -comfortably installed on the settee. - -The ranchman listened intently while Bob explained their errand. -Sitting back in a chair which seemed to have been made expressly for -him, his eyes ran over the group, an occasional "h'm" falling from his -lips. - -"Ever had any experience out in the wilderness?" he queried, presently. - -"Well, I should rather say so," cried Dick. "Tell Mr. Irwin about the -club, Bob, and some of our adventures." - -With his hands clasped across his knees, the cattleman again assumed an -easy attitude. His smile grew broader, and, as Bob finished, he broke -into a deep, rumbling laugh. - -"So this is the Rambler Club," he said. "Well, well! I hope your -feelings won't be hurt, boys, when I say that I've never heard of you." - -"Never even heard o' Jack Conroy?" snickered Tim--"that big chap -sittin' over there? The gentleman never heard o' you, Jacky; did you -hear?" - -"Nobody outside the range of his voice ever did," laughed Tom. - -"Perhaps the high hills in this part of the country stopped our fame -from getting past," said Bob, with a smile. "How about those horses, -Mr. Irwin?" - -The ranchman stroked his beard thoughtfully, then his glance swept them -again. - -"The only horses I have for sale at present," he said, slowly, "are -skittish animals not very well broken, and if anything happened to you -boys I should feel myself responsible." - -"Just the kind of horses we want," cried Bob, enthusiastically; "eh, -fellows? You needn't have a bit of fear on our account, Mr. Irwin; the -whole crowd are jolly good riders. We'll prove it, too, if you like." - -"You bet we will," came from Tim. - -"And then another question," said Mr. Irwin, easing his huge form into -a more comfortable position and smiling genially; "just let us suppose, -for instance, that I have--er--er--well, a suspicious nature: then I -might be justified in thinking, perhaps, that your parents wouldn't -approve--er--er"--his deep laugh boomed forth again--"have you anything -to show me?" - -"Oh, yes," laughed Dick, "lots of letters." - -"And that stout chap over there," put in Sam, "is our historian, poet -and artist. Speak for yourself, Dave. He's writing a great volume about -our travels--subscriptions taken now." - -"You can put my name down if you'll agree to send the book out here by -mail," laughed the ranchman. "Letters from your father, eh? Your name -is Bob, I believe?" He glanced over them quickly. "Oh, it's all right; -I thought it would be. Well, come out to the corral, boys." - -From a rear door of the ranch-house he led the way toward a long line -of barns, and, passing these, they saw ahead a rambling collection of -sheds and solidly-built corrals. - -To their left, an undulating farm meadow was covered with thousands of -towering yellow haystacks extending off until they formed an apparently -solid line against the gray hills beyond. - -"An important part of the cattleman's business," explained Mr. Irwin, -noticing the boys' interest. "This is for the winter feeding." - -"Don't you ever graze your herds on government land?" asked Tim. - -"Formerly I did, by paying so much per head; but now I prefer to have -the stock behind my own wire fences. It required the services of many -men to keep them within the proper limits. The sheepmen, of course, -have the advantage there, for even large flocks are easy to manage." - -"And the sheep-raisers and cattlemen used to have fierce scraps for the -range, didn't they?" said Sam Randall. - -"Yes, there was much trouble; it sometimes breaks out, even now," -answered Mr. Irwin. "But the building of railroads, the coming of -homesteaders and farmers, have blazed a trail of civilization which has -forced the stockmen further and further back in the interior. The open -range is fast becoming ancient history." - -"And towns are springing up, too," put in Dave. - -"Yes, it was bound to come." The cattle king sighed, as if recalling -old times, adding: "You can see that under these changed conditions -land is far too valuable to be used merely as a feeding ground for -herds of roving cattle. But here we are, boys." - -He opened an iron gate leading into one of the smaller corrals, and -they entered. - -The boys had before them a collection of as wicked-looking little -bronchos as they had ever seen. At the intrusion, there immediately -followed a tremendous commotion among the animals. Those close to the -gate galloped away, swung around, pawed the ground, danced and capered -about. Tails were lashing; neighs and snorts filled the air; a dull -thud of pounding hoofs sounded. - -"Gee!" murmured Jack Conroy. - -"A lively lot," said the ranchman. "Some of the boys will be along -pretty soon; they'll lasso 'em for you." He turned toward the entrance. -"Hello, Buckley!" he yelled. - -In a few moments, a tall, slim man came hurrying into the corral, to -stare in open-mouthed astonishment at the seven. - -"When the boys get in, send them over," said the cattle king, tersely. -"That's all, Buckley. See anything you like, Ramblers?--they're all -good stock. Don't venture out too far--danger of getting bowled over, -you know." - -The ponies were all in motion again, now huddled together in a compact -mass, then scattering over the turf, their swiftly-moving bodies -intermingling, to form currents of changing color. As the din of hoofs -grew louder, the yellow streamers of dust rose in thicker clouds. - -Jack Conroy watched the interesting spectacle without bubbling over; -his enthusiasm had never been at a lower ebb; indeed, he began to -heartily wish they had never heard of Wanatoma or his gold mine. - -Before very long several cowboys cantered up to the gate, entering in -single file. They were garbed in the usual fashion--colored shirts, -leather chaps, and broad-brimmed sombreros. From the pommels of their -saddles flapped rawhide lariats. - -A touch of their quirts, or whips, sent their ponies bounding past; -but, in an instant, they pulled sharply up, huge grins overspreading -their deeply-bronzed faces. - -"Wal, wal, strangers!" exclaimed one. "If this hyar ain't the biggest -collection o' tenderfeet I've ever seen to onct!" - -"Tenderfeet!" echoed Tom, indignantly. - -"We may look like 'em, pard," laughed Bob, "but it ends there." - -"Let's see if you can toss those rawhides; we're going to thin out the -corral," grinned Dick. "Broncs come cheaper by the dozen, don't they, -Mr. Irwin?" - -The cattleman laughed. - -"Get busy, boys," he said. "We have a big deal on hand; the Rambler -Club of Wisconsin is to be supplied with horses." - -A tremendous guffaw came from the riders. They listened to the -ranchman's instructions, unslung their lariats, and then rode further -into the corral. - -As the rawhide coils whipped and flashed through the air, the snorting -bronchos fell back with lightning speed, crowding each other hard -against the rough walls. Then, plunging and kicking, they spread out -into a half-circle. - -Zip! The noose settled down--one was caught; then another. - -"Look out, fellows!" cried Jack, in sudden alarm. - -The whole herd was stampeding in their direction. - -Yelling like Indians, two of the cowboys galloped in front of the line -of rapidly advancing horses, checked the mad rush, and when the seven, -who had fallen back in undignified haste to the gate, looked around -again the men were leading their unwilling captives toward them. - -Fifteen minutes later, seven bronchos were tied to posts outside the -corral. - -Looking out for flying heels, the boys went eagerly from one to -another studying their good points with critical eyes--that is, all -but Conroy did. Jack had been hoping to find one broncho with nice, -gentle, winning ways; but they all looked discouragingly alike, and -he felt an almost irresistible desire to fall upon Cousin Tim, who, -in an unnecessarily loud voice, was calling attention to their fiery -dispositions. - -The cowboys cantered back to the barns. They entered fully into the -spirit of the occasion, glad to see new faces and have a crowd of boys -to liven up the lonely ranch even for a short time. - -In a few moments they returned on foot, loaded down with saddles and -bridles. Then came another fight with the stubborn little animals which -seemed to bring out all the wickedness in their make-ups. - -Jack Conroy, leaning against the corral wall, felt his knees begin to -tremble strangely. His eyes ran swiftly over the ponies, some curiously -spotted, others evenly colored, and each vicious plunge they made sent -an unpleasant thrill to his heart. - -It wouldn't have mattered so much, he reflected grimly, if they were -alone on the open prairie; but with all these grinning cowboys to see! - -Jack gulped hard, trying to steady his unruly nerves; a fierce scowl -puckered his forehead, for a curious grin had settled upon Tim Lovell's -face, and Conroy felt pretty sure that he knew the reason why. - -"Ready, boys?" the ranchman's deep voice boomed out. - -Without an instant's hesitation, Bob Somers swung himself into the -saddle. There was a loud snort, a flash of flying hoofs; a rearing pony -pawed the air; but its rider coolly met every move. Down came his quirt -on the pony's flank. - -The animal gave a tremendous bound, and broke into a heart-breaking -gallop. A murmur of admiration came from the cowboys as Bob was whirled -off in the direction of the haystacks. - -"Kin ride ter beat all creation," commented one. - -"Bravo!" cried Mr. Irwin. - -The rider was soon hidden behind the yellow piles, a moment later -reappearing far down the valley. They watched him turn and canter -lazily back, and gave him a hearty cheer when he slipped from the -saddle. - -One by one the boys proved their horsemanship, and Conroy's turn came -last. Jack felt that all eyes were upon him. Making a desperate effort -to appear as if he had never enjoyed anything more in his life, he -approached a tawny sorrel whose ears were held threateningly back. - -A pair of wicked-looking eyes glared into his own. Jack devoutly wished -himself a thousand miles away. - -"If this isn't the worst o' the bunch, I'm a scarecrow," he groaned -inwardly. "Why in thunder did I let those chaps have first choice?" He -vaguely wondered if there were any nice soft spots around for him to -fall upon. Then: - -"Whoa, boy, whoa!" he whispered softly. - -The broncho, his sides quivering ominously, stood still. - -"Whoa, boy, whoa!" - -Desperately, Jack put his foot in the stirrup, and, with a do-or-die -look, vaulted quickly on the animal's back. - -Then the hearts of the onlookers were thrilled by a startling -exhibition. - -With a maddened snort, the sorrel bounded high in the air. Down came -its four legs in a bunch, sharp hoofs sending a shower of flying turf. -Jack found himself on the animal's neck, struggling frantically to keep -his hold, then tossed violently against the high-backed cowboy saddle. - -For a moment it was a question of which way he would be sent flying. -But Jack fought with all the courage and determination that was in him. -Each movement of the vicious little animal jarred and jolted him with -terrific force. Spectators, buildings and grounds all flashed before -his eyes in confused streaks of light and dark. - -"Good for you, Jack!" - -Bob Somers' loud yell carried encouragement to the big boy's heart. -He dug his knees hard against the heaving form, and just as it seemed -beyond human endurance to stand that nerve-racking bucking another -instant the sorrel quieted down and stood stock still, his dilated -nostrils sending up clouds of steam. - -Before the yells of "Bravo!" and "Bully boy!" had subsided, Jack Conroy -slipped to the ground, handed the reins to one of the cowboys, and -walked unsteadily to the corral wall, his head in a whirl. - -"You've done splendidly, Conroy," exclaimed Mr. Irwin. - -The big boy's brain was clearing; he began to swell up with pride. - -"I knew I could manage him," he remarked, modestly. "A chap only has to -make up his mind to tame 'em. A bronc can tell who's his master every -time--remember that, fellows. It's keepin' up your nerve that counts. -You see--" - -"Oh, you can cut it out, Jacky," roared Tom. "Don't lean against that -wall so hard. You might push it over." - -"Well, there's one thing I can't allow you to cut out, and that is -having supper with us," interposed the ranchman, with a smile; "eh, -boys?" - -The cow-punchers stood around grinning cheerfully as Bob spoke up: - -"We're certainly obliged, Mr. Irwin. You can just bet we'll stay." - -"Those seven broncs pulling all together couldn't drag us away," -declared Dave, solemnly. "I feel dreadfully in need of rest." - -It was growing late when they again entered the big, inviting room at -the ranch-house. Two huge hanging lamps were lighted before the glow -from a flaming sunset sky had entirely left the walls. - -While the table was being arranged for supper, the cattle king -concluded with Bob a bargain for nine bronchos, two to be used as pack -horses. - -"How about your provisions?" asked Mr. Irwin, finally. - -"I suppose we'll have to get them in Rawdon," answered Bob. - -"You'll do nothing of the sort." Mr. Irwin's tone was emphatic. "You -know, with such a number of men to feed, we have to keep a well-stocked -storehouse. I can let you boys have what is necessary." His laugh -rumbled again. "Why--I might even make a profit out of the deal." - -Bob smiled with satisfaction. Heartily thanking Mr. Irwin, he accepted -the offer. - -"Say, fellows!" he cried, raising his head. - -"I tell you there's nothin' hard 'bout this broncho bustin'," came in -Jack Conroy's voice. "It's easy--why, I remember the first time I got -on a pony, Dick, I was nervous to beat the band. But now it's a hop, -skip an' a jump. Eh--what's that, Bob--won't have to go to Rawdon for -the grub?" - -Bob's explanation brought forth a cheer, which made drowsy Dave Brandon -sit up with a start. - -They spent a jolly time at supper, and afterward there was more noise -and fun in the big dining-room of the old ranch-house than its walls -had echoed to in many years. - -Cowboys related tales of the range; several of them who couldn't -sing tried to, just the same; Bob gave a recitation, and Jack Conroy -whistled what he declared to be an operatic air, causing most of his -hearers to feel glad that it was his only selection. Mr. Irwin politely -refrained from telling him that he was better at riding bronchos. - -The cattleman insisted upon their spending the night at the ranch; so -they finally bade the men good-night, gathered up their blankets and -were conducted up-stairs to a room in the wing. - -"It's the only place I can offer you, boys," he said, regretfully. -"Hope you'll be able to make yourselves comfortable." - -The flashing rays of his lantern disclosed an apartment partly filled -with odds and ends. Near one side a ladder led to the roof. - -"Oh, we'll make out all right," laughed Bob. - -A few minutes later the seven were alone. Two lanterns suspended from -staples in the wall threw grotesque shadows over the rude board -flooring. - -"Isn't this the cheerful-looking place, though?" murmured Tom, -shivering slightly. "Gee! Pretty near as bad as that bridge at Wild -Oak." - -"A heap worse, Tom," grinned Dick. "Inside spookiness beats outside -ghostliness every time. But it won't bother me a little bit." - -Their voices and footsteps echoed with a strange, hollow sound as they -walked over the creaking boards. - -"An' talkin' 'bout broncho bustin'," began Jack, suddenly, "why--" - -"Who's talking about it?" chirped Tom, rudely. "Forget it, and let's -turn in." - -It wasn't very long before this advice was followed. They rolled -themselves in blankets and selected the most comfortable places they -could find. Conversation began to lag and soon stopped altogether. - -Several hours must have passed, when Dave Brandon, turning over in an -instant of wakefulness, caught through his half-closed eyes the vision -of a dark form blurred against an open window. - -With a startled exclamation, he hastily threw aside his blanket and sat -up. - -"That you, Dave?" Bob Somers' low whisper reached him. "Come on over." - -The stout boy rubbed his eyes, grinned cheerfully at the recollection -of his scare, and quietly arose. - -None of the sleepers budged as he carefully stepped around them. One of -the lamps had gone out, and the dim yellow rays of the other failed to -penetrate into the far corners of the room. - -"Well, Bob?" queried Dave. - -"The biggest rat in Washington awakened me," grinned Bob; "heard a loud -scampering, and raised up just in time to get a good look at him--a -whopper! See anything, Dave?" - -Brandon poked his head out in the fresh, crisp air, and gave an -exclamation. - -Rising in the east, over a range of rugged hills, the moon hung in a -deep, somber sky. A tree top rose against its dull, golden surface, but -everything else in the vast expanse of nature seemed dim and formless. -Barns, sheds and corrals made mysterious, irregular patches, even the -white walls but faintly seen against the darkened turf. A screaming -hawk passed swiftly across the star-studded sky. - -"Isn't it great?" began Dave, in cautious tones. "Wouldn't have missed -this for a whole lot, Bob. Why--what's the matter?" - -The other had pushed his shoulder gently around so that he faced the -northwest. - -"That isn't what I wanted you to look at. See anything else?" -questioned Bob. - -"See anything else! What--" - -"A light!" - -"A light! Where, for goodness' sake?" - -"Over the top of that hill." - -Dave peered eagerly through the gloom. Sure enough, a tiny glow was -flaring against the blackness, sometimes disappearing, then coming into -view again and shining as a faint reddish glimmer. - -Some one was out there, and Bob Somers' lips framed the word, "Who?" - -Dave shook his head. - -There was something fascinating in the sight of that faint illumination -which linked the wilderness with civilization; so the two watched it -in silence for several moments. Finally Bob spoke up: - -"Let's get out on the roof, Dave," he whispered, "and take a squint at -it through the field-glass." - -The literary boy, yawning, nodded assent. - -Shutting the window, they tiptoed softly across the room, casting a -look at the sleepers. Jack Conroy, partially aroused, began to mumble: - -"No, I tell you; he couldn't have thrown me; no, sir; not in a hundred -years!" Then his regular breathing told that he was fast asleep again. - -The trap-door was mighty hard to budge, but Bob Somers, after some -time, worked it loose, and they cautiously climbed out upon a -gently-sloping roof. - -The moon had now risen high enough to send a faint silvery sheen across -the quiet landscape and light up in ghostly patches the ranch-house and -its tower. - -Bob raised the field-glass to his eyes and looked earnestly at the -little spot of flaring color. Instantly it seemed to be flashed -startlingly near. - -A tracery of underbrush could just be distinguished rising in front, -but the flames were still hidden by the hilltop. - -"Wish to thunder it was on this side," murmured Bob. "Wonder who it can -be--not cowboys, that's sure!" - -"Hunters, perhaps," suggested the other. - -"Don't you think it's a little odd, Dave? Hello! Gee!" - -An indistinct form--unmistakably a man--had suddenly come into the -field of view, a tiny speck between him and the light. Eagerly he kept -his eyes fixed upon it, and gave a sigh when it dropped from sight. - -The field-glass passed from hand to hand, while the boys speculated -and watched the moonlight slowly changing the face of nature with its -radiance. The silence of the night was oppressive. Occasionally a sound -came from the corral, but that was all; even the breeze seemed stilled. - -"Well, I guess it's no use to stay up here any longer." Dave's voice, -almost stifled by yawns, came in a low tone. "Had enough, Bob?" - -"Sure thing, Dave. I'd give a lot to know who those chaps are and what -they're doing out here." - -"So would I," grinned Dave, "but not the rest of our night's sleep. -Hope that prize rat of yours doesn't get too familiar." - -In another moment the two had descended the ladder and were steering a -careful course through the dimly-lighted room toward their blankets. - - - - - CHAPTER X - - ON THE TRAIL - - -The Ramblers were so pleased with the ranch-house and their new-found -acquaintances that next morning they accepted the cattle king's -invitation to remain another twenty-four hours. - -Two days later they were lolling on the shore of a lake surrounded by -magnificent hills. In places they saw almost perpendicular walls of -glistening rock, wild-looking slopes covered with timber, and jutting -crags. And all this appeared again, with wonderful clearness, in the -still water of the lake. - -The bronchos, tethered to trees close by, cropped the long tangled -grass or drank from a shallow inlet which extended some distance back. - -A noonday repast had just been finished, and the glowing coals -were still sending out a grateful warmth, for the air was cold and -penetrating. - -"Where are we, I wonder?" murmured Jack for the tenth time. - -"Somebody had better run over to the corner grocery and find out," -grinned Tim. "Want to send some picture postals home?" - -"How in the dickens shall we ever find our way back to anywhere?" went -on Jack, grumblingly. "May take the rest o' our lives to do it. We -haven't even seen a glimpse o' that mountain where Wanna's gold mine--" - -"Hey, cut it out, Jacky," interposed Dick. "You're breaking rule number -one again--that makes the seventy-eighth time." - -"Suppose you think some bear, or little birdlet, or panther is -listening!" jeered Jack. "Hang it! Bet nobody else would be silly -enough to fight his way through walls o' bushes an' wade wet creeks -like we have. How do you know we're goin' in the right direction, eh?" - -"Compass tells us that, Jack," laughed Bob. "Don't worry yourself. By -to-morrow we may sight it. Time's up, fellows!" - -"Whoop!" cried Tim, suddenly springing to his feet. "Great Scott!" -He stopped short, and bent forward, a hand to his ear, listening -intently. "Did you hear that, fellows?" - -The report of a gun had echoed faintly. - -There was a murmur of surprise and interest. - -Tim thrust his hands deep in his trousers pockets, drew a long breath -and stared blankly at the others. - -"Can you believe it?" he said, softly. - -Crack! - -For a second time, the silence of the wilderness was broken. - -All the boys were now on their feet, eagerly trying to locate the -direction from which the sound had come. But opinions hopelessly -disagreed. - -"Jehoshaphat!" howled Dick, after a moment's tense silence. "That shows -how much Jacky knows--and he thinking that we had this corner of the -earth all to our little selves. Whoop!" - -"What's that grunt for?" sniffed Jack. - -Tommy's face was turned inquiringly toward Bob Somers. - -"What do you think of it--hunters, eh?" he queried, earnestly. - -"Search me, Tom." - -"What in the dickens do we care who it is?" growled Jack, shrugging -his shoulders. "This gold--er--er--Jabberwock, I mean, has you chaps -all nervous; it beats the Dutch how you're actin'. Don't you all begin -chirpin' 'bout me again; mind now." - -"Perhaps it's the same crowd that was camping out near the -ranch-house," remarked Dave, thoughtfully. - -"I hardly suppose they would be keeping so close to us as that," said -Bob. - -"Unless they had a good reason to," hinted Tim, darkly. - -"Oh, shucks! Listen to him!" scoffed Jack. "Didn't you ever hear o' -hunters an' trappers before?" - -"An' nine broncs plungin' through underbrush an' grass an' swampy -ground have made a trail that any good woodsman could follow." Tim -appealed to the others: "Eh, fellows?" - -"Sure thing," answered Sam. "Still, we needn't worry; I guess there -isn't any danger of anybody trying to track us, even if Ja--" - -"Don't say it!" howled Jack. "Might think from the way you fellows talk -I was the only one who had a word to say 'bout it." - -"Quit scrapping," laughed Bob, good-naturedly. "There are a lot of -hunters in this part of the country. Forget it, and help me stamp out -this fire." - -When they were certain that nothing remained but a heap of charcoal, -the seven walked toward the bronchos. - -"Oho," sighed Dave, with a glance at the tree-covered heights above, "I -can see our jobs cut out for us. Whoa, Whirligig, whoa! Everything put -back on the packhorses, Bob? Good! My turn to lead one, and Dick the -other, eh? Well, such is life in the wilds. Here, Whirly!" - -He untethered the restive broncho, and coaxingly patted a brown-patched -neck. Then, with a nimble spring, Dave was astride his back. - -"The lake shore route," quoth Bob; "hill's too steep yet to climb." - -The seven horsemen rode in single file, the steady hoof-beats alone -breaking the soft murmuring roar of the wind in the forest. At every -turn the scenery became more wild and impressive. Dense masses of -vegetation defied them to attempt a passage. Frowning reddish cliffs, -where erosion had worn away the soft facing of whiter rock, towered -high above, to deeply shadow the line of shore. - -Passing around one of these crags, Bob Somers, at the head of the -column, came to a halt. - -"Here's a chance to force our way up, fellows," he said. - -"I can feel myself gettin' cracked an' swiped by about a hundred dozen -branches already," remarked Conroy, with a dubious glance at the hill. -"Whoa--whoa! W-h-o-a, I s-a-y!" - -Conroy's pony was hard to manage; suddenly he whirled about, crashing -against the side of Dave's packhorse with unpleasant force, then backed -toward the water's edge. - -"Look out, broncho-buster!" yelled Tim. "This isn't swimming weather." - -Jack brought his quirt down with stinging force, and the broncho, -snorting angrily, leaped forward, landing with a jolt which almost -unseated his rider. - -"Confound the vicious little beast!" cried Jack, red-faced and -flustered. - -Bob Somers' broncho had already started up the hill, fighting bravely -to force a passage through a mass of underbrush. In places trees grew -so close together as to leave scarcely room enough to pass between; -and frequently only quick and skilful dodging enabled them to escape -low-hanging branches. Once Dick Travers was almost swept from his -saddle by a sturdy limb which he imprudently tried to thrust aside. - -Not long after, a yell came from Tommy Clifton. "Wow! My, oh, my, but -that stung!" he sang out, as a branch pushed forward by the Rambler in -advance suddenly came back and lashed his shoulder. "Look out, Jack; -it'll swipe you, too." - -The ascent soon became steeper and more open. The character of the soil -seemed to change; showers of earth and stones rattled noisily down the -slopes. Presently the bronchos were jammed together in the greatest -confusion, the way being blocked by a great mass of broad-leafed -prickly pears. - -"Great Scott! Now we're all at sea on land," chirped Sam. "Gee! What -queer-looking plants!" - -"I could manage if I didn't have this confounded little packhorse to -bother about," grunted Dick. - -The bronchos, in the confined space, were fast becoming unmanageable. -They started to buck and rear, dangerously close to the prickly leaves. - -Bob, with a firm hand, wheeled his pony sharply about. - -"We'll have to get out of this," he said, grimly. "It wouldn't be a bit -healthy to take a header in among that mess." - -Dave, leading his packhorse after him, was now crashing down the slope, -and the others, with quirts and voices, succeeded in bringing their -bronchos under partial control. - -When they pulled up some distance below for a moment's rest, all seven -were smarting from the effects of collisions with numerous obstacles. - -"I wonder what I ever did to these trees, to have 'em treat me like -this," chirped Dick. - -"It's a dangerous landscape, son," laughed Bob, rubbing his shoulder. - -"That last crack I got completed the first hundred dozen," grumbled -Jack. "An' more to come! Whoa--whoa, you silly duffer. Quick, Sam--get -out of the way, or this idiotic bronc'll sail right over top o' you." - -Jack was passing through some anxious moments as Sam frantically tried -to turn. His bronco threshed wildly about, threatening to pitch him -headlong. Just as he began to have melancholy visions of what might -presently happen, the other managed to get out of his way. - -"Hello, fellows--this way!" came over the air in Dave Brandon's cheery -voice. "I can see the top of the hill from here." - -"Bully for you!" cried Bob. - -He urged his pony ahead, jumped it over a fallen tree, and, after -passing the edge of a dense thicket, found the forest again opening -out, with the brow of the hill showing high above. - -The riders slowly came together from different points, and allowed -their horses to cover the intervening space at a slow walk. - -At the summit they had a magnificent view of the surrounding country. -The hill had a broad flat top, extending off to their left for about -half a mile, where it dropped almost vertically to the plain below. -They could see the rugged end of the cliff joining a steep declivity -which began only a short distance from where they had reined up. - -By keeping to the right, the way led directly down into a wide rolling -valley dotted with clumps of timber. In the distance, range after -range of hills stretched off, the furthest to the north a hazy line -of bluish-gray jutting against a higher form, which, at first glance, -seemed to be but a cloud. - -Bob was staring earnestly. - -"Look, fellows!" His voice held a note of excitement. "What is that?" - -"A--a mountain!" yelled Tim. "Sure as shootin'! Whoop!" - -"You're up in the air, an' so is that," laughed Jack Conroy. "It's -floatin' away." - -"An' you float away, too," cried Tommy, whose eyes were shining with -interest. "Whoop! It's--it's the unvarnished truth." - -"Get Dave to rub a drop o' his varnish on it, an' see if it still looks -the same," grinned Jack, with a wink. "That enlargin' affair o' yours, -if you please, Bobby!" - -"We'll give these broncs a rest, eh?" said Bob, dismounting. - -He tethered his horse to a convenient sapling, and raised his -field-glass. - -"Yes, fellows," he announced, calmly, "it's a mountain." - -"Whoop--hooray!" cried Dick, enthusiastically. - -"Why, anybody could easily see that with only half an eye," laughed -Jack. "Whoa--whoa! What's gettin' into this critter?" - -All the bronchos were acting strangely, sniffing the air and beginning -to prance wildly about. Jack Conroy's was snorting, showing every -evidence of fear, and all his rider's efforts failed to quiet him. - -"Whoa, w-h-o-a!" yelled Jack desperately tugging at the reins. -"W-h-o-a!" - -The sorrel whirled around in wide circles, showing the whites of his -eyes; and each moment every broncho in the group seemed to grow more -frightened. - -"Thunderation!" cried Bob, springing toward his own mount, and seizing -the bridle. "Wonder what's the matter?" - -He looked hastily around. - -A slight commotion suddenly sounded from behind a group of trees. -All heard a low, ominous growl; and even before it had ceased Jack -Conroy's broncho, rendered uncontrollable by fear, had bolted, and was -fairly flying over the ground directly toward the bluff. - -As the boys realized his danger, they gave a cry of alarm. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - THE RUNAWAY - - -Without an instant's hesitation, Bob Somers vaulted into the saddle. -His quirt came down with stinging force on the broncho's flank. -Snorting, the animal bounded high in the air--a mad race was on. - -A cold air rushed past Bob Somers' face as the ground began to fall -behind at a rate which fairly made his head swim. Leaning almost upon -the broncho's neck, he urged him forward with quirt and voice until the -animal was galloping at a nerve-racking pace. Trees, bushes and rocks -seemed to be falling together, and whirled by in the wildest confusion. - -A single misstep, and the rider might be hurled with crushing force to -the ground. - -But Bob Somers gave little thought to this. He saw Jack Conroy just -ahead, fighting desperately to swerve the broncho from his headlong -course; and every instant the sorrel was carrying his rider nearer to -the brink of the cliff. - -The sight nerved Bob to the most desperate exertions. The blows of -the rawhide quirt fell faster. Frowning brow and grim-set lips told -of a determination which would never give up while the slightest hope -remained. Faster, but not fast enough, tore his broncho. - -From behind came the sound of a thundering cavalcade and shouts of -encouragement. A cold chill seemed to strike his heart when the -realization came to him that he was scarcely gaining on the runaway. - -"Jump when you get the chance!" he yelled. - -As his voice was flung to the breeze, Bob's broncho stumbled, and the -rider, hurled violently forward on the animal's neck, felt its mane -lashing his face. With a supreme effort, he recovered from the jarring -shock. - -"J-u-m-p!" he again shouted, in a ringing voice. - -"J-u-m-p!" came high above the din of flying hoofs, as the five boys, -perceiving that their leader's tremendous effort was doomed to failure, -yelled with all the power of their lungs. - -The cold, clear sunlight shone brilliantly on the whirlwind of dust -and horsemen. Already the edge of the bluff stood before them with -terrifying distinctness, and to the boys bringing up in the rear it -seemed as if nothing now could save Jack Conroy from being dashed to -pieces at the base of the cliff. - -The steaming bronchos slackened their headlong pace--the race was over. - -Meanwhile Jack Conroy was not as badly scared or helpless as every one -imagined. He quickly saw that it was beyond his power to check the -frenzied sorrel, and knew that his only chance to escape lay in keeping -his wits about him. - -Jolted and bumped, he still sawed desperately at the bit and struggled -to keep his seat. Peering through narrowed lids, he kept his gaze -fixed, with fascinated attention, upon the brow of the cliff. A mass of -vegetation slightly to one side rose before him, and not a hundred feet -beyond was the fateful goal. - -Within that short space the outcome must be decided. In those moments -of din and confusion, Jack felt his heart beating with painful force. -His eyes were swimming, but his mind had never been more clear or -determined. - -"I've done my best to save the idiotic little beast from himself," he -muttered, grimly, "but he's bound to be dashed to pieces on the rocks -below. Now, it's up to me to take a leap for life." - -The moment for quick action had come. - -Pale faced, but resolute, Jack was slipping his feet out of the -stirrups, when a sudden, astonishing vision confronted his eyes--a huge -dark form had lumbered rapidly out from the bushes directly in the path -of his onrushing horse. - -Bewildered, the boy hesitated. Then came a glancing impact which sent -him flying over the broncho's head. - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - THE LOST PACKHORSE - - -A monster black bear had collided with Conroy's horse, sending the -runaway to its knees. - -The astounded leader of the Ramblers saw Jack catapulted into the air -and bruin knocked flat on his back. - -Then his own broncho, with a snort of terror, swerved abruptly, dashing -off at right angles. - -The riderless horse had turned, and was now thundering diagonally -across the turf. Bob Somers' quick eye saw that nothing could prevent -his own broncho and the terrified animal from crashing together. With -lightning speed, he threw one leg over the pommel and jumped. - -Jack Conroy lay stunned by the force of his impact with the ground. But -the fresh breeze, together with his strong recuperative powers, almost -instantly began to restore him to his senses. - -Presently, scarcely realizing what had happened, his thoughts all oddly -jumbled together, he half opened his eyes. - -A low, rumbling growl brought the light of understanding back to his -face. With a strong effort, he struggled to a sitting position, and -stared in open-mouthed wonder at a remarkable sight. - -"Great Cæsar!" - -A black bear but several yards away was just clumsily regaining an -upright position. Its little eyes were snapping with fear and anger. -The big chap had been so jarred and shaken that only a realization of -great danger could have induced him to move. - -[Illustration: ITS LITTLE EYES WERE SNAPPING] - -For a moment, Jack and the bear studied each other attentively. It was -a wonderfully short moment, however. Jack, uttering an exclamation, -managed to turn and shoot a glance over his shoulder. To his amazement, -he saw Bob Somers approaching on foot at top speed and five horsemen -fighting to control their bronchos. - -"Thunderation!" - -The black bear, having evidently come to the conclusion that Jack was -responsible for all his misfortunes, gave an angry snarl, opened his -mouth to show a row of perfect teeth, and began to lumber forward. - -Jack wasn't quite sure whether he had been badly injured or not, but -decided that the time to find out hadn't come. Pains and aches seemed -to drop away as easily as the dust from his shoulders when he scrambled -to his feet with a lusty yell and fled. - -The enemy, apparently satisfied at this tribute to his power, came to a -halt, raised his shaggy head and gazed curiously at the horsemen; then, -uttering a grunt of extreme disapproval, plunged away. - -"Hurt, Jack?" called Bob, breathlessly. - -"Hurt?" yelled the others. - -Jack stopped his flight abruptly. - -Now that all danger, as well as suspense, was over, shooting pains in -various parts of his anatomy began to make themselves felt with a force -that caused him to wince. - -"Hurt, Jack?" cried Bob again, as, with flying leaps, he reached the -big boy's side. - -Conroy felt his side and shoulder, then his arms. - -"I've been dented in about a hundred places, Somers," he grinned, -weakly. "Gee, but my shoulder hurts; that crash when I landed was a -corker--no bones broken, though. What happened to you, Bob? Had to -jump, eh? Just what I was about to do when the bronc-saver came out to -say 'Good-day!'" - -The other riders, who by this time had succeeded in controlling their -horses, cantered rapidly up, and Jack was kept busy for a few moments -answering their excited questions. - -The relief of the crowd was voiced in a joyous cheer when all presently -realized that, in spite of his terrific shaking up and fall, Jack -Conroy had escaped serious injury. - -"An' don't forget a little 'tiger' for the bear, fellows," laughed -Jack. "As a bronc-saver, he was a daisy. No, I wasn't scared, Tommy; -never would have let that silly dub of a sorrel chuck me over five -hundred an' eighty feet through the air--no, sir. Ouch! Wow! Another -wireless!" - -"We'd better not do any more traveling to-day, fellows," suggested Bob. -"Some mighty good places to camp right around here; what do you say?" - -"Suits me," said Jack, ruefully rubbing his shoulder. "I don't feel -quite fit, yet. Say, Dave, where'd your packhorse an' the other broncs -get to?" - -"He broke away just as I overtook the crowd," answered Dave, -apologetically. "You see, I hadn't tied the rope very tight, and one -glance at the bear was enough." - -"Oh!" Jack stared hard at the landscape. "Bet the silly dub's 'bout -five miles away by this time, Dave," he drawled. "Don't see 'im -anywhere." - -"We oughtn't to kick, after your having such great luck," laughed Bob. -"A mighty narrow escape, Jack!" - -"For the bronc, you mean," corrected the big lad, dryly. "Shucks! This -ridin' business is pie for me, if nothin' rises off the earth to hit -the little brute. Let's see what it's like at the edge o' the bluff. -Then we'd better hustle an' chase after those runaways." - -Limping slightly, Jack, with Bob at his side, walked toward the fringe -of bushes. Both kept a sharp lookout for bears or other foes, but -discovered nothing alarming. - -Skirting around the vegetation, they soon came to an open space and -peered cautiously over the edge. The sight fairly took their breath -away. - -A wall of barren rock dropped almost vertically for fully two hundred -feet, and from that point sloped abruptly to the valley below. Here -and there, on dizzy-looking ledges, patches of stunted vegetation had -gained a foothold, and, struggling hard for life, added a touch of -contrasting color to the grim reddish rock. At the base, far beneath -them, the two looked upon the tops of a dense growth of timber, huge -slabs of bare rock and great boulders. The cliff sent a clear, purplish -shadow over the rolling valley, to cut sharply against the glittering -sunlight beyond. - -Jack gave a shrill whistle. - -"Great Scott, isn't that awful?" He shivered and drew back. - -"You bet; and but for bruin your bronc might be lying dead at the base." - -"That's right, Somers! After this, let's be kind to bears. Come on!" - -Bob assisted Jack to mount behind Dick, then sprang astride Tom -Clifton's broncho, and the cavalcade was in motion again. - -Reaching the point where the mad race had begun, they looked earnestly -about for any signs of their horses. Those belonging to Bob and Jack -Conroy were soon discovered peacefully browsing in the direction of a -heavily-timbered section on the west, but the packhorse had disappeared. - -"Oh, ginger!" groaned Dick. "Isn't that about the limit? Hello--he went -right down into the valley." - -"How do you know?" asked Tommy, quickly. - -"It's easy; the little dub has jolted off some of the stuff. See that -shiny thing on the ground?" - -"Oh, yes!" - -"That's one of our canteens, sure; and--why--say, there's the -commissary department now, away off, just coming up on that rise; eh, -fellows?" - -"Yes; that must be the little brute," agreed Tim, shading his eyes. -"Havin' the time o' his life, too." - -"An' somebody'll have the time o' his life bringin' him back," remarked -Jack, with a glance toward his own broncho near the timber line. -"It'll take about an hour an' eighty minutes, Dave." - -"Correct," sighed Dave. "It was my fault; so the job is up to me." - -"Not on your life," chirped Tim. "You'd be back 'bout the time the moon -dragged itself up over the hills. Say, Dave, that's a great expression -for your book--'dragged itself up'--eh?" - -"I'll make a note of it," laughed Dave. - -"Whoever is goin' after the commissary department had better drag -himself down the hill," remarked Jack, as he slipped from his seat -behind Dick Travers. - -"I'll go with Tim," announced the latter. - -"You chaps almost deserve near-hero medals," chuckled Dave, an -expression of intense relief crossing his round face. "Look out for -yourselves. Yes; we'll have a fire going by the time you get back. -So-long!" - -"Or longer," murmured Tim. "Whoop! We may have a fine chase." - -"Git up!" shouted Dick. - -The two cantered swiftly off. Dick stopped an instant to pick up the -canteen. - -For a long distance the way led through high, bunchy grass which -seemed to undulate like waves of the sea as the breeze swept up from -the valley. Gradually the descent grew steeper and more difficult. -Ridges, innocent-looking from above, became on closer inspection -difficult passes choked with vegetation and rocks. - -The cliff's frowning heights rose higher and higher above them. In the -shadow of its gigantic crags they reined up for a moment to rest their -tired bronchos. - -"Great sight!" said Tim, looking up. - -"I should say so," answered Dick, shivering as he recalled Jack's -recent danger. - -"Gee! In all that excitement, I most forgot our first glimpse o' -Wanna's mountain--that must be it. In a few days, Dick, if our good -luck keeps up, we'll be prospectin' on its slopes. Honest, it gives me -a sort o' funny feelin'." - -"If we don't find anything, Tim, I'll have all kinds of the same -brand," grinned Dick, softly. "Wouldn't it be fierce? Hello! There's -the packhorse now--third ridge." - -"Yes! Gee! Let's whoop it up a bit, or he'll reach the Jabberwock -first." - -In obedience to a touch of the quirt, the sturdy little bronchos -bounded off, and were soon treading in single file a wide expanse -of soft, marshy ground. On the east they could see a dense forest -extending off for a considerable distance. - -Presently they were obliged to dismount in a wild little gorge, and -force their way through tangled briars to the brink of a stream which -tinkled its way merrily between a fringe of tall vegetation. - -"Bet the bronc was smart enough to find an easier way than this," -grumbled Tim. - -"Well, if we're not smart, we're smarting, all right," said Dick, with -a faint smile, as he looked at his scratched-up hands. "We'll have a -nice, cool drink, fill our canteens, and let the broncs indulge." - -The animals quaffed the clear water eagerly; so did the boys. Then, -after a short rest, they sprang into the saddle again, crossed the -stream, and urged the bronchos up a steep slope. - -At the top, Dick turned. - -"Hello! One of the fellows is out near the end of the cliff!" he -exclaimed, in surprise. "Look, Tim!" - -The other cast a glance over his shoulder at the rugged heights, deep -in shadow. He saw the figure of a horseman silhouetted clearly against -the blue sky, the animal and its rider having more the appearance of a -bronze statue than of life. - -"Wonder which one o' 'em it is?" murmured Tim, interestedly. - -Dick stared hard and shook his head. - -The horseman stood for an instant longer; then they saw him whip -quickly about and disappear. - -"It's Bob Somers--that's my guess," remarked Dick. "We'll soon know. -Come on, Tim." - -After a hard struggle, the two finally reached the ridge where the -packhorse had last been seen; but the animal was nowhere in sight. - -"Isn't this the dickens of a note?" growled Dick, in puzzled tones. - -"The idiotic little brute can't be very far off, though." Tim spoke -consolingly. - -There was silence for several moments while each lad stood up in his -stirrups to take a searching look in all directions. Between them and -the woods was another rise, and beyond this stretched a broad rolling -valley encircled by high wooded hills. - -The cold, glittering sunlight was fast losing its strength; somber -hues were stealing over fields of waving brown and yellow grasses, -and, as shadows deepened and lengthened, the dampness and feeling of -night crept into the air. A dense silence enveloped the vast expanse of -wilderness; even the breeze which gently touched their faces seemed to -be dying away. - -"If that bronc doesn't turn up mighty soon we'll have to hike back -without him," growled Dick, glancing at the sky. - -"Oh, ginger! That's only too true," sighed Tim. "Before the moon comes -up it'll be black as pitch." - -"And if night falls while we're down here, we may do some falling in -going up," grinned Dick. - -"The prize is yours, son," laughed Tim. - -For over an hour the boys kept up their search, finally reaching a -dense forest. They ventured only a short distance within its shadowed, -mysterious depths, for both realized that to delay any longer would -mean a difficult, as well as dangerous, struggle back to camp through -the darkness. - -"An' we can't do a bit o' good stayin' here," wailed Tim. - -"Anyway, it's mighty lucky the grub was divided up between the two -packhorses." - -"Their ways are beyond understanding." - -"And suppose we lose this one altogether; wouldn't that be awful? All -of our prospector's tools snugly tucked away on his back, too." - -"For goodness' sake, don't let's even think of such a thing," said Tim, -shrugging his shoulders. "Can't imagine where on earth the brute has -gone." - -"It means getting up mighty early to-morrow morning to look for him -again." - -"And maybe every morning for a solid month," added Tim, ominously; "an' -by that time he'll have scattered the stuff about till the ground looks -like the counter of a five an' ten cent store." - -Disconsolately, they rode between the great tree trunks toward the -light again. By following a route much further to the east the two -found traveling easier, and pushed ahead at a fast clip. A sunset glow -was rapidly fading; valley and plains became a cold, cheerless gray; -undulating ridges cut sharply against the sky, and the gigantic crags -towering above them began to assume an air of grim majesty. - -A sprinkling of stars was faintly showing in the fast-deepening blue -when Dick and Tim at length came in sight of a camp-fire surrounded by -a group of shadowy figures. - -As the two cantered up, a volley of questions was flung toward them. - -"What! You couldn't find the packhorse!" cried Bob, in astonishment. - -"Great Scott!" howled Jack Conroy. "This is about the limit." - -"And all my fault, too," sighed Dave. - -"Bet you're tryin' to spring some kind o' a silly joke on us, Tim," -said Jack, suspiciously. - -"Not a bit of it, Jack." - -"Well, by gum!" The big boy spitefully kicked a glowing ember back into -the flames. "We're in a pretty fix now--but I knew it." - -"Knew what?" - -"That we were goin' to run up against somethin' hard pretty soon." - -"Well, Dick and I ran up against a heapin'-over measure o' hard things -down there," said Tim, solemnly, holding up his scratched hands for -inspection. "Say, is there a bite to eat?" - -Bob Somers pointed to a brace of quail lying on a piece of bark. - -"Dave and I went back into the woods," he explained. "Seems to be all -kinds of game about; it didn't take us long to get these." - -"Which one of you chaps rode out on the end of the cliff?" asked Dick -Travers, casually. - -"On the end of the cliff!" echoed Bob. "Neither Dave nor I was anywhere -near it." - -"Well, then, whoever it was looked just too cute for words; you, Sam?" - -"We didn't stir from this spot while Bob and Dave were away," answered -Sam, earnestly. - -"What!" cried Tim, amazed. - -"But we saw some one up there," persisted Dick, staring with wide-open -eyes at the group, "and if it wasn't any of you, who in the dickens -could it have been?" - -"Is that another silly joke?" demanded Jack, fiercely. - -"Do you think we've just joined the United Order of Funny Men?" -snorted Tim, as he sprang to the ground. "It's the unvarnished, bona -fide truth; eh, Travers?" - -Dick, holding his impatient broncho by the bridle, drew a long breath, -and nodded. - -"Gee! Here's a nice mystery: first, we hear shots; then, on the same -day, a horseman rides up and takes a good long squint at us. Mighty odd -you chaps didn't run across him." - -"Goodness gracious, this place just seems full of people," murmured -Tommy, turning to stare anxiously in all directions. - -"And I don't like it a little bit, either," confided Dick. "Do you -think--that is--suppose--" - -"Say anythin' 'bout Pete Colliver, an' it means a whole lot o' -trouble--remember!" howled Jack. He held up a warning finger. "That's -settled--or somebody around here will be." - -"Oh, get out," growled Dick, leading his broncho to where the others -were tethered. - -The boys had selected for their camp an inviting spot on a level, -grassy stretch. Close by, a growth of scrubby trees and underbrush -supplied them with plenty of fuel. On the west was a wide, deep gully -filled with a profusion of vines and weeds, between which, here and -there, could be seen moss-covered rocks. - -"All hands pitch in and get those birds prepared," laughed Bob. - -The quail were soon toasting over a bed of red-hot embers and sending -forth a savory odor. Even the loss of the packhorse did not seem to -affect their appetites in the least. - -"Oh, ho," sighed Dave, as he finished his last mouthful, "isn't that -Egyptian blackness out there?" - -"Looks to me more like good old Washington blackness," grinned Bob. - -Outside of a dancing circle of firelight, everything was lost in -impenetrable gloom. - -The boys wondered if the mysterious horseman knew of their presence, -and, if so, why he had not come forward. Then, discussing the prospect -of finding their missing beast of burden, Jack Conroy cheerfully -insisted that its innocent young life had probably already paid a -forfeit to a pack of hungry coyotes. - -Leaving Dick Travers to stand first guard, the others finally rolled -themselves up in their blankets and turned in, hugging the fire -closely, for the air had a decidedly wintry feeling. - -Dick began to pace to and fro, the soft pat, pat of his footfalls -mingling with the sound of bronchos munching the grass or occasionally -stamping. It seemed very lonely and desolate, but he speculated -whether, in that mysterious gloom beyond the firelight, there might not -be other human beings wandering about; and every unusually loud sound -of snapping twig or rustle borne on the wind made him keenly alert. - -A long time passed; yawns came with steadily increasing frequency, and -on several occasions only heroic efforts saved him from falling over -into a doze. - -"Hello," he murmured, suddenly, "there's the moon coming up; isn't that -dandy?" - -In the east, a faint glow was beginning to show. It slowly increased, -edging masses of low-lying clouds with lines of silvery white. Dick -almost forgot his sleepy feelings as he watched them growing stronger -and stronger. Presently the rim of the moon appeared in view over the -hills. - -"Gee! That's a corking fine sight," muttered Dick. "Wouldn't Dave -like--" - -His sentence came to an abrupt close. - -With a suddenness that made him almost jump, the bronchos began -snorting and neighing loudly, evidently in the grip of frantic fear. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - THE BIG CAT - - -Dick Travers was profoundly astonished. - -"Great Scott!" he cried. "What--what--" - -As he sprang to the fire, uttering a shout, seized a partly-consumed -branch and waved it aloft, the sleepers awoke on the instant. - -Tom Clifton jumped up and dived for his gun. - -"Now, what's the matter?" he gasped, excitedly. - -Dick, without replying, seized his own weapon, and holding the -firebrand aloft boldly pushed out into the darkness. Tom, not to be -outdone, sprang quickly to his side. - -"What in the world is it?" he muttered, in a voice that trembled. - -"We may soon find out," answered Dick, softly. - -He waved his blazing torch high aloft, turned abruptly, and the -animals, straining at their ropes, fell into gloom again. In a few -moments the boys had reached the gully. Bob Somers and Sam Randall, -clutching burning brands, crept cautiously beyond the circle of light, -the others following close at their heels. - -"Watch yourself, Dick!" - -Bob Somers' voice vibrated over the air in a thrilling undertone. - -"Maybe it's a panther," cried Jack, apprehensively. - -"Or--or--a man," murmured Tim. - -The bronchos suddenly began snorting and neighing again; their sharp -heels, as they pranced about, struck the turf with dull, heavy thuds. -Then came silence--a tense silence, which sent creepy feelings coursing -down their spines. - -"Great Cæsar!" - -Sam Randall almost jumped in the air. A loud, piercing yell had -abruptly jarred through the night. Then: - -"Look out--help!" - -Almost thrown into a panic, the boys fastened their eyes intently upon -the shadowy form of Tom Clifton. They saw him give a sudden spring -sidewise, slip, and wildly attempt to regain his balance. - -The hasty movement sent the gun flying from his grasp. Then, with a -third cry, he toppled over the edge of the gully, to almost immediately -disappear from view. The startled crowd heard him crashing down through -the bushes almost before they could make a move. - -Bob uttered a cry of alarm. In a couple of bounds he cleared the -intervening space. - -A shrill screech, coming from behind a group of saplings, caused him to -hastily fall back. - -"A--a--a wildcat!" yelled Sam, excitedly. "Look out there!" - -The light from his torch had illuminated the grayish form of a big cat. -His ears were thrown backward belligerently, while a pair of yellow -eyes, full of sparkle and viciousness, glared defiantly toward them. - -Another challenging screech; the lithe body plunged forward. - -"Look out!" yelled Dick. "He's coming!" - -"Tommy--Tommy!" cried Bob, anxiously, "are you hurt? Hello, Tommy!" - -"No!" came an answer, clearly. "Mind your eyes, now--there's--" - -Bob didn't hear his concluding words; the cat was already upon him. -He acted instantly. Smack! The torch, swung with all the force of his -muscular arms, crashed against the animal's head. There was a sound -of splintering wood; then a snarl of angry disapproval, as hot flames -scorched his assailant's nose. - -That touch of fire seemed to take all the fight out of the wildcat. It -lunged sideways; and Dick Travers' frantic haste to give the animal -plenty of room brought him up against Sam Randall with such force as to -send the latter crashing to the ground. - -Then the cat swerved abruptly, and, with a final snort of disgust, -leaped down the slope. - -When Tom Clifton, a badly scared lad, looked over the edge of the bank -a moment later, he could, by the light of a flaring torch which lay on -the ground, see Sam scrambling wildly to his feet. - -"Great Scott! What's happened?" he cried, breathlessly. "Anybody hurt?" - -Tom's reappearance was the signal for so many exclamations that his -question passed without an answer. - -"Safe and sound?" demanded Sam, whose voice and manner indicated that -he was just beginning to get straightened out on the situation. - -"You bet!" - -"By Jupiter, that's simply great! The fall didn't hurt you, eh?" - -"No; but it did the bushes, I can tell you--I ripped 'em up a bit. -Landed on a ledge. Where's my gun? Gracious! That animal just missed me -by a few feet when he went slipping by." - -Bob gave Tom a hand, and helped him up the bank. - -"I just about walked into that old codger," panted the lad. "Happened -to look around, and saw his ugly face most pokin' me in the ribs. That -would make anybody give a start, eh?" - -"I wouldn't call it a 'start,' Tommy," grinned Sam; "I'd say a leap -through space. How far did you roll?" - -"About a hundred and twenty-five biscuit lengths. That's a pun, eh? -Rolls and biscuits; and the last bump I got was a crackerjack. Think -that cat is going to loaf around here waiting for us?" - -"We'll be ready for him, if he does," said Sam. - -"It seems to be a regular menagerie up here," laughed Jack Conroy. -"What's comin' next, I wonder?" - -They straggled back to the fire, piled on more fuel, and now as wakeful -as they had ever been in their lives, watched the pale radiance of the -moon slowly spreading out over the quiet landscape. - -"Say," remarked Jack Conroy, as he suddenly rose from his seat on a -log, "I see somethin' over there that doesn't look a bit like a rock, -or bushes; an' it isn't a bear, either," he added, earnestly. "Come -here, Somers." - -"I'm in on this," chirped Tim, springing to his feet. His eyes, -following the direction of Jack's outstretched arm, took in an -odd-shaped form moving slowly about in the ghostly light. - -"That is passin' strange, Jack," he murmured, in puzzled tones. -"Thunderation! No animal could have a shape like that and live." - -The crowd formed a half-circle around Bob Somers, as he brought out his -field-glass and took a long, searching look. When he lowered it, an -expression of wonderment rested upon his features. Without answering -an eager volley of questions, he raised the glass again, his lips -puckering to emit a shrill whistle of surprise. - -"What is it, Somers?" howled Jack, impatiently. - -"Say, fellows--" Bob's tone, full of amazement, caused a tremor of -eager expectancy to run through the crowd. - -"Well?" queried Tim, breathlessly. - -"It looks--looks--" - -"Like what?" almost roared Jack. "Is it a bird, beast, or portable -bush?" - -"Fellows, it looks exactly as our packhorse ought to in this light and -that far off." - -There was an instant of silence, then: - -"It can't be possible." - -"Oh, shucks! You're jokin'!" - -"Get out, Bob!" - -"A near-member o' the United Order o' Funny Men." - -"But it does, I tell you!" shouted Bob. He almost pitched the -field-glass into eager Jack Conroy's hands, seized his gun, and, with -"Come on, fellows!" flung over his shoulder, started off at a loping -trot. - -Like a charge of infantry, with weapons shining in the moonlight, they -swept through the high grass, jumped over and around obstructions, -gradually increasing their pace until it became a wild, headlong spurt. - -As they approached the strange-looking object, it began to dawn upon -skeptical minds that, after all, it certainly did bear a striking -resemblance to the missing packhorse. - -Breathless and excited, the seven covered the last stretch in record -time, all remaining doubts falling from their minds as swiftly as their -flying feet trod the ground. - -Right before them, clearly revealed by the moonlight, was the -much-wished-for beast of burden. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - "WHERE IS DICK?" - - -"Great Scott!" cried Jack, in joy and amazement. - -"Shout a little louder, will you?" said Tim, as fiercely as he dared. -"That might start 'im off an' give us the chance o' havin' an all -night's job." - -The packhorse, with a loud neigh, kicked up his heels, and dashed away; -but his long rope, catching around a mass of bushes and tree trunks, -brought the animal to a sudden stop. - -"Doesn't this beat anything you ever heard of?" burst out Dick Travers. -"How on earth did this bronc ever get back here, eh, fellows?" - -"That's beyond me," said Sam Randall. - -"Queerer jinks never happened," cried Tom, his eyes snapping with -excitement. - -"To think that the silly duffer had actually sense enough to turn -around an' toddle back," murmured Jack. "Honest, but this is the most -natural dream I've ever had. Aren't you fellows really snoozin' 'round -the fire at this very moment? Please don't wake me up." - -"Truth is stranger'n dreams, sometimes, Jacky," grinned Tim. - -The seven stood silently a moment, looking at each other in the -greatest perplexity. The return of the packhorse seemed to hold an -element of mystery which appealed strongly to their imaginations. - -Had the broncho returned of his own accord? - -Bob Somers thought not; and he voiced his convictions a moment later, -as he stooped over to examine the rope. - -"Fellows, the bronc never could have wrapped it around trunks and -branches in this way," he remarked; "that's certain." - -Dave Brandon's eyes ran quickly over the hemp. - -"Not in a lifetime, Bob." - -The crowd, eagerly looking on, nodded approval. - -"I should call this the dickens of a puzzle," piped Tom. - -"Maybe that strange horseman we saw on the cliff had a hand in it," -cried Dick, animatedly; "eh, Bob? Let's see if any of the department -store on his back is missing." - -A quick search revealed everything in its proper place. - -"What does it all mean?" demanded Jack, fiercely. "If some one led the -critter back, why did he, or they, leave him here? Nobody could have -missed seeing that firelight." - -"Ask us a hard one," chirruped Tim. "But isn't this the greatest piece -o' luck?" - -"And how long do you think the bronc's been here?" asked Dick. - -"Another poser," answered Tim. "Perhaps he didn't arrive until after -old Luna bobbed up to oversee this part o' the earth again. We could -chirp all night about it an' not know. Shall we--" - -"We shall," said Dave firmly, between yawns. "The crowd owes a vote -of thanks to some person, or persons. Every one is overjoyed, eh? But -it mustn't prevent us from getting our sleep. Whose turn on guard is -it--yours, Sam?" - -"I'm afraid it is." - -"That's enough to make all the rest of us afraid." - -Smiling broadly, the literary boy walked over to the packhorse, seized -his bridle, and when Bob had unloosened the rope began leading him -toward their camp. - -Excitement all over, the seven became conscious of an unpleasant chill -in the air. It nipped their hands and faces, making the prospect -of hugging close to a roaring fire doubly attractive. So, like a -victorious little army, they hurried along, the moon sending their -shadows weirdly straggling over the turf, and it didn't take the boys -very long to resume their former positions. - -Sam took his turn on guard, and after two hours' lonely vigil aroused -Tom. - -When morning came, an astonishing discovery was made: Dick Travers had -disappeared. - -It was Jack Conroy, on the final watch, who noted his absence from -among the group of sleepers. And by this time a cold, gray light was -spreading slowly out in the east. Ghostly streamers of mist hung low, -forming cheerless barriers to the view beyond. A screeching hawk -winged its way high up. Jack, chilled and hungry, stopped his almost -ceaseless pacing to and fro, and came to a halt before the prostrate -figures. - -"Hello!" He stared hard, and rubbed his blinking eyes. "Hello! Only -five o' 'em," he muttered. "That's mighty odd; where in thunder's Dick? -He didn't get up while I've been here, that's sure. Hello, Dick!" He -raised his voice. "Hello, Dick!" - -Some of the sleepers stirred, but that was all. In the stillness, his -voice sounded with a weird, sepulchral tone, and he almost shivered. - -"Hello, Dick--I say, Travers, where are you?" roared Jack, beginning -to suspect that Dick was trying to play a joke on him. "Come on, now; -you'll have to get up earlier'n this to get ahead o' me; trot out!" - -Bob Somers hastily unrolled himself from the folds of his blanket and -scrambled to his feet; so did Sam and Tommy. - -"What's up?" demanded Bob, quickly. - -"Dick is," responded Jack. - -"Dick?" - -"Yes; an' he won't answer me, the silly idiot." - -"How's that? He can't be far off." - -"Of course he can't; that's what makes it so queer." - -The buzz of voices awakened Tim, and soon all but Dave Brandon were -upon their feet, eagerly discussing the strange affair. - -Sam and Tom explained that during their watches they had paid but -little attention to the sleepers. - -"Could Dick have left without your knowing it?" asked Bob. - -Sam nodded. - -"Sure thing, Bob. Sometimes I hiked quite a long distance from the -fire." - -"Me too," chimed in Tom. - -"No 'me too' business here," asserted Jack. "Travers never skipped out -while I did my little stunt o' soldierin'; no, sir." - -"Oh, cracky! I wonder what it all means!" wailed Tom. - -"And so do I," came in drowsy tones from a recumbent figure. "You chaps -make such a hullaballoo I--I--can't--sleep." - -Dave's eyes were closing again, when a loud "Dick's missing!" from Jack -Conroy opened them wide. - -"What--what!" gasped the stout boy, promptly raising himself on his -elbow. "Dick missing!" - -"Sure as shootin', Dave; he beat it, an' without sayin' a word." - -"Did he take his gun?" - -"Yes; but he couldn't do any huntin' by moonlight; an' why is he -stayin' away such a long time, eh?--it's been hours." - -Dave, now thoroughly awake, slowly arose, a worried expression on his -round face. - -"Oh, ho, but it is strange," he murmured. "Risky business to be -prowling around alone in this wild country." - -"You bet!" came from Jack. "Bears, panthers an' wildcats likely to be -hidin' behind any rock or thicket." - -"Dick isn't the sort of fellow to do such a thing without having some -good reason." - -"What could it be, Dave?" - -"Goodness only knows." - -"Confound it! This is worse than the packhorse mystery," grumbled -Tim. "Let's yell again, an' if there's no answer some o' us ought to -prospect around in a hurry." - -A volume of ear-splitting sounds rushed off into space. But neither it -nor several others which followed brought forth the slightest response. - -The boys looked at each other with worried faces. - -"Gee! I don't like this a bit," confessed Bob. - -"If Dick is playin' a joke on us I'll--I'll make him sorry for it," -stormed Jack. - -"Let's get away from here," cried Tim, dashing toward the horses. - -The bronchos were quickly saddled; Bob, Jack and Tim vaulted upon their -backs. - -"By the time you have grub ready, fellows, we'll probably be here with -Dick," cried Bob, as he gave his pony a touch of the quirt. - -The three cantered briskly toward a line of vapory blanket which still -stretched gloomily across the landscape. A few moments later their -forms were enveloped in the mist and the clatter of hoofs quieted down. - -Separating, the three rode about for almost an hour, frequently sending -over the air the Rambler Club's special signal. But only mocking echoes -answered. It seemed as lonely and desolate as a country never before -trodden by human beings. - -Meanwhile, the sun, shining like burnished gold through gray clouds, -rose higher and higher, and the mist became slowly dissipated. From -their widely separated positions the boys eagerly scanned the rolling -valley, but not a sign of Dick Travers could be seen. - -When they came together again, gloomy feelings were mirrored upon their -faces. - -"Worse and worse," cried Bob. "I'll fire; perhaps he'll hear that." - -Crack! A puff of smoke floated slowly off. Crack! Another thin column -joined it. - -"Nothing!" Bob Somers' voice had a cheerless ring. - -They cantered back to camp, where the others, hoping every moment to -have their anxiety relieved, awaited them. Their questions showed -plainly how much they were disturbed by the unexpected event. - -"It beats the Dutch!" cried Sam, after Bob had explained. "Where in the -world can old Dick be?" - -"I feel sure he's all right," said Dave, though his voice trembled -slightly. - -Bacon and flapjacks were nicely browned, while a big coffee-pot hissed -joyously upon a bed of red-hot coals; but the six had almost forgotten -hunger, only taking time to eat so as to sustain their strength. - -"Fellows, I move that we go to the end of the cliff; it's a good -lookout point," suggested Dave, when the hasty meal was over. - -"Bully idea," agreed Jack. - -"An' let's go right away," added Tim. - -Breakfast dishes, unwashed, were piled into a bag and thrown on the -back of a packhorse, and a few moments later, with Sam leading Dick -Travers' mount, the bronchos were spread out over the level surface, -pounding along at a fast gallop. - -The sting of the cold air rushing by seemed to bring out every spark of -life in the fiery little animals; they fairly flew, and their riders -made no attempt to check the headlong flight until a line of vegetation -looming distinctly into view warned them that the edge of the cliff was -near. - -With almost one accord, they reined up, sprang to the ground, found -convenient places to tether their ponies and then walked out to the -point upon which Bob and Jack had stood the day before. - -Six pairs of eyes keenly scanned the vast stretch of nature. It was -Dave Brandon who presently broke the tense silence. - -"Look!" he said, simply, extending his arm. - -Far off, by the line of timber, they saw a tiny thread-like line of -blue rising almost straight in the air. - -"Smoke!" yelled Jack, excitedly. "By Jove! A camp-fire--it--it must be -Dick's." - -"Of course," piped Tom, enthusiastically. "Hooray! Knew all the time he -was safe. Wow! Isn't this great, though?" - -Bob Somers shook his head. - -"No use shouting too soon," he said, reflectively. "Why should Dick -have built a fire away down there in the valley?" - -"Instead o' comin' back to camp," supplemented Jack. - -"Yes!" - -"That's the next poser, all right," admitted Tom, with a shade of -disappointment. "It might be that horseman Dick and Tim saw up here. -And say--" - -"Well?" queried Tim. - -"Perhaps Dick and he happened to run across each other, and Dick -thought he'd stay with him for a while, just for a lark, eh?" - -This idea did not appeal to the others. - -"Not on your life," scoffed Tim. - -"Suppose we fire off a few rounds," suggested Dave. "If Mr. Unknown -should happen to hear the racket, he might come out from that timber -and favor us with a view of himself." - -"You're certainly the candy kid, all right," laughed Bob, taking the -field-glass from its case. "Go ahead with the firing." - -Several guns were immediately pointed in the air. - -"One--two--three!" counted Bob. - -A thunderous report which almost deafened them was carried off on the -slight breeze. - -Bob had his eyes to the field-glass. The thread-like line of smoke -became a whirling column, apparently close at hand. In eager -expectancy, he kept the instrument directed close around it, uttering -an exclamation as a hoped-for event actually occurred. - -A boy was seen moving about at the edge of the timber. - -Presently he came out into the open, looking so clear and distinct that -something strangely familiar in his appearance made Bob draw a long, -deep breath. - -"Goodness gracious!" - -"Now what?" cried Jack, impatiently. "These--" - -Perceiving that Bob had extended the glass toward him, he stopped -suddenly and seized it. - -"By all that's wonderful!" - -In the field of view Jack saw a short, stocky figure, easily -recognizable. Then: - -"Pete Colliver!" fell from his lips. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - - RISKY BUSINESS - - -When Dick Travers wrapped himself in his blanket and lay down by the -fire, his thoughts, stirred into activity by the mysterious return of -the packhorse, prevented him from sleeping. For some time he wooed -slumber, then sat up, staring disgustedly at the crackling fire. - -Like a flash, an idea popped into his head. - -"If I can't sleep, it's no use staying here," he muttered. "Why not--" - -Dick's head dropped, as Sam slowly approached, his form remaining as -motionless as any of the sleepers until the sentinel again wandered off -into the moonlight. - -"I'll do it," said Dick to himself, his imagination fired with a -brilliant scheme. "Yes, sir! And if I should find out anything wouldn't -those chaps be surprised? Gee! It's a heap better than sleeping." - -He waited until Sam was some distance off, then rose softly to his -feet, buckled on his cartridge belt, seized a gun from the stack, and -silently stole away. - -Watching his opportunity, he found it an easy matter to avoid the -unsuspecting Sam, a détour and convenient vegetation soon putting him -beyond danger of detection. - -And now that Dick was actually on the way, he began to have serious -doubts. - -"Bet Jacky 'ud call me a silly idiot," he reflected, with a grin, -"but, sure as shooting, somebody brought that bronc back, and I might -discover a camp-fire--it isn't likely, though. Still--well, hang it -all, there's no sense in backing out now." - -He found a certain pleasure in wandering about alone in the poetic -moonlight, and also a feeling of danger which kept him keenly alert. - -When Dick reached the spot where the packhorse had been found he -came to a halt and studied the ground carefully, but his effort was -unrewarded. Then he circled slowly around the bushes, sometimes on his -hands and knees, hoping to discover some evidence of a trail through -the tall grass. Still there was nothing. - -With a muttered exclamation of disappointment, the boy straightened up -and walked toward a knoll almost covered with tall cedars. Standing in -their long, bluish shadows, he looked over the immensity of valley and -hill, solemn and mysterious in the silvery sheen of the moon, with a -strange feeling of awe and pleasure. - -Almost forgetting his mission, Dick stood absorbed in its -contemplation, when he received a shock which made his knees tremble -violently. - -A human voice had spoken, and the words, though faint, had reached his -ears. - -"I tell ye I did hear somethin', Pete Colliver; thar's some critter -prowlin' 'bout." - -"Pete--Pete Colliver!" gasped Dick Travers; "and--goodness -gracious--Jimmy of Sellade!" - -A whirlwind of thoughts began coursing through his brain. Now the -mystery of the packhorse's return was explained; all their suspicions -regarding Pete Colliver were confirmed--and in this startling fashion. -What were the lumber-boys doing out there in the wilderness? There -could only be one answer to that--tracking them. - -For a moment, the queer mixture of feelings in Dick Travers' head made -him almost dizzy. Then the familiar sound of Pete Colliver's voice -steadied his nerves. - -"Wal, let the critters prowl. Ye ain't skeered none, is ye, Jimmy? -Mebbe 'twas them fellers a-runnin' ag'in. Ha, ha, but ain't they an -easy lot? My, oh, my! Didn't I near bust a-tryin' not ter laff when -they comes a-swingin' 'long ter see that hoss! Ha, ha!" - -"I never seed sich ninnies afore," laughed Jimmy. "An' did ye pipe how -the fat un could run?" - -"Wal, ye kin jist bet I did; an' if I ever gits a-wrastlin' with 'im -that's the way he'll beat it to the tall timber, Jimmy. Maybe the hull -crowd o' 'em wasn't skeered o' me, eh?" - -As Dick, not yet recovered from his astonishment, listened to these -uncomplimentary remarks, his eyes flashed. But this feeling of anger -lasted only a moment; a grin began to overspread his face. - -"Dick, my boy, you deserve a real hero medal now," he thought. "I -wonder what old Jack will say to this?" - -From his position, Travers could tell that the two were very close to -him--just a bit down the slope--and he listened intently as Jimmy -began: - -"If we's a-goin' ter get ter camp to-night we'd better be a-toddlin'. -Guess old Jim Reynolds is gittin' peevish a'ready." - -"Jim Reynolds!" gasped Dick. "Christopher Columbus! Why, that's one of -Slater's men. Gee! Maybe it wasn't a good thing I couldn't sleep! Isn't -this a discovery, though?" - -"That's what I'm a-stayin' out so late fur, Jimmy; I want 'im ter git -more peevish. He ain't my boss, is he? Didn't I put 'im on to the hull -thing, eh? Ain't me an' you took all the trouble to track them kids, -eh? None o' the gang kin git gay with me; I won't stan' fur it." - -"The gang!" repeated Dick, reflectively, with a start. "That has a -dangerous sound." - -The loud, incautious voices did not reach his ears again for some -moments, and when he next heard them it was evident that the pair had -started off. - -Dick scarcely dared to stir from the obscurity, but, taking courage, -he peered out, to see Pete and Jimmy some distance away moving slowly -toward the valley. - -"Now what's to be done?" murmured Dick, elated at his success, yet at -the same time much disturbed by the thought that their plans were so -rudely threatened. - -His first impulse was to hurry back and arouse the boys; the second to -continue investigations unaided, find out where the gang was encamped, -and have all the glory of a brilliant bit of detective work to himself. - -It was a reckless plan, but Dick Travers' eyes brightened as he thought -of it; the lines about his mouth tightened, and, without further -hesitation, the boy crept cautiously from the sheltering shadow of the -trees and began moving after the slowly retreating forms. - -In the bright moonlight, his task was not difficult. He took advantage -of bushes and clumps of trees, sometimes bending almost double, or -dropping to his knees when the two figures in advance came to a halt. - -Pete and Jimmy, totally unsuspecting, scarcely ever took the trouble to -look behind them. Their course was far to the east, where the rolling -slopes were more free from vegetation. Many times they disappeared from -sight, but the eager trailer never failed to catch a glimpse of them as -they reached the top of ridges and walked along their crests. - -In three-quarters of an hour Dick saw a dense mass of timber not -far ahead, forming a dark, irregular line against the sky. But what -presently brought a stifled cry of exultation from his lips was a -glimmer of light showing faintly between the trees. - -"Hooray!" he murmured. "It must be their camp. This is the dandiest -piece of luck. Great Scott! Won't the fellows open their eyes? And -Jacky?--Gee! Bet he'll nearly flop over." - -Paying little further attention to Pete and Jimmy, Dick steered -straight toward the orange glow, scarcely stopping an instant until he -was crouching well within the shadow of the timber. - -It seemed very dismal and lonely. The network of branches met overhead -and ghostly moonlight formed fairylike traceries upon bushes and -trunks. In the gloomy, mysterious depths beyond perhaps many dangerous -animals might be lurking. - -Dick hung back, irresolute; then, drawing a deep breath, kept on. - -"Gee!" A cold shiver ran through him. "This is risky business now." - -The glow of the fire presently shone clear and bright, while a faint -hum of voices came weirdly to his ears. - -Dick moved with the utmost care, again dropping on hands and knees, -crawling around underbrush and thickets, working along foot by foot, -his heart thumping hard, as he saw the dancing firelight now sending -its rays over the branches above his head. Twigs smote him in the -face; trailing briars caught in his clothes, scratching with a force -that made him wince, but he had the satisfaction of hearing the hum -of conversation growing louder. Pete and Jimmy, who must have stopped -somewhere to rest, had evidently just arrived. - -"That sounds like a whopping big crowd," muttered Dick, excitedly. -"Wish to thunder I could see a bit better. Horses, too, close about; I -hear 'em." - -At the imminent risk of being discovered, he had now reached a place -where much that was said could be understood. - -"So ye sure seen them fellers git that 'ere nag, eh, Pete?" a rough -voice demanded. - -"Bet yer life we did, Jim," came an answer, "an' they suspicioned, too, -as how somebuddy had brung it back; Jimmy an' me hearn 'em." - -"Let 'em s'picion," growled another voice; "an' that's all the good -it'll do 'em. 'Tain't no use a-stayin' up no longer. Thought ye was -a-goin' to take all night, Colliver." - -"Oh, I didn't hurry none, Woodie. An' don't ye begin to hand out no -sass, now. Yer gittin' ter be as bad as Jim Reynolds. Want us ter beat -it, hey? Fur five cents--" - -"Quit scrappin'," interposed a voice, in loud tones, "an' turn in. Them -kids'll most likely be off by the time the sun gits up. That 'ere gold -mine is as good as ourn a'ready, boys." - -The conversation continued, while the eager listener tried in vain to -gain a point of vantage which would enable him to get a view of the -camp. As he stood in the shadow of a tree, and looked overhead at the -spreading network of knotted branches, another bold idea entered his -head. - -"And a mighty risky one," Dick reflected. - -However, upon studying the situation, he became convinced that he could -climb the tree, take a quick observation, then hasten back to camp, -having covered himself with glory. The temptation was too strong to -resist. - -Resting his gun in a safe place, Dick, with an earnest glance toward -the fire, prepared for action. Clasping arms and legs around the trunk, -he began to slowly work himself up. Active and muscular, the boy soon -grasped hold of a sturdy limb about ten feet from the ground, paused -an instant, and then, making one long effort, pulled himself safely -astride it. - -"Whew!" he murmured. "That's work, all right. The rest of it ought to -be easy, though. Crickets!" The limb swung a bit, rattling its branches -faintly. "Gee! I'll have to be mighty careful." - -With infinite care, he crawled from limb to limb, at length reaching -one which stretched directly toward the beacon of flaring light. Dick -crept a few feet along it, his nerves tingling with excitement, pushed -aside a bough upon which still clung a mass of faded yellow leaves, and -peered intently down. - -The faintest sigh of satisfaction passed his lips. A picturesque sight -was before him. Lolling about beside a big fire were a number of men, -their faces weirdly illuminated by the flames. Pete and Jimmy sat on a -log, the former still talking loudly. Behind them, a number of bronchos -were tethered, some scarcely seen amid the trees. - -Eager and excited, Dick Travers was in the act of counting the men, -when, to his horror, a loud crack suddenly reverberated. - -As the limb began to bend beneath his weight, the boy barely managed to -repress a cry of alarm. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - - HIDE-AND-SEEK - - -A pang of fear shot through Dick Travers' heart; almost involuntarily -he threw up his hands, catching hold of another limb above his head. -The branch he was on gave a second ominous crack, its dried leaves -rustling loudly. - -With a supreme effort, he drew himself up, the sound of a commotion -among the lumbermen ringing in his ears. - -"A panther somewhar in the trees!" he heard Pete Colliver yell. - -Breathing hard, Dick Travers hung suspended, his feet dangling in the -air. For an instant, the fear of a shot being fired made a cold chill -run through him; it was on the tip of his tongue to let his presence be -known when he discovered that the men who had sprung to their feet were -not hurrying in his direction. Screened by a multitude of branches and -leaves, he regained courage. - -"I'll take a chance and try to get away," he breathed, sturdily. "My! -If those rough lumbermen should happen to find me hanging around like -this," he managed to smile grimly, "they mightn't be a bit polite!" - -The terrific strain on his arms soon began to tell. But Dick, gritting -his teeth, twisted about, in an effort to see what was going on. - -The men, possibly believing Pete Colliver's explanation to be the right -one, were already searching around, and a cold perspiration began to -stand out upon Dick Travers' face when his eyes caught the metallic -gleam of their guns. - -"Gracious!" he thought. "Dicky, you're in a precious bad fix. It won't -do to stay here two seconds longer." - -Torches were sending yellow streaks flaring among the trees and bushes. -Any instant their rays might reveal his presence. Dick instantly began -to work his way toward the main trunk, the faint noise of his progress -drowned by the crashing of many feet in the brush. - -"Wal, the varmint's scooted!" cried Pete, presently. - -"Scooted nothin'!" snorted Jimmy. "Didn't I tell ye I hearn 'im away -back thar? The critter follered us, jist a-waitin' ter jump down on -somebody's neck. Hey, what was that?" - -Dick Travers' foot had slipped as he rested it upon a limb, and, in an -effort to save himself, he had caused the branches and leaves to rattle -sharply. - -"Hey! What was that?" repeated Jimmy, in affrighted tones. - -"I reckon it's a painter, sure nuff, boys!" cried Tom Smull, falling -hastily back toward the fire. "Watch yerselves, or he'll chaw yer head -off!" - -"Skeered, eh?" sneered Bart Reeder. "Don't ye think we uns is more'll a -match fur one pesky varmint, Smull? Come out o' that, an' stan' up to -it like a man." - -"Scar't! I ain't scar't o' nothink that walks," retorted Tom Smull, -hotly; "eh, Griffin? By gum, listen ter that!" - -Dick, in trying to descend quickly, while the voices were still raised, -had missed his hold on the trunk, and gone slipping downward through -yielding twigs and masses of leaves. It was more the noise occasioned -by the fall than the mishap which sent another icy chill along his -spine, for he dropped only a few feet, landing on the ground where -there was sufficient vegetation to break the force of his descent. - -Scarcely daring to breathe, he crouched low, listening to the excited -voices of the searchers, and expecting every instant to find himself -surrounded. - -Again Dick was on the point of yielding obedience to his overwrought -nerves and sending a yell of surrender; but, somehow, it was never -uttered. The flickering torchlight was again picking out in strong -yellow dashes the limbs above his head. - -Pressed hard against the tree trunk, Dick heard rough, angry -exclamations, as vines and bushes impeded the lumberjacks' progress, -and trembled violently as footsteps grew louder. He seemed to be -cornered; his glorious plan doomed to inglorious failure. - -"I tell ye, Pete, the critter ain't fur off," cried Jimmy. "Keep yer -peepers on the branches, fellers!" - -"Only hope they do," reflected Dick. "Cæsar! Wonder if I dare risk it?" - -A few yards distant, the moonlight revealed a dense mass of brush and -thickets surrounded by high bunch grass. - -"With about thirty feet start, I'd wager the whole crowd would never -find me," thought Dick, grimly. "I won't give up yet--no, sir; here -goes!" - -Throwing himself flat on his stomach, he began to worm his way toward -the goal, taking advantage of every shadow, a loud crashing of feet and -flaring light close by showing that there wasn't an instant to spare. - -Blades of grass swept into the boy's face; twigs and sticks made his -hands smart painfully. But, with a firm resolve not to give up until -every vestige of hope was gone, he kept ahead. - -"Maybe they'll stop in a few minutes," he reflected. "Whew! All kinds -of creeps in this adventure! Ah!" - -A feeling of relief shot through him, as he drew up well in the -shelter, and cast an anxious look behind. - -The sight was disheartening. A half dozen blazing torches could be seen -moving about in an erratic fashion, sometimes disappearing behind the -trees. There was one, and Dick's eyes fastened upon it with fascinated -attention, that kept headed straight toward him. - -With his lips tight set, he crawled still further, snuggling down close -to the ground, then stopped and began to pull leaves and grasses over -his body, until the nearness of the footsteps warned him that it was -time to stop. - -"Now it's all up," groaned Dick, keyed to a high pitch of excitement. - -A heavy footstep close at hand jarred on his nerves like an electric -shock. Almost holding his breath, he gazed fearsomely between the twigs -of the protecting thicket. The searcher was coming nearer every second. -The suspense was almost more than the boy could stand. - -A short, stocky figure suddenly emerged into view, skirting around the -thicket. - -"Pete Colliver!" flashed through Dick Travers' mind. - -A blazing pine-knot which drowned the pale green rays of the moon -illuminated his irregular features with striking effect. Pete's little -eyes were roving eagerly over every low-hanging branch, and a grunt of -disappointment fell from his lips--the search had revealed nothing. - -"Bust it! Whar has the warmint went, I'd like to know?" he growled. - -Pete came to a halt within a few feet of the prostrate form, waving the -torch vigorously above his head. Dick felt a cold perspiration standing -out upon his face again; another move of the young lumberjack might -bring his heavy boot down upon him. - -Motionless, he stared up at Pete, ready to spring to his feet on the -instant. - -"I reckon the warmint's skipped," came in a surly undertone. Pete -stirred, then turned sharply on his heel. - -A loud yell had echoed through the forest with startling abruptness. - -"Somethin' has ketched Tom Smull!" - -The crashing of Pete's footsteps grew fainter; and, as the yellow -torchlight vanished, the pale rays of the moon again came in for their -own. - -The astonished Dick Travers was once more alone. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - - SOME ONE TURNS UP - - -A cavalcade of horsemen was rapidly approaching the edge of the timber -in which the lumbermen's camp was situated, the thud of hoof-beats -alone breaking the silence of early morning. - -With faces grim and determined, the six, at a word from Bob Somers, -reined up. - -"Remember, fellows, we don't want to have any scrap with Pete," he -said, casting a significant look toward Jack Conroy. "Now that we know -he's trailing us, it ought to be easy to throw him off the track." - -"Pete's camp must be close here," added Sam. "Gracious, but don't I -hope Dick is with him! Ready?" - -Bob waved his hand. In a moment nine ponies crashed noisily between -the trees. There were now no signs of fire or smoke to guide them, but -the boys, having judged its position carefully, rode ahead without -hesitation. - -Within a few minutes their ears were assailed by the sound of loud -voices, while a crashing of many feet jarred crisply through the air. - -"Great Scott!" cried Bob Somers. "What does that mean?" - -Uttering a whistle of amazement, he jerked his horse back almost upon -its haunches. The others followed his example. - -Presently six silent and motionless horsemen confronted a crowd of -lumbermen. - -The boys gazed at the familiar, bronzed faces before them as if their -minds could not grasp the reality of the scene, while the men, fully -as astounded as themselves, stared earnestly back. The heads of Pete -Colliver and Jimmy of Sellade were seemingly supported by a mass of -shrubbery. - -"Gee! If we had only done a bit of reconnoitering first," flashed -through Bob Somers' brain. "What silly chumps to run blindly into a -thing like this!" - -"Wal--wal!" It was Pete Colliver who broke the tense silence. His face -wore the most ludicrous expression of dismay. "Whar did you fellows -drop from, hey? Never expected ter see nuthin' like this." - -"I guess that's right, Pete," answered Bob, dryly. - -"Howdy, boys!" Big Jim Reynolds' manner betrayed his embarrassment. -"We've been a-campin' right here," he added, awkwardly, "an' if ye'd -like to have a bit o' grub, why--yer as welcome as the flowers in May, -eh, boys?" - -"I reckon they be," came from Bart Reeder, while Tom Smull and Alf -Griffin nodded a surly assent. - -"Thanks, Jim; we've had our breakfast," answered Bob. - -"See here, Pete Colliver," exclaimed Jack, in his usual abrupt fashion, -"have you seen Dick Travers?" - -"Have I saw Dick Travers, hey?" Pete assumed an attitude which had a -decided suggestion of belligerency, then whirled around on one foot, -nodding his head knowingly, and exchanging peculiar glances with some -of the men. "Wal, I ain't seen none o' yer Dick Travers," he said, -facing Jack again, "but--but--" Catching a warning look from Jim -Reynolds, he paused; a queer light had kindled in his eyes. "Has he -went an' lost hisself?" he finished. - -"We don't know what he has went an' did," answered Jack, with -tremendous scorn. - -"Come up to the clearin', boys," interposed Jim. "Ye ain't in no -all-fired hurry, are ye? 'Twon't cost nuthin' ter have a sociable chat." - -"Mebbe they think as how we ain't good nuff fur 'em," growled Tom Smull -disagreeably, in an aside, to Griffin. - -"We don't have a chance to pay many calls out here," said Bob; "eh, -Dave? What's that, Jimmy--did we fire those shots you heard?--Sure -thing. Whoa, boy!" - -He sprang from the saddle and picketed his broncho, the others -following an instant later. - -With gloomy feelings, more from their failure to find any trace of Dick -Travers than the knowledge that from now on a battle of wits would -have to be played, the boys trailed after their conductors. They had -recognized all but one, having seen them several times at Cap Slater's -lumber camp. The exception was a large, rotund person with flabby -cheeks, a snub nose, and a long, flowing mustache of a tawny yellow. -His attire was strikingly different from that of his companions. He -wore a loud, checkered suit, and a vest which had once been white -covered his capacious chest. A bright crimson tie fluttered in the -breeze, while a derby hat, looking ridiculously small, was perched on -the back of his head. The men addressed him as Buck James. - -"Bet he never swung an axe in any lumber camp," whispered Sam to Bob. -"Looks like a horsy chap--a sport--to me. Cracky! Wonder what Jack -thinks now?" - -"Judging by that awful scowl he's wearing, a whole lot," said Bob. "I -can't bother about anything but Dick. Look out, Jack." - -The big boy's elbow had poked him sharply in the ribs. - -"Can you beat it?" exclaimed Conroy, in a hoarse whisper. "Did you ever -hear of such nerve in your life? Are you going to put up with it, Bob -Somers?" - -"Only providing we can't put it down. It's for us to show 'em what kind -of stuff we're made of." - -"An' we'll do the trick, too," snapped Tim Lovell. "Jacky, can we break -your rule number one, now? An', say, Pete C-o-l-l-i-v-e-r!" - -A friendly bush aided him to avoid the big boy's hand. - -"Never mind, Smarty," warned Jack. "Hello! Look at this horse show!" - -A number of mustangs, already saddled, were packed together in a bunch -on the edge of the clearing. - -"Make yerselves to hum," said Big Jim, as they emerged from the timber. -"A purty big room, with a high ceilin', ain't it?" Reynolds chuckled -at his bit of humor. "Hello!" he straightened up, "thought you was all -here. Who's that a-comin'?" - -The crowd of men and boys heard the sound of footsteps crashing through -the brush, and caught glimpses between the trees of a form pushing -steadily toward them. - -"By the great horn spoon, I believe--I believe it's actually Dick -Travers!" cried Bob, with an earnest look. - -"That's just who it is!" almost yelled Tim, delightedly. "Whoop! Hello, -you old scamp! Where in thunder--" - -"Cut out any questions," advised Bob, in low tones. - -Dick Travers, with easy unconcern, stepped out into the clearing, -nodding calmly toward the group. - -"Morning, everybody!" he saluted, waving his hand. - -"Wal, bust it, if thar he ain't!" Pete stood staring as though he had -never been quite so surprised in his life, then, with a couple of -strides, planted himself before the newcomer. "Look hyar, young feller, -what ye been doin'?" - -"What I pleased, Pete Colliver," snapped Dick. - -"Wal, mebbe it don't please me." - -"Cut it out!" roared Jim, angrily. "Leave 'im alone!" - -The young lumberjack folded a pair of muscular arms; a fierce scowl -wrinkled his forehead into a network of lines. - -"D'ye think I'm skeered o' you, Big Jim?" he demanded, defiantly. "I'll -show yer how much I be. See hyar, young feller," his hand fell hard on -the Rambler's shoulder, "was you a-skulkin' 'round the camp 'arly this -mornin', hey?" - -"You're a nice one to talk about skulking, Pete Colliver," retorted -Dick, hotly. - -"That don't answer my question none, feller." - -"Well, I was; and what have you to say about it?" - -Pete's arm dropped to his side; his eyes sought those of Tom Smull's. - -"Wal, wal! If that ain't the limit. Says as how he done it; that's -sumphin fur you, pard." - -Smull, whose ill-favored visage was crisscrossed with scratches, -clenched a huge fist. - -"D'ye know what ye done, boy?" he demanded, fiercely. - -"If you'll tell me, I will," answered Dick. - -"He carries his spunk with him, all right," remarked Buck James, -admiringly. - -This frank opinion did not find favor with Tom Smull. Placing himself -before Dick Travers, and waving a stubby finger beneath his nose, he -snarled, angrily: - -"D'ye see them scratches on me face, boy?" - -"Guess I could see 'em a mile away," answered Dick, coolly. - -"Ha, ha--ho, ho!" roared Mr. James, slapping his knees. "Ho, ho! Ye -ain't smart nuff for 'im, Tommy; ye'd best quit it." - -Smull, taking no notice of the interruption, went on in louder, more -warlike tones: - -"Wal, I was a-huntin' fur a painter when I fall'd, nigh head fust, -inter a hole all kivered up with vines an' sich truck--an' you was the -kind o' a painter it were, eh?" - -"An' ye kin see how he's went an' scratched hisself," added Pete. -"Griffin said he seen some one 'arly this mornin' sneakin' 'bout; an' -now we know 'twas ye. Git ready, feller!" - -"Ready for what?" - -Pete dashed his slouch hat violently on the ground, and pushed Tom -Smull aside. - -"Bust it! Ye've got ter wrastle with me fur that, feller," he yelled, -"an' thar ain't nobody here what's big nuff ter prewent it--see?" - -His muscular arms were suddenly wrapped around Dick Travers' shoulders, -when: - -"Let that boy alone, Colliver!" sounded a ringing voice. - -Instantly the stocky lad's hand was stayed. Turning swiftly, he saw -Dave Brandon confronting him. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - - THE WRESTLING MATCH - - -For a second, Pete Colliver stared blankly at Dave, whose usually -good-natured and smiling visage wore an expression which he had never -seen upon it before. - -Dick Travers was quick to take advantage of the opportunity. An -energetic shove broke the lumberjack's hold, and he stepped aside. - -"Wal, wal, fat un! An' what has you got ter say 'bout it, hey?" howled -Pete. - -"Nothing, now," answered Dave, calmly. - -"Oh, ye ain't; but mebbe some one else has, hey? Ye can't bluff me -none, feller." - -"Quit it, Colliver!" commanded Jim Reynolds, sternly. - -"Leave Pete alone, Jim," growled Smull. - -"I'll show ye how I quit it, Big Jim," cried Pete, trembling with -excitement. His right hand flew around, knocking Dave Brandon's -sombrero into the bushes. - -The Ramblers sprang forward. But Buck James interposed his big form. - -"Git back, boys," he ordered, sharply. "Ye ain't got no call ter stop a -squar', stan' up wrestlin' match. I'll see fair play." - -"But we--" began Bob. - -"Don't bother about me." - -Dave spoke as quietly as though there was no one present but himself -and his friends. - -The boys looked at the literary youth in astonishment. All knew that -Dave Brandon had plenty of courage, but they had never seen his easy, -indolent air fall away from him more completely. He stood erect and -alert, his eye keenly measuring his heavily-built antagonist. - -Dave was inches taller than Pete, but the wide shoulders of the -lumberjack indicated unusual strength. Pete's red face expressed all -the joy and satisfaction he felt at having at last forced one of the -boys to wrestle with him. - -"I'll show ye plum quick, big un!" he cried, springing to the attack. - -Dave was ready. He nimbly dodged the flail-like arms, and warily -circled away, eluding another clumsy effort to seize him by the waist. - -[Illustration: HE NIMBLY DODGED] - -"Yer skeered ter stan' up ter me," scoffed Pete, "but I'll git ye good -an' hard in a minute, feller." - -"He's a-turnin' pale," said Griffin, with a hoarse laugh. - -"His legs is weak a'ready, Pete," chimed in Tom Smull. - -Dave was moving his arms like a skilled boxer, and, by nimble footwork, -continually evaded Pete's bull-like rushes. - -"He must think the movin' pictur' fellers are takin' a crack at the -show, an' want him ter draw it out," commented Buck James. "Move in -close, you Pete. Watch yerself, now--ah!" - -Pete had at last succeeded in getting a hold, and the two were at it in -deadly earnest, kicking up the turf, as they struggled back and forth -over the clearing. - -The boys shouted encouragement to Dave, while Smull and Griffin, highly -excited, crowded so close to the contestants that Buck James felt -called upon to interfere. - -"Give 'em room!" he commanded. "Ah! Sarves ye jist right, Tom Smull!" - -Dave, by a tremendous effort, had broken Pete's hold, and sent him -spinning back, to bring up with great force against Tom Smull. The -latter, swept off his balance, uttered a howl of anger, and fell in a -heap upon the ground. - -Pete Colliver had never dreamed of such resistance. It began to dawn -upon him that his antagonist was of a different kind from any he had -ever met in the lumber camp. - -With a yell of rage, he dashed headlong toward Dave, intending to end -the contest by one supreme effort. - -Pete managed to plant an elbow under the stout boy's chin, forcing his -head back. Then, putting forth all the power of his muscular body, he -followed up the advantage. - -A groan came from the Ramblers as they saw Dave yielding. - -"Ye've got 'im a-goin' sure, Pete," yelled Smull, whose feelings had -been considerably damaged by his tumble. - -"Don't crowd 'em!" again warned Buck James, his flabby face shining -with pleasure. "I didn't expect to see no sich a go as this 'n." - -"Get out! Fatty only needs nuff room ter fall in," piped Jimmy of -Sellade, hilariously. "Oh!" - -By a dexterous twist, Dave had wriggled out of danger again, and -dropped on all fours, with his opponent clinging to his back. - -Pete Colliver, with disheveled hair wildly tossing in the breeze, -paused, puffing heavily. A curious, dumfounded look, which all the -rough shouts of encouragement flung toward him failed to remove, had -settled over his brick-red face. - -"Pete's lost his nerve," cried Jack. - -"He couldn't throw you in a hundred years," shouted Tim, gleefully. - -Dave unexpectedly fell flat on his face, his surprised opponent -sprawling across his prostrate form. Then, with a swift movement of -tremendous power, Dave began turning over, and a roar came from the -boys when they saw Pete's shoulder rising high in the air. - -The latter wildly attempted to loosen his hold--and succeeded. But -the impetus of Dave Brandon's push kept him rolling over, and, like a -flash, the stout boy had turned and pounced upon him. - -The astounded Pete, frantically struggling to arise, found himself -thrown backward with a force that fairly took his breath away. He -struck the turf sideways, and, by the aid of a bush, pulled himself -over on his stomach. - -"None o' that, Colliver!" roared Buck James. "Ye ain't wrestlin' -bushes. Next time ye do it I'll disqualify ye." - -"Much you've got ter say 'bout it," puffed Pete. - -"Don't waste no breath in talkin', Pete," counseled Jimmy, in worried -tones. "Keep yer peepers open; he's a-layin' fur ye." - -"An' I know whar he'll be layin' in another minute," snarled Pete, -slowly rising. - -Any one less stout-hearted than Dave Brandon might have quailed -before the fierce looks and threatening attitude of the lumberjack. -Pete's eyes blazed with fury. His big hands were opening and closing -convulsively, and his massive chest heaved with physical and mental -stress. He had counted upon an easy victory, and, so far, the advantage -was all on the other side. - -Only fitful gusts of wind and stamping of horses' hoofs broke the tense -silence, as the two boys faced each other again. - -Like boxers sparring for openings, they circled about, each wary and -determined. Pete's reputation was at stake, while Dave, thoroughly -aroused, felt that he, too, must prove his mettle. He quickly ducked -and danced away as Colliver's arm swung toward him. - -"You'd best take it on the run, feller," fumed Pete. - -He had now thrown aside all caution. Spurred on by Tom Smull's loud -yells, he hurled himself recklessly toward his cooler opponent. - -It was a chance for which Dave had been waiting. Taking swift advantage -of Pete's awkward lunge, he secured an arm and leg hold, jerking -him around with a force that brought a shout from the excited boys. -Even Pete Colliver's muscular shoulders were powerless to resist the -fierceness of Dave Brandon's counter attack. - -With the veins in his forehead bulging out, the Rambler, calling every -ounce of strength to his aid, bore Pete backward, threw him heavily to -the ground, and fell across his prostrate form. - -Colliver tried in vain to squirm and twist away. Slowly, inexorably, -his shoulders were forced back to the ground, and while a chorus of -shouts from the boys swelled into a storm of applause, Pete was pinned -down hard and fast--conquered. - -The abrupt and decisive ending of the contest was viewed by the -lumbermen almost in silence; their astonishment seemed too great for -words. Jimmy, Alf Griffin and Tom Smull stood staring blankly, as -though they were unable to believe that the heretofore invincible Pete -was lying before their eyes vanquished at last, and by a mild-looking -stout boy. Dismay was written on their bronzed faces, but there were -gleams of satisfaction, however, on some of the others. - -"Mebbe it won't stop that yawp o' hisn," remarked Buck James, -complacently. - -"Wal, I swan!" exclaimed Jimmy, violently. "If this hyar ain't a go! -Bet five cents the big un dasn't try it ag'in." - -"Five real cents! Oh, you reckless boy!" gurgled Jack. - -Deeply crestfallen, Pete Colliver rose to his feet. The violence of his -fall had taken all the fight out of him for the moment. - -"I didn't have a fair chancet," he snarled. "Jist wait, feller; I -ain't done with ye yit." - -"Don't have any hard feelings, Pete." Dave, breathing hard, extended -his hand. "Shake!" - -"The only thin' that'll git shook is you, fat un; an' it'll be afore -long, too." - -Colliver's face reflected all the angry passions which surged within -him, and his fists were clenched, as he stalked to and fro. - -It was not in Dave's nature to crow over a victory. With a wave of his -hand he stilled the comments of his enthusiastic friends. - -Pete spoke again: - -"Think nobody won't have none o' that gold mine but yerselves, do yer?" -he sneered. - -"Cut it out, Pete," stormed Jim Reynolds. "Boys," he added, turning -toward the Ramblers, "as yer champeen wrastler says," he smiled in a -conciliatory fashion--"we don't want no hard feelin's." - -"That's a plum sure thing," agreed Bart Reeder. - -"Now, we're a-wantin' to do the squar' thing by ye. If thar's a gold -mine 'bout, 'tain't no more yourn 'n ours--see the p'int?" - -"Of course it ain't," growled Alf Griffin. - -"An' so, why not be frien'ly-like, an' jine in with us?" Jim spoke -persuasively. "Eh, what d'ye say?" - -"It'll save ye a heap o' trouble, I'm a-thinkin'; an' don't forgit it," -mumbled Tom Smull, ominously, scratching his scratched-up face. - -"Listen to reason, boys," pleaded Buck James. - -"Well, this is a good one!" burst out Jack Conroy, hotly. "Here you -fellows have been doggin' us like so many cats, sneakin' an' spyin' -about our camp--an' now! Why, thunder, it beats the Dutch--never heard -o' such nerve." - -"Of course we won't do it!" cried Dick. - -"Eh?" snarled Tom Smull, with a threatening gesture. "Ye'd best not get -too chipper, young un." - -"If ye don't--" began Alf Griffin. - -"See here!" A snort from Jim Reynolds stopped him. "You fellers are -sp'ilin' the hull business." Then, his voice becoming pleasant, he -went on: "I feel sure the boys'll agree to our plan. Why not stay with -us a spell, an' talk it over?" - -"No, Jim; it wouldn't be a bit of use," answered Bob Somers, quietly. -"We haven't the slightest intention of joining in with any one; so -we'll say good-bye!" - -Smull's eyes were blazing. - -"Are ye a-goin' ter be sassed an' stood off by a parcel o' kids?" he -demanded. "Ain't ye man nuff ter say to 'em, 'See here, you young -shrimps, ye've simply got ter do what I tells ye,' hey?" - -"Easy--easy," counseled Buck James. - -"Yes; quit it," interposed Dan Woodle. - -"That's right--everybody had better quit it!" Jack Conroy's voice -drowned all others. "I can just tell you this: you chaps can't scare -us; an' you might as well turn about, an' steer your way back to Cap -Slater's lumber camp, where you belong." - -"Well, I swan!" Jimmy stared at the speaker in open-mouthed wonder. - -"Sich talk--bust it!" howled Pete, still choking with anger. "I'm ready -fur wengeance, now; bust it! Look out!" - -Turning, he made a sudden spring toward Dave Brandon. - -Bob Somers, however, stepped between them. - -"That will do, Pete," he said, quietly. - -"I won't stan' no more o' sich nonsense, Colliver," added Jim Reynolds. -"Git back!" - -His huge hand grabbed Pete by the shoulder, and the stocky lad was -hurled aside. - -Bob and his companions seized the opportunity to take their departure, -a proceeding to which Griffin and Smull voiced loud objections, while -Jim Reynolds called out: - -"Don't go 'way riled, boys; can't we talk over this thing a bit?" - -"No!" answered Bob, firmly; "the last word's been said." - -Sending a chorus of good-byes over their shoulders, they made toward -their bronchos. - -The seven quickly mounted, and rode out into the open. Quirts cracked, -and the riders found themselves being carried down a gentle slope. - -None drew rein until rise after rise had been passed, and the line of -timber left far behind. - -"Well, Dick Travers, what have you to say for yourself?" said Bob -Somers, severely, as they finally halted. "Don't you know you took an -awful risk in hanging around that camp?" - -"You mean hanging on to a tree, I guess," grinned Dick. - -"Tell us all about it." - -The boys listened attentively to his story. - -"Of course," concluded Dick, "I wasn't going to come away without -my gun, and didn't dare go back for the longest time. Besides," he -confessed, whimsically, "I forgot the number of the tree and couldn't -find it till early morning. I got a glimpse of you from the woods, and -walked right out, like a little major." - -"Whew! You took a long chance," exclaimed Jack. "It's a mighty lucky -thing you didn't stop a load of buckshot skulkin' 'round their camp in -spooky hours." - -"Or something worse," added Tom, with a shiver. - -"Anyway it all turned out for the best," quoth Bob. "We know now what -we have to buck up against. Dave Brandon," he added, "you're a positive -wonder." - -"Isn't he, though?" chirped Tim. "Great Scott! When Pete flopped over -on his back I could hardly believe it--greatest sight I ever saw. Did -me a lot of good, I can tell you." - -"Let me echo that remark," laughed Sam. "Say, fellows, I got a chance -to chin a bit with Jimmy; he told me how those men got their horses." - -"Let's hear 'bout it; an' talk fast," said Jack. - -"Buck James is a horse dealer at Rawdon, so they let him in on the -thing provided he would supply the ponies. Pete and Jimmy traveled on -foot--took them nearly all night--but they managed to reach Wild Oak, -where they encountered Slater's men. And do you know--" - -"What?" asked Tim, impatiently. - -"They actually made Buck James pony up with a pair of ponies." - -"Whew! There's nerve for you," commented Tim. - -"Yes; and Jimmy was boasting about it to beat the band--said that Pete -threatened to blow the whole thing to people in Rawdon, an' that scared -'em. They thought everybody in town 'ud be tagging at their heels." - -"Well, I'm glad Pete got taken down a peg or two," growled Jack. - -"Say, Dick, did you find out why they brought our packhorse back?" -asked Tom, abruptly. - -"That's an easy one, son; the jacks knew well enough that we had to -have grub--thought perhaps we might get discouraged and skip back, if -packy didn't turn up; see?" - -"Guess that's the idea. Shows how much they have to depend 'pon -following us." - -"Sure thing, Tom." - -"Well, Dick, you and Dave have had a lively time, all right," remarked -Bob, reflectively. "Now, we have to think of a way to throw those -fellows off the track; it won't be so easy. Smull and Griffin are -pretty desperate men. Suppose we do as much traveling by night as we -can, eh?" - -"Bully idea," agreed Dick. "Cæsar, but this is an exciting life. Don't -let's waste a minute." - -The seven looked carefully around; but the country appeared absolutely -deserted. There were many ridges and clumps of trees, however, which -could easily have concealed their trackers. - -By noon the gray expanse of cloud was rapidly sweeping away, and shafts -of sunlight blazed through the openings. The boys took but little time -to eat, pushing rapidly on toward the hills, and at sundown the rolling -swells of the valley had been crossed and they were encamped in the -midst of a wild-looking range. - -A small fire was built in the shadow of an enormous boulder, and when -dusk fell the glowing embers were stamped out. The group sat about in -utter darkness, listening to the dismal howls of a pack of coyotes -and the mysterious sounds from a near-by wood, strangely clear in the -silence of the night. - -With Bob Somers on guard, the others finally turned in and slept until -the moon was rising above the hills. Then, aroused, they quickly -saddled their ponies and vaulted upon their backs. - -A clear, silvery radiance enveloped the landscape, but shadows in -ravines were deep and gloomy. They soon reached a dreary, marshy -stretch lying between two hills. Tall, tangled grasses and stagnant -pools sent their rank odor floating over the air, while the clear, -brilliant moon was mirrored in sharp, metallic dashes upon ooze and -water. As they passed through, a long-legged water-bird rose before -them with a startled cry. - -On hard ground again, the travelers allowed the bronchos to choose -their own pace. - -"Hold up, thar!" - -This startling command fell upon the boys' ears with a sharpness that -fairly took their breath away. One moment they seemed to be absolutely -alone, and the next found themselves facing two horsemen who had dashed -from a thicket close by. - -The summons came again: - -"Hold up, thar!" - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - - BOB LOSES - - -The astounded Ramblers gazed in consternation at Tom Smull and Alf -Griffin. They saw the lumbermen's revolvers flashing in the moonlight, -and a single glance convinced them that the two were in deadly earnest. - -A touch of Tom Smull's quirt sent his pony almost into that of Bob -Somers', but he jerked the animal around in time. - -"I reckon ye won't be so confounded sassy, now, pard!" he exclaimed, in -a voice ringing with triumph. - -Bob Somers looked into the barrel of a revolver held close to his head, -while Alf Griffin, waving a huge weapon from side to side, had the rest -of the crowd covered. - -"Well, what do you want, Tom Smull?" asked Bob, as soon as his -astonishment allowed him to speak. - -"Now, that 'ere language sounds jist a leetle bit better, pard," -exclaimed the lumberman, with a gruff laugh. "Me an' Griffin has went -to a precious sight o' trouble ter git this hyar interview. We want ter -be frien's o' yourn." - -"Then you might as well show it by pointing that revolver some other -way," suggested Bob. - -"Where's the rest o' your bold, brave gang o' sneakers?" demanded Jack -Conroy, hotly. "Throw down those shootin' irons, an' I'll bet the whole -crowd wouldn't dare face us three seconds. An'--" - -"Thar it goes ag'in!" snorted Tom Smull, violently. "Best be a bit -keerful, younker. If yer never smelt powder smoke a-blowin' in yer -face, it may be time fur yer to smell it now. But we ain't a-talkin' -ter you; our business is with the gineral--Somers." - -"Well?" queried Bob. - -"I reckon it will be, if yer acts peaceable-like. You've got a drawin' -showin' whar that streak o' pay dirt is, an' me an' Alf sure needs it." - -"Hand it out, pard!" came from Griffin. "Ye kin jine our crowd, an' -we'll share alike." - -"Of all the nerve I ever heard about this is the biggest!" stormed Jack. - -"It won't pay none ter git sassy," warned Smull. "Give me that drawin', -Somers!" - -"And if I don't?" asked Bob. - -"'Twon't make a particle o' difference; we'll hev it all the same." - -"Well, in that case, suppose you come and take it!" - -The lumbermen listened to these words in amazement. Tom Smull stared -wonderingly at Bob. - -"Wal, if this don't beat all creation!" he cried. "I s'picion as -how ye'll find out it don't pay none ter run ag'in Tom Smull." The -lumberman, still keeping his weapon leveled, roughly seized the bridle -of Bob's pony. "Come now," he added, scowling fiercely, "no more -foolin'!" - -A few seconds of silence followed this command. Highly indignant and -alarmed, the boys gazed intently toward the two principals facing each -other in the moonlight. If the lumberjacks secured possession of the -map it might give them such an advantage as to threaten the success -of their expedition. And it was galling to think of their very first -attempt to outwit the trailers meeting with complete defeat. - -Breathlessly, they watched Bob Somers. His arm flashed up so swiftly -that their eyes could scarcely follow its movement. - -Tom Smull's pistol hand received the full force of the blow. Then a -quirt came down with stinging force upon the broncho's back, and the -bridle was torn so suddenly from the lumberman's grasp as to almost -throw him to the ground. - -Bob Somers, encouraged by the cries of his excited chums, put spurs to -his horse and galloped recklessly down the valley, while Tom Smull, -with a yell of rage, started off in hot pursuit. - -"Stop--stop!" he bawled. - -A grim, determined expression on Bob Somers' face indicated clearly -that he had no intention of obeying this command. Lying almost flat -upon his pony's back, he urged him ahead until trees and bushes were -whirling by with bewildering rapidity. - -But fast as his pony tore, Tom Smull's went faster; and he realized -that it was only a question of a short time when he would be -overtaken--and then? - -"There's going to be one of the liveliest musses Tom Smull was ever -mixed up in," murmured Bob Somers, grimly. - -"Stop--yer can't git away!" - -Over swells, down the sides of little gullies, and across level -stretches, the mad, headlong race continued, the shrill cry of a -skulking coyote close at hand alone rising above the clatter of hoofs. - -"I've got yer, pard!" - -Bob Somers was on the point of wheeling his pony about, in order to -face his determined pursuer, when the animal's fore legs suddenly -plunged into a morass. It had been completely concealed by densely -matted grasses and other vegetation. - -As the snorting pony sank up to his knees, a stream of liquid mud shot -into the air. Bob Somers found himself jarred from the saddle and -catapulted over the animal's head. He landed at full length, and lay -almost stunned amidst the grass and ooze. - -Tom Smull had, perhaps, never been more astonished in his life. By the -narrowest margin, he succeeded in pulling his own horse up in time. -Then, with a whoop of triumph, he swung himself from the saddle. - -"Knew I'd git ye, pard!" he yelled. - -As Bob endeavored to rise from the soft, yielding surface which had so -fortunately saved him from injury, he caught a glimpse of a dark form -struggling through mud and vegetation toward him. - -He turned and threshed about, fighting hard to free his legs from the -entangling rushes. - -"No yer don't!" jeered Tom Smull. - -A violent shove sent Bob on his back, and, as his eyes gazed into the -lumberjack's triumphant face, he also saw the barrel of a revolver -again poked toward him. - -"Mebbe that won't keep yer quiet fur a spell!" grinned Tom. "'Tain't -allus healthy ter smell powder smoke, young un." - -He tore Bob's khaki jacket roughly open, and in another instant his big -hand was feeling for the inside pocket. - -The precious map was there. - -Bob Somers groaned inwardly. He heard a gruff exclamation of joy. The -document, held in Tom Smull's hand, was shining in the soft, greenish -moonlight. - -When the lumberjack's eyes rested upon the crude lines, his exultation -was so great that he seemed to entirely forget his victim. - -"Ha, ha! The identical thing! It 'ud sarve ye jist right, pard, if I -handed yer a clip or two fur all the trouble ye give me; but thar ain't -nuthin' mean 'bout me." - -The lumberman was of an immensely strong and wiry build, and the idea -of a boy actually having the courage to attack him never entered his -mind. Bob, however, working quietly, had succeeded in getting his legs -loose, and, while the other was still gloating over his victory, rose -to a standing position. Tom Smull, unprepared for such sudden action, -received a powerful blow which struck the revolver from his hand. Then, -before a howl of pain had ceased, he found himself gripped by a pair of -muscular arms and forced over backward. - -The astounded lumberman struggled fiercely to regain his balance, but -the combination of slippery surface and unpreparedness was too much to -successfully combat. A few brief instants of desperate struggle; a -wild threshing about among the reeds and ooze; a splashing of water; -the peculiar, sucking sound of gripping mud, as boots were drawn from -it--then: - -Tom Smull, panting for breath, toppled suddenly over, and brought up -with a resounding squash where the mire was deepest. - -The object of the battle, wafted away by the breeze, had settled down -beneath a huge tree a few yards beyond the edge of the marsh. - -"I'll pay ye fur this!" howled the lumberjack, furiously. - -His big hand gripped Bob Somers' leg. - -But the boy had seen and heard something which instilled into him new -courage and determination--a sound of beating hoofs and the sight of a -line of horsemen sweeping along at reckless speed. - -Tom Smull realized that quick action was necessary. He struggled -furiously, both to retain his hold upon Bob and extricate himself, only -to fail completely. Bob tore his leg loose, while, at every move, Smull -plunged more deeply into the slimy mud and plastered it more thickly -upon him. - -Just as Bob Somers, feeling that victory had been won, voiced a -loud warning to his friends to look out for the marsh, a startling -interruption took place. - -A limb of the tree close by began to shake and creak--and it was not -the breeze that caused it. A flutter of dead leaves and twigs floated -mournfully downward, while two brilliant spots glowed among the dark -branches. Then a low, ominous growl filled the boy's heart with dismay. - -Smull was oblivious to all this; he had ears for nothing, and eyes only -for the scrap of paper beneath the tree. Relieved momentarily from -the hindrance which Bob had caused to his movements, he staggered and -plunged toward dry ground. - -The limb creaked again. A long, savage snarl rose harshly upon the -still night air. - -"A painter!" cried Tom Smull. His voice was hoarse with sudden terror. -"It's a painter! The two of us is goners!" - - - - - CHAPTER XX - - GOLD CREEK - - -Madly the lumberman hurled himself forward, seized the map, and turned -in the direction of his broncho, while, but an instant afterward, a -long, tawny body sprang from the limb and landed on the edge of the -marsh. - -All thoughts of Wanatoma's drawing vanished from Bob Somers' mind, as -he stood with but a few yards between him and a panther. The moonlight -revealed the animal's ears thrown far back; his tail was lashing -fiercely; he seemed on the point of leaping again. - -"Great Scott!" breathed Bob. - -The boy's hand flew to his holster. Backing slowly away, he kept his -revolver leveled at the animal's head; his hand was steady, though -his heart thumped hard. It was a moment of great suspense. Almost -mechanically, he saw the riders looming up clearly in the moonlight. - -"Watch yourself, Bob! We'll get him!" came encouragingly from Dick -Travers' lips. - -The loud yells of the boys and clatter of hoofs evidently caused the -animal to decide that his enemies were too many to contend against. -Still growling and snarling, he whisked about, took several great -leaps, and, skirting along by the marsh, disappeared behind a clump of -trees. - -With a sigh of great relief, Bob Somers faced his excited friends. - -"Hurt?--No; not a bit of it, fellows; but the map's gone--and all the -fault of that wretched varmint!" - -"The map gone!" - -These words, repeated by several voices, sounded in accents of the -deepest gloom. - -"Quick--don't lose an instant!" cried Bob. "You may be able to overtake -him, and get it back. Help me get my bronc out of that awful mess, -Dick." - -Fired with a determined resolve, five boys immediately cracked their -quirts, and the bronchos were in motion again, pounding swiftly off in -the direction taken by Smull and Griffin. - -Bob and Dick managed to capture the former's badly-frightened animal -just as it was floundering out of the mire, and presently galloped, -side by side, after the now faint and shadowy forms of the other riders. - -Occasional sharp, yelping cries echoed dismally between the hills, -and within a short time they caught a glimpse of a pack of coyotes, -an undulating line of gray sweeping across the narrow valley. A bit -further along, the boys came upon Dave, in charge of the packhorses. - -"I couldn't keep up the pace with these beasts," he explained. - -"Think the fellows had any chance?" asked Bob, eagerly. - -Dave shook his head. - -"I'm afraid not," he answered. "They had too good a start. Gracious, -Bob, you're in a pretty mess!" - -"Tom Smull is in a worse," said Bob, grimly. "How did you chaps manage -to break away from Griffin?" - -"Sam suddenly gave a terrible yell, hung over the side of his pony like -a Mexican vaquero about to pick a handkerchief off the ground, and -started suddenly. The rest of us--well--we felt sure Griffin wouldn't -shoot--took our chances, anyway, and bolted after him." - -"Bully for you! Say, it certainly makes me sick to think of that -panther mixing in just at the wrong time." - -"The worst kind of luck," groaned Dick. "What's to be done?" - -"Make a great rush for the mine, and beat those fellows out. It's going -to be a free-for-all race now." - -"That's right," agreed Dick. "My, oh, my, but I do feel wild." - -They sat in silence for a few moments, straining their ears to catch -any sounds of the pursuit. - -"The timbermen have the map, an' they'll keep it forever an' two days," -grumbled Dick. "Hello! Here come the boys!" - -The five, after an interval which seemed very long, cantered up, their -ponies breathing hard and flecked with foam. - -"The scamps made a clean get-away," growled Jack. - -"Bet the whole jig is up," wailed Tom. - -"Oh, I rather guess not," snorted Tim Lovell. "There'll be some lively -doin's before this crowd gives up." - -This sentiment met with general approval. - -As the bronchos had been pushed pretty hard, the boys decided to camp -at the first suitable place. - -"This is a great valley, full o' coyotes, playful panthers, an' -desperate timbermen," remarked Jack, disgustedly. "Wonder what's comin' -next." - -"Plenty!" grunted Tim. - -In a gash in the hills they came to a halt, built a fire against a -rocky wall as a protection, and all but Tim Lovell turned in. - -And each sentinel, in his turn, heard enough to make him keep his -senses keenly alert. Several times the sound of skurrying feet rose -with unpleasant distinctness, causing the lonely sentinel to picture in -his mind the gray forms skulking close by. - -In the early morning Bob made a drawing of the map, and, as all had -studied it carefully, no detail was forgotten. Immediately after -breakfast they were off, following a deep gully. - -It did not end in a pocket, as Jack Conroy gloomily predicted, but -opened out, forming an amphitheatre between wild, barren hills. Keeping -to the north as closely as the configuration of the land would allow, -the party struggled on, now in the midst of boulders, then halted by -the undergrowth in some woods so dense that the sunlight scarcely -filtered in. - -But as each mile seemed to fall slowly and grudgingly behind them, they -could see from points of vantage a great bluish mass rising higher, its -outlines cutting more sharply against the sky. A towering summit of a -peculiar blunt shape proved beyond doubt that this was their goal. - -At the top of a high ridge they gazed with fascinated attention toward -the mountain, their pulses quickened with excitement. - -Perpetual snow, above pine forests, shone with dazzling luster; a -succession of wild-looking crags extended off to the right and left -until the furthest peaks were but faint grayish patches. - -"Mount Wanatoma!" said Bob, in solemn tones. - -"Mount Wanatoma!" echoed the others. - -"Christopher! Let's hurry!" cried Dick, nervously. "See any signs of -those lumberjacks, fellows?" - -Each, taking turns with the powerful field-glass, stared in all -directions. But nothing appeared within the circle. - -"That doesn't prove anything," sighed Tim. "You may be sure they're not -far away." - -"Smull and Griffin acted like a pair of pirates," growled Tom. - -"Pirates are water-birds, Cliffy," suggested Sam. - -"Well, I'll bet Tom Smull felt like a water-bird for a few minutes," -retorted the other, with a very faint grin. - -"There's goin' to be snow before long," remarked Tim, "an'--" - -"It would mean good-bye to gettin' back for six months," supplied Jack. -"Snowed up in the mountains; I suppose that's the next thing'll happen, -Timmy." - -They stopped only a few minutes for lunch. Full of determination to win -the race against all odds, the boys forgot fatigue, pushing their hardy -little bronchos to the utmost limit. - -When night came, after the hardest day in the saddle they had ever -experienced, it found them encamped in the foot-hills, with Mount -Wanatoma looming majestically above them. Its apparent nearness -was deceptive, however, and all realized that many miles of rough, -dangerous country had still to be crossed. - -A cold wind was sweeping down from the heights, and from somewhere in -the darkness came the sullen murmur of a rushing torrent. Sleep seemed -banished from the thoughts of all save Dave. After supper, they paced -restlessly to and fro before a fire built in a deep hollow, their -shadowy forms touched now and again by the ruddy glow. None cared to -venture far away, for, as on the night before, they realized that the -blackness hid many a snarling foe. - -At an early hour next morning the seven were again in the saddle, -traveling through fields of waving yellow bunch grass. They followed an -almost straight course to a point where the hills were sharply cleft, -forming a wide, deep gorge. Through the center trickled a tiny stream -bordered with scrubby willows. The rough, scarred hills on either -hand ended abruptly, and, beyond, a series of ridges, some thickly -covered with pine, others of bald, reddish rock, rolled off in crests, -rising higher and higher until they joined the stupendous mass of Mount -Wanatoma. - -The vastness of nature impressed the boys strangely. - -"Honest, it makes me feel like a little crawling ant," remarked Tim, -with a deep breath. - -"An' you look the part, all right, Timmy-Tim," grinned Jack. "An' -Tommy! Why, he's 'most disappeared." - -"Oh, you get out, Jacky. There's not such an awful lot of you, either," -retorted Tom, stiffly. "Besides," he added, "I'm a half inch taller'n I -was in Wyoming; honest, I am." - -"Goodness gracious! Look at the giant!" chirped Jack. "Measure yourself -every day, I s'pose?" - -"By the time we reach the gold mine, he'll be a six-footer," laughed -Tim. - -"That's all right; I may be looking down on you some day, smarty," -snorted Tom. - -To the north! was the slogan; yet they were as often compelled to -struggle east or west, pushed aside by huge barriers of rock or -impenetrable forests. - -About one o'clock the boys dismounted near the mouth of a gloomy -canyon. On the frowning slopes of "Mount Wanatoma" they saw masses of -dark, rich pines, gigantic piles of rock, and precipices with sheer -drops of hundreds of feet. And there was a cascade, too; a thin dash of -white tumbling from a dizzy ledge, growing broader as it fell, until, -at the bottom, it spread out sharply into a fan-shaped form, glittering -in the sunlight. - -A torrent roared its way through the canyon, slashing past grim, gray -rocks, a churning mixture of green and white, carrying on its battling -surface occasional branches and bright-colored autumn leaves. - -Close to the water's edge, the boys collected a quantity of fuel and -started a fire. Dick and Tim officiated as cooks, and soon had ready a -generous supply of bacon, flapjacks and coffee. - -While they were busily engaged in disposing of the last morsels, Dick -jumped abruptly to his feet. - -"By the great horn spoon--look!" he yelled. - -The eyes of the startled boys followed the direction indicated by his -outstretched arm. - -Uttering cries of dismay, they jumped to their feet. - -Far up on the mountain slope, several moving specks could be plainly -seen against a background of rocks. Small as the objects were, they cut -out sharply in the form of horsemen. - -Bob Somers was the first to break the silence. - -"Great Scott! What in thunder do you think of that?" he gasped. "And so -far ahead!" - -He stared, in turn, at six downcast faces. - -"I--I don't--can't understand it," quavered Tom. - -"The lumberjacks are up there; the jig's up, too," pronounced Jack, -dejectedly. - -"But--but"--stammered Dick--"just look at the way we've traveled. They -must be birds." - -"A straight line is the shortest distance between two points; guess -those chaps managed to keep closer to it than we have," came from Dave. - -The crowd could not shake off the gloomy feelings which beset them. The -horsemen had disappeared, but they kept staring up at the white patch -of rocks, half expecting to see other riders pass across its surface. - -"Knew it was goin' to be a wild goose chase by a pack o' wild geese." - -"Oh, is that so, Jacky?" cried Tim, hotly. "An' but for that megaphone -voice o' yours you might be chirpin' a different tale." - -"Here--don't you dare blame it on me! Never spoke 'bout it yourself, I -s'pose? Oh, no! Nobody did but me, eh?" - -"I don't care what you say, Conroy; it's all your fault. I told -you--everybody did." - -"Cut it out!" Jack made a threatening gesture. "Cut it out, or you'll -take a tumble, an' a mighty large-sized one!" - -"Quit jawing," interposed Bob. "I'm surprised at you fellows. Are we -such weak dubs as to call ourselves beaten before we even begin to -climb that mountain? I rather guess not!" - -All caught his spirit of enthusiasm. Saddle-bags were hastily -repacked, and within a few minutes the bronchos were in motion again. - -The boys were glad enough that they did not have to make the passage of -the canyon. Led by Bob, they strung out over a flat strip by the edge -of the torrent, soon finding a place to ford. - -Plunging in, the bronchos snorted, as icy water gripped their legs and -bodies; a fiercely surging flood splashed over stirrup-leather and -boots. The Ramblers could scarcely control their sturdy little animals, -as they slowly fought their way across. - -Two hours later, after a hard climb, the seven were sprawling in the -midst of sage brush on the slopes of "Mount Wanatoma," with a stiff -southeast wind howling around them. White clouds which scurried swiftly -through the blue often hid the snow-clad summit. - -"Some weather soon," predicted Dave. - -"Squalls, I'm thinkin'," muttered Jack, savagely. - -From their elevated position they saw a vast area of hills, gorges and -forests, all finally lost in a gray, misty line which met the sky. -The torrent swept its crooked course to the eastward; waving fields -of bunch grass shone with a golden luster, and forests of pine were -sharply edged with light. The sun was already creeping near the rim of -the western hills. - -The boys jumped into the saddle again, but before a couple of miles had -been covered found themselves facing a disheartening fact--the poor -jaded bronchos could go no further. - -"Napoleon's crossing of the Alps was nothing like this," quoth Bob, as -he swung himself to the ground. - -"Dave'll now have a bit o' history to write for his journal," sighed -Tim--"The Ramblers crossing Mount Wanatoma." - -"And just to think! We're stuck here for the night," growled Dick, with -a glance at the tired bronchos. "Those poor little beasts deserve a -real medal," he added. "They tried hard enough." - -"We'll have one made from the very first gold we strike," remarked -Jack, sarcastically, disregarding Tim's angry glance. - -Disconsolately, they hunted about for a camping site, and found one -near by. A fire was soon built, and supper cooked. - -Twilight, and then night seemed to close down upon them with -astonishing swiftness. Not a star peeped forth. A blustery wind moaned -between the trees, carrying with it a suggestion of winter gales. - -"We'll be snowed up," Jack again predicted, gloomily. - -"An' I don't care if we are," snapped Tim. - -"S'pose if it blizzards it'll be all my fault, too," mumbled Jack. - -The night seemed long and dismal. Almost benumbed with cold, the early -dawn found them astir again, and the journey was resumed with all -possible speed. - -Their voices held an eager note which told of excitement but partially -repressed. Before the sun set again they would know their fate. - -For hours they rode steadily, skirting around the mountainside, forced -higher and higher up the slopes by innumerable obstacles. Sometimes -they crossed narrow ledges where a single misstep would have meant a -frightful plunge down rough, jagged precipices. - -"Humph! Here's where we seem stumped at last," remarked Jack, as the -bronchos emerged from a belt of timber. - -Just ahead, a reddish pinnacle of rock, almost as straight as a -cathedral tower, and rising for hundreds of feet, presented a strangely -impressive spectacle. - -Bob Somers looked dubiously at the slope which slanted sharply from its -base. - -"A risky job getting around, fellows." - -"A pippin," said Dick, with a deep breath. - -"Well, we can do it," asserted Tim. "Come ahead." - -The boys scarcely dared to look at the depths below when the -sure-footed little bronchos began cautiously treading the -steeply-inclined surface, sometimes sending small landslides sweeping -down the slope. All uttered sighs of relief when they again reached -safer ground. - -About mid-afternoon Bob raised his hand. - -"Listen, fellows!" - -The boys pulled rein in the midst of a deep pine forest. - -"Do you hear anything?" - -"Runnin' water?" queried Jack. - -"Yes! Do you know what I think?" Bob paused. "Wanatoma said we'd run -across a stream on the opposite side of the mountain--" - -"Sure as shootin', that must be it," cried Tim, eagerly. - -"And told us it flowed directly toward the gold field," chimed in Sam -Randall, his face aglow with excitement. - -"Now, according to my reckoning, this is just about the place where we -ought to find it. That stream over there is certainly Gold Creek; so we -have only to follow its course down the mountain to locate our mine. -But--" - -"Well?" questioned Tom. - -"Those lumberjacks are ahead of us in the game. Big Jim is smart enough -to understand the map. The word 'stream' on that line ought to show him -the right place." - -"And that awful big X 'ud simply screech it into his head," said Jack. - -"I 'most hate to go on," said Tim, looking fiercely at Conroy, as he -always did when anything disturbed him. - -"Oh, my! I only hope they lost themselves somewhere," said Tom. "So -let's hurry, Bob. I can hardly wait." - -"Dive ahead for Gold Creek before worry stops our Tom from growin'," -quoth Jack, with a strong effort to appear easy and unconcerned. - -The bronchos' hoofs began kicking up the pine-needles and cones again. -The sunlight cut curious streaks in the dim recesses of the gloomy -woods, spotting trunks and boughs with its brilliant radiance. - -As the Ramblers made their way in and out among the trees, a musical -tinkle of running water came more clearly to their ears. - -"I see it! I see it!" cried Tim, raising himself in his stirrups, and -pointing excitedly. - -A cool, silvery streak was showing between the trees. - -"The thread that should have led us to fame and fortune," mused Dave -Brandon. - -"Gold Creek, fellows!" - -Dick Travers was the first to reach the edge of the swiftly-running -stream. The boys watched in silence the clear water tumbling down -the steep descent, dashing briskly against rocks and snags, its -never-ceasing roar rising high above the pulsating murmur of the pines. - -Nervous and excited, with grim-set expressions, they put their bronchos -in motion again, following the course of the stream as closely as dense -vegetation would permit. - -Broad shafts of light soon penetrated the woods, and before long only -scattered groups of trees lay beyond. - -Not a word was spoken as the ponies walked around the last of these -and came to a halt on a knoll which commanded a clear view of the -far-reaching slopes below. - -One glance was enough. - -A number of men, widely scattered, were seen digging with pick and -shovel. - -"Beaten!" cried Dick Travers, in a despairing voice. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI - - ALONG THE CREEK - - -The lumberjacks had taken possession of land which the boys considered -as rightfully belonging to them. Disappointment, chagrin, and a -whirlwind of strange feelings surged through their beings. They had -matched uncertainty with hopefulness, and the realization that defeat -had actually come was a stunning blow. - -For some moments Bob and his companions sat almost motionless in their -saddles. - -"It's all up!" groaned Tom Clifton. - -"We've traveled a long way for this," wailed Dick, with a choking -sensation in his throat. - -"Did you ever hear of such awful luck?" growled Tim, directing a look -of intense anger and scorn toward Jack Conroy. - -"I wonder--I wonder if they've found any trace of gold," murmured Sam, -in a tone of the deepest dejection. "Who are those fellows on the -nearest ridge?" - -"Look like Reynolds and Woodle to me," answered Dave, with a sigh. -"There's Pete, away down at the bottom; see him?--Just a little square -dot." - -"Christopher! I don't think we ought to stand for this!" cried Jack -Conroy, hotly, shaking his fist in the air. "Haven't we enough spunk -to--" - -"The odds are against us, Jack," put in Bob, quietly. - -"Nothin' doin'," said Tim. - -"I don't know about that!" fumed Dick. His voice trembled with -indignation. "It makes me so wild I can't even think straight. Come on, -fellows!" - -A long, undulating slope of treacherous soil stretched downward. The -bronchos slipped and slid along it, and, occasionally, the boys had -to dismount and lead the way on foot, or prospect around to find some -reasonably safe route. It was, therefore, a long time before they came -abreast of the men. - -The rushing torrent at this point was too dangerous to ford, so they -kept steadily on, paying no attention to a number of loud salutations. - - -Hails from several figures below soon followed, sounding astonishingly -loud and distinct, and among them Pete Colliver's voice was easily -recognizable. As the seven caught it, the scowls on their faces -deepened. - -The stream swept around in a great snake-like curve, cutting its way -between two sharply gashed ridges. Fifteen minutes of careful riding -brought the boys near the pebble-covered bottom of one of these -miniature gorges. - -Upon the opposite bank, Smull, Griffin, Pete Colliver and Jimmy stood -lined up, grinning broadly, while the two men who had been working on -the slope were slipping and scrambling down the rocks and turf toward -them. - -"Wal, wal, if hyar they ain't, at last!" laughed Pete, boisterously. -"Didn't git losted, arter all, hey?" - -"Ye can't stake out any claims here, pards," said Tom Smull, "but if -yer a-lookin' fur jobs as laborers mebbe we kin perwide 'em." - -[Illustration: "YE CAN'T STAKE OUT ANY CLAIMS HERE"] - -"Ha, ha!" roared Pete. "Feelin' kinder sore, eh? Didn't wanter go in -on eq'al shares! Wal, bust it, there ain't a-goin' ter be no eq'al -shares! Ha, ha!" - -"Don't I feel sorry fur 'em!" snickered Jimmy of Sellade. - -"If you uns ain't too all-fired proud ter throw 'round a pick an' -shovel fur a rough crowd like us, come acrost an' begin," suggested -Tom, his features screwed up into an extraordinary smirk. - -A fiery spot in Dick Travers' nature was touched. - -"You're a lot of scoundrels!" he cried, shaking his fist. "You haven't -a bit of right to that claim, and if there's any law in the country you -won't be squatting on it long." - -"Put us off, pard," jeered Alf Griffin. - -"See here, Jim Reynolds!" exclaimed Bob, as the big lumberman and -Woodle, panting from their exertions, joined the others, "did you order -Tom Smull and Griffin to hold us up?" - -"Nary a bit on't," answered Jim, earnestly. "Didn't know whar they'd -gone, or nothing till they gits back an' shoves the drawin' under me -nose." - -"Then you thought it was all right for them to do it, eh?" - -Jim scratched his head. - -"'Tain't nateral ter expect a man ter give up a chancet like that, is -it? If them fellers is still o' a mind, ye kin come in with us." - -"Wal, I ruther guess not!" howled Tom Smull, fiercely, beginning to -pace to and fro. "Nix on that." - -The bantering expression left his face. He glanced toward Alf Griffin, -and the swift interchange of looks between the two told of a determined -resolve to keep the Ramblers out. - -"An' none o' ye don't darst to cross the crick," came from Pete, as he -stalked belligerently to the edge of the bank. - -"Get out, grouchy!" scoffed Jack. "Let's call his bluff, fellows, an' -get over the splash." - -"Come ahead!" cried Dick, excitedly. - -"Look hyar!" Smull's warlike tone matched his scowling visage. "Mebbe -you fellers is a-sp'ilin' fur trouble, hey? My adwice is: don't start -nuthin', but git back ter that lumber camp whar ye belong." - -"Ho, ho!" laughed Jimmy. - -"And ye kin ask Cap Slater fur our old jobs." - -"'Tain't right ter rile the lads," protested Woodle, earnestly. "Quit -it, Tom Smull." - -"I reckon it ain't you as is runnin' me tongue," retorted Smull. "But -fur me an' Griffin, mebbe we uns wouldn't never hev made this strike o' -pay dirt." - -A strike of pay dirt! - -Then Wanatoma's gold mine was a reality--an actual, tangible thing. Bob -Somers' eyes ran rapidly over the mountain slope on the opposite side -of the torrent. - -He saw huge areas of rocks and turf, spotted with scrubby trees and -patched with weeds and grass. Here and there grew prickly pear trees, -their broad, spiked leaves grayed by yellow dust. Above were the pine -forests, and masses of rocks forming great cliffs and precipices, and -rising to a stupendous height the crown of perpetual snow. At the base, -some distance off, were evidences of ancient landslides--gigantic piles -of earth and rocks, with crumbling tree trunks protruding from the mass. - -Bob Somers' thoughts were abruptly swung into another channel by a war -of words between Pete Colliver and Conroy. - -"What! You dare me to come over, eh?" - -"I say ye dasn't!" - -"Well, by gum, Wengeance Cauliflower, you an' a gatling gun together -couldn't keep me back." - -"Jack--I say, Jack," interposed Bob Somers, hastily, "hold on; no use -in stirring up trouble." - -The only answer was a sharp crack of Conroy's quirt. - -The sudden leap of his broncho and a loud splash of water set all the -other animals prancing about in the narrow gorge. Jack's trusty little -steed snorted, as the powerful current bore him along; flying spray -soused high above the rider's boots. But Jack, intent upon showing his -courage, steered straight toward a deep cut in the opposite bank. - -Fearing that the impetuous lad might involve the crowd in a disturbance -of tremendous proportions, Bob Somers also plunged his broncho into the -stream. Then, one by one, the others followed. - -The lumberjacks stood in silence, watching the struggle between the -riders and the seething flood. Presently Jack Conroy's dripping horse -scrambled ashore. - -With a yell of defiance, the lad rode through the cleft, soon finding a -place where he was able to ascend. - -"Well, here I am, Wengeance!" laughed Jack, making directly toward Pete -Colliver. - -Pete took a step forward, and there was a curious look in his eyes, as -though some resolve he had made afforded him immense satisfaction. - -"I see ye, big un!" - -Smack! Smack! His open palm struck the sorrel on the flank with -terrific force. - -The broncho gave a great bound, almost tossing Jack over his head. - -Highly indignant, the boy strove desperately to regain control of the -animal, while peals of uproarious laughter came from several of the -lumberjacks. - -Boys and men, too occupied to have eyes for anything beyond their -immediate surroundings, failed to observe a horseman emerge from the -timber above and stare earnestly toward them. - -As Jack Conroy, fuming with anger, at last managed to drop from the -saddle and rushed toward Pete, Bob Somers whirled his broncho around -and rode between them. - -"Hold on, Jack," he pleaded, earnestly. "Stop! Grab him, Dave!" - -A hand reached up and gripped his arm. Bob turned quickly, to get a -nearer view than he liked of Tom Smull's features. - -As he voiced an emphatic protest, fingers were closed tighter about his -wrist. Then came a sudden, violent jerk which pulled him over sideways. -He was just able to withdraw his feet from the stirrups and swing his -leg over the pommel when the frightened broncho bolted. - -By a skilful movement, Bob managed to land on his feet. - -"I'll show ye, pard," snarled Tom Smull. "Shoved me inter the squash, -hey? I reckon as how ye won't feel any ter the best when I gits through -with ye." - -"Ha, ha, hyar's whar we gits wengeance!" shouted Pete Colliver. - -It was a moment of the utmost confusion. Riderless horses were swinging -wildly over the uneven ground, while the indignant boys rushed up from -different points to give aid to Bob and Jack. - -A fierce battle was about to be waged, when a clatter of hoofs, -together with a loud yell, caused all eyes to be suddenly turned toward -the mountain slope. - -"Hey! Leave them fellers alone, or every hair on yer heads'll git -blowed off!" - -Men and boys recognized that gruff voice and the thick-set figure which -sat astride a weary-looking mustang. - -"By all that's wonderful; it's old Cap Slater!" yelled Tim Lovell. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII - - CAP TAKES A HAND - - -It was indeed old Cap Slater who finally came to a halt facing them, -and his appearance created such intense astonishment that hostilities -were instantly forgotten. - -All stared at the burly captain as though some apparition had suddenly -risen before their eyes. - -"Wal, wal, if there ain't actooally the old feller!" cried Pete in -accents of the deepest wonderment. "I never s'picioned as how he'd be -mean nuff ter hev went an' follered us." - -"It's a great go, all right," said Jimmy, weakly. - -"What does all this mean, Reynolds?" bellowed Slater, as his eyes ran -over the group in a fierce, questioning stare. - -"Means? Why, it means that these men have swiped a claim--a claim that -rightfully belongs to us," spoke up Bob, as soon as his astonishment -allowed him to speak. - -"They hev, hey?" The answer seemed to put Cap Slater into a towering -rage; he shook his fist violently in the air. "Ter think that arter -all the trouble I has went to it were too late ter prewent this! It's -nuff ter make a biled owl blink." Slater's tones, too, spoke volumes -of disappointment and chagrin. "I want the hull story; an' I want it -quick!" - -"These two men, Smull and Griffin"--Bob pointed an accusing finger at -the lumberjacks--"held us up and stole our map; and now they want to -start a fight." - -Captain Slater's face had darkened by degrees, until a heavier scowl -had perhaps never rested upon it. - -"The most disgracefulest thing I ever hear tell of! Never thought as -how ye'd do anything like that, Jim Reynolds." - -His voice roared above the steady drone of the torrent. - -"Anybody else would hev done the same thing," mumbled Jim. - -"I don't wonder yer voice has got weak. I'm a-comin' closer, so ye kin -whisper." - -Captain Slater eased his burly form from the saddle, shook a cloud of -dust from his travel-stained garments, then strode up to the lumbermen. -He stood before his former employees, a stern figure of a man, like -the symbol of outraged justice. Under his steely glare they seemed to -perceptibly wilt and shrink away. - -"Now then, Reynolds," his jaws clicked ominously, "I'm a-goin' ter see -fair play." - -"This hyar ain't yer lumber camp, Cap," growled Tom Smull. - -"I want nothing from sich as you. That little shrimp o' a Pete, an' -Griffin, an' you orter be tied up together like a bunch o' herrin' an' -dropped clean off the earth." - -"When ye was cap'n o' a floatin' tub, it's a wonder every man aboard -didn't turn pirate," mumbled Griffin, as he and Smull hastily fell back -before this outburst. - -"Ye'd look 'andsomer if ye'd let out a few reefs in that face o' yourn, -Griffin," the captain replied grimly. "Now then--" - -"Say, captain!" - -Bob Somers stepped up and whispered something in his ear. - -"Hey?" Slater's red face took on a bewildered expression. He turned, -his eyes roving in all directions. "What, Somers?" - -Bob spoke quietly a second time. - -The captain's big, flaming handkerchief came out, to mop his face in a -vigorous fashion. - -"Roll me down a timber slide if--if--" - -Words seemed to fail him; he paused, while Pete Colliver looked on in -open-mouthed wonder. - -"Hey, Jimmy, d'ye pipe that?" he exclaimed, hoarsely. "They're crawlin' -a'ready--skeered." - -"An' the old un has losted his nerve." - -"Yes--bust it; an' his voice, too!" - -"Git out, ye little toad. I won't hev ye a-walkin' on the same ground -as I do. It's a positive wonder that grin o' yourn don't start a -landslide big nuff ter kiver up all the gold. Come on, lads!" - -The lumberman began leading his mustang away, while Bob, with a "Get -your broncs, fellows!" started after his own, which stood close by. - -Not far down the slope, in a little bowl-shaped valley washed at the -foot by the swirling torrent, Bob Somers and Captain Slater, sitting -on a boulder, awaited the others. - -Dick and Jack were the first to arrive. - -"Now, for goodness' sake, Bob, what does all this mean?" demanded Dick, -impatiently. - -"Just this: I believe Reynolds' crowd hasn't located the mine, after -all." - -"What--what--made a mistake? You don't--you can't mean it! How--" - -"Ter my mind, I'll wenture ter say it's as sartin as that a bullfrog -can't drive an ox-team," remarked the captain, solemnly. - -"Hold on--wait a minute! Here come the other fellows," roared Jack, -excitedly. - -In a short time they were all together. - -"Jehoshaphat!" cried Jack, when Bob had begun again. "Warble your -reasons fast." - -"Listen: didn't Wanatoma tell us the creek flowed through a level plain -at the base of the mountain?" - -There was a moment of thoughtful silence. - -"I'm sure he did!" cried Sam Randall, excitedly. "I remember now. And -all around us it's--" - -"Hilly, to beat the Dutch." - -"I don't know whether Wanna said the gold was at the point where the -stream reached the base or not," supplemented Dave, "but he certainly -did mention the fact that it was where Gold Creek took a big bend and -that the land was level." - -"Well, can you beat it?" gasped Tom. "Oh, if it should only be true! -I'll bet the stream changes its course further along." - -"Jingo! Perhaps we were just a little bit too quick in gettin' excited -an' givin' up the game," murmured Jack. "Bully thought o' yours, Bob!" -He seized Tom, and began to waltz him around, to the accompaniment of a -very loud, unmusical whistle. "Hooray!" - -"Remember that voice, Jacky!" cautioned Tim. - -"Oh, my, oh, my! but wouldn't I laugh if Bob is right!" blurted out -Jack, hilariously. "Come on--let's beat it!" Deftly tripping Tom, he -deposited him in a heap on a patch of dried grass. "Come on!" - -"After such an exciting session, I think a recess ought to be taken," -demurred Dave, "unless Captain Slater wants the floor." - -Dave's words instantly changed thoughts into another channel. All eyes -turned toward the captain; a bombardment of questions pelted him from -every side. - -The former skipper waved his hand. - -"Yer git nuff force back o' them woices o' yourn ter work a power -boat," he remarked, slowly. "It's a long story, but it's quick told. -How did I hear 'bout the mine? Wal, I'll begin at the beginnin'." - -The boys listened to the captain's story with the greatest interest, -punctuating his remarks at frequent intervals by exclamations. He -told them he had ridden back to Lovell's camp, to give warning of the -lumbermen's departure, and that the former had provided him with all -the information he could--even a rough sketch showing the location. -Lastly, Captain Slater said something which caused the biggest surprise -of all: - -"I hit yer trail once or twicet. 'Member that big cliff 'way back -yonder?" He waved his hand. - -"Bet your life," answered Jack, with a peculiar grin. - -"Wal, I think I seen a couple o' ye from the top." - -"Great Cæsar! Was that you?" cried Tim. "Why, the boys had a camp only -about three-quarters of a mile from there. How in the world did you -miss running into it?" - -"I hearn shots a-comin' from the timber; thinks I, mebbe that's -Reynolds' gang, so I gallops over." - -"Guess it was Dave and I after game," volunteered Bob. - -"Wal, I didn't see nothing but the biggest an' blackest bear in all -creation." The captain grinned reminiscently. "The old nag can't stand -nothing wusser ter look at 'n Tom Smull's face; so he up an' runs; an' -splash me in that crick, if I didn't begin ter think he was a-goin' ter -take me back ter the lumber camp." - -The boys laughed heartily. - -"I done the best I could fur ye." - -The crowd's answer to this was so hearty and sincere that, for once in -his life, old Cap Slater felt slightly embarrassed, and, to conceal it, -he again mopped his face with the big red handkerchief. - -They sat around for some time, and were on the point of leaving, when -two mounted men suddenly appeared on the rim of a rise just above them. - -"Sufferin' crickets!" cried Cap Slater, with a steady look. "Bart -Reeder an'--an'--must be a circus nigh abouts, an', sartin sure, that -feller's the ringmaster." - -Mr. Buck James, looking very large and important, in his checkered suit -and white vest, sat astride a small dejected-looking mustang, with his -long legs dangling close to the ground. Bart Reeder, thin and small by -contrast, followed on a dun-colored pony. - -"Makes me think of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza," gurgled Dick. -"Wondered where the two chaps had gotten to." - -"I tell ye, Reeder, this here place is a frost," came from Buck James. -"Outside o' one place what Smull an' Griffin acts cracked over, I ain't -seen nuff yellow specks to--hello!" - -His eyes had suddenly lighted on the party. - -"As I live, Cap Slater!" yelled Reeder, in sepulchral tones. "Great -Scott! Whar--whar--" - -"Captain Slater--the old un I hear so much about?" queried James, -interestedly. - -"The identical feller," almost stuttered Reeder. "Whar'd ye come from, -Cap?" - -"Me aeroplane is hitched on to the moon till I gits ready ter leave," -answered the captain, gruffly. "Toddle on! An' when ye gits done -lookin' at me, checkers--" - -"Sir!" said Buck James, haughtily. - -"Sir to you, sir! An' I wenture ter say as how a suit like that is -handy nuff when you wants ter hev a game, sir!" - -"Do you know who I am?" - -"I ain't pertic'lar to learn; my eyes is hurt nuff with them clo'es." - -Uttering a loud guffaw, the captain turned away, and seized his mustang -by the bridle, while Buck James, highly indignant, lost no time in -riding away. - -"Now, let's follow the stream and see if we can find that level stretch -and another bend," said Bob, in low tones. "Hear what James said, -Dave--a 'frost'? More I think of it, the more certain I feel they're--" - -"Goin' to have an awful awakening," grinned Tim; "eh, Jack? Whoa, -little codger!" - -He sprang into the saddle. - -One by one the bronchos clambered up a steep bank, and were presently -cantering briskly over ridges patched with stunted spruce and sage -brush. On one side lay "Mount Wanatoma"; on the other, a vast reach -extending toward a distant mountain chain. - -Gray, threatening-looking clouds, which had stretched all morning on -the horizon, were now advancing, and gusts of chilling wind buffeted -the riders with unpleasant force. - -After about a half hour's steady march, Sam Randall, some distance to -the right of the main body, halted, and his shrill whistle wafted over -soon brought the echoing hoof-beats to a stop. - -"Hello, what's the matter?" called Bob. - -"Look--look! See anything ahead?" - -Sam's excited tones instantly forced attention upon the distance. - -"Goodness gracious! As I live--a couple o' horsemen!" cried Tim, with a -whoop. - -"Where--where?" demanded Tom, earnestly. - -"Don't you see 'em--right by that group of evergreens? There--they -moved!" - -"Cracky! I believe you're right." - -Tom seemed perfectly dumfounded. - -"Mebbe a couple o' hunters," suggested Cap Slater. "We ain't quite off -the earth yit." - -"An'--an'--why, say--is that a bear they have with 'em?" blurted out -Jack, his eyebrows knitting in perplexity. "Somethin' whoppin' big, -anyhow. Where's your glass, Bob?" - -An animal of no small proportions had suddenly popped into view beside -the horsemen. - -"What do you see, Somers?" cried Jack, eagerly, as the field-glass was -leveled. - -A very strange expression came over Bob's face. He stared, apparently -in speechless astonishment, paying no attention to the impatient -queries which came from all sides. - -"I say," howled Jack, "can't you speak?" - -"It doesn't seem possible," murmured Bob, at length. - -His voice indicated the greatest bewilderment. - -"What doesn't seem possible?" yelled Dick. - -"I can't believe it!" - -"Then don't, but tell us what it is," cried Tim, while Tom, highly -excited, cracked his quirt so sharply that every broncho immediately -began to prance about. - -"Well," howled Jack, when the animals had quieted down, "for the last -time, Somers--" - -"Why--that is Mr. Lovell, Wanatoma, and the Great Dane," was Bob -Somers' astonishing answer. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII - - GOLD! - - -"Unk and Wanna!" cried Tim, incredulously. "Get out, Bob; you can't -stuff me!" - -"Or me, either!" - -"A mighty poor joke!" - -"Didn't think that o' you, Somers!" - -"Here; look for yourself, Jack!" retorted Bob. - -The big lad eagerly seized the field-glass and raised it to his eyes. - -"I'm dreamin'--I know I'm dreamin'," he mumbled. "Next minute I'll wake -up an' find myself in the cabin. Booney, is breakfast ready?" - -"It's sartingly Lovell an' the Injun, when he gabs like that," -commented Cap Slater. "Wal, if this hyar ain't nuff ter make a catfish -act perlite to a cat I ain't never been scratched by a bramble!" - -"Whoop!" cried Dick, delightedly. "Wonder what in thunder it all -means?" - -"Unk an' Wanna!" murmured Tim. "It--it--well, I give it up." - -"Come ahead, fellows!" - -Bob cracked his quirt, and the next instant the bronchos were galloping -at a reckless rate over the uneven surface. - -By degrees the two distant specks began to assume the familiar forms of -Mr. Lovell and the aged warrior. Then a deep-throated bay rose above -the sound of flying hoofs. - -Bubbling over with joy and excitement, the boys gave a chorus of yells; -again came a deep bay from the Great Dane, and an answering shout from -Uncle Stanley. - -Fast as the horses galloped, it was not fast enough to suit the -impatient riders. It seemed as though the intervening space would never -be covered, and a feeling of relief shot through them as they saw the -horsemen begin to canter in their direction. - -"Unk--I say, Unk, is that really you?" called out Tim. "I can't believe -it's true, even now." - -"Yes, Tim; and I'm mighty glad, as well as relieved, to see you, all -safe and sound. How are you, captain?" - -With the skill of cowboys, the seven brought their bronchos close -alongside the two men, while the Great Dane, still uttering his musical -bays, capered wildly about. - -Amid the confusion, the din of questions and answers, and the stamping -of horses' hoofs, Wanatoma, the aged warrior, sat dignified and silent, -though the brightening of his eyes told of a feeling of satisfaction. - -"Now, Lovell, I'm a-waitin' ter find out what all this means." - -The captain's big voice boomed out above the others. - -"Wanna, old boy, this is certainly a great surprise." - -Jack had ridden up close to the Indian, and was energetically shaking -hands. - -"Quick, Uncle Stanley, do tell us something," pleaded Tim. "Have you -seen those lumberjacks? Do you know what Bob Somers thinks?" - -"Boys, boys, give me a chance," laughed Mr. Lovell. "Order, order! Now, -Bob, what is your idea?" - -"That the men have staked out the wrong place." - -Wanatoma, with an approving glance, nodded. - -"The white boy is keen, like Indian brave," he said, slowly. - -"Then--then do you really mean to say Bob is right?" stammered Tim, -with a great flash of hope. "Quick, Uncle Stanley, tell us." - -"We have already staked out the Rambler Club's Gold Mine!" - -A silence far more impressive than the wildest demonstration could -have been followed this amazing announcement. The boys stared at one -another, then at the lumberman, and from him to Wanatoma. - -"I felt sure of it," said Bob, at length, with a great sigh of relief. - -"Just to think of the luck," mumbled Tim. - -"Honest, it seems too good to be true," chirped Tom, breathlessly. - -"Sartingly beats all creation, that's what it does," remarked Cap -Slater, in a tone of positive conviction. - -"And--and did you really find gold?" asked Sam. - -"The rocks are filled with specks that glitter like the sun," said -Wanatoma. "Come, you shall see. Indian's work is done; he is content." - -A certain pathos in his voice stilled a wild burst of enthusiasm. -The redman, whose once powerful shoulders were bent by the weight of -years, presented a picturesque spectacle. Long hair fell loosely over -his blanketed shoulders; an eagle feather fluttered in the breeze; age -had dimmed the luster of his eyes and lined his face with deep-set -wrinkles, but the dignity of the warrior still remained. - -"Wal, Wanna, yer the whitest Injun the rain ever beat ag'in," remarked -Cap Slater, breaking in upon the silence. "Shake!" - -He urged his mustang forward and leaned over. - -The gruff old lumberman and the Indian clasped hands. One by one, the -boys followed his example; then, with a "Come ahead, boys," Mr. Lovell -cracked his quirt and was off. - -Their ride, which was not long, took them through a narrow gorge -between two low hills. From this they emerged upon a vast level plain, -dotted with great clumps of evergreens. - -"Aha! There's another bend in Gold Creek! See it?" cried Bob. - -"Well, I should say so," shouted Tim, excitedly. "My, what a head you -have, Bob Somers. Can it be--can it actually be there? Oh, ginger! -Quick--tell us, Uncle Stanley." - -Mr. Lovell waved his hand, taking a sweep of the rugged slope and level -stretch at its base. - -"Boys--The Rambler Club's Gold Mine!" - -"Hooray--hooray!" yelled Bob; and the shout which blended in with his -grew in volume until old Cap Slater himself seemed affected by the -fever of excitement. - -Presently quirts were given a final crack; the bronchos leaped forward, -and, in another moment, the crowd caught sight of a lean-to near the -base of the mountain and in the shelter of a pine woods. - -Soon they dropped from the saddle before it. - -The efforts of each to be the first to see the interior resulted in -considerable confusion, which Jack straightened out in his usual way, -Tim and Dick flying off at a tangent. - -But there was too much suppressed excitement for the fun to continue -long. Hearts were beating fast, and their eyes sparkled. - -Wanatoma seized a pick and shovel resting in a corner. - -"Come," he said, laconically. - -Skirting around the woods, he led the way up the slope, showing a flash -of his old-time strength and agility. They scrambled after him, over -turf and rocks, Mr. Lovell and Captain Slater bringing up in the rear. -It was hard work for the ex-skipper, who grunted and puffed with the -exertion. - -At a considerable distance from the base, the Indian halted, while the -boys, eager and excited, surrounded him. - -"Great Scott! to think it's actually here!" murmured Bob. - -"Wow! Isn't it grand?" piped Tom, with an almost irresistible desire to -break into a wild fit of laughter. - -After a few moments' rest, Wanatoma raised his pick, and began the -attack. Soon quartz was disclosed. Under the vigorous blows, several -pieces were broken off, and rattled downward. - -But none got very far--eager hands pounced upon them. - -"Gold--gold!" yelled Jack, hilariously, as he held up a chunk and waved -it back and forth, to show a number of gleaming specks. "Gold! See, -fellows--gold! an' piles of it!" - -In a wild burst of enthusiasm, he seized the pick from the Indian's -hands, and attacked the ground with furious strokes. Every blow sent a -shower of earth and stones and small pieces of quartz flying in the air -and over the slope. - -With the perspiration standing out on his face, Jack worked away; and -when he presently flung aside his pick and knelt beside a pile of -quartz which the others had collected, Tim seized it. - -As the boys saw outcroppings of gold, they gave vent to their feelings -in sibilant shouts. They scrambled still higher up the slope, where the -rocks rose in miniature cliffs, tufted with weeds and vegetation, or -crowned by bristling prickly pears. - -Those who hadn't picks or shovels dug at the surface with stones and -sticks, exposing in places the underlying strata of quartz. Small -landslides whizzed continuously down. Tom slipped, and rolled until a -jutting rock stopped his progress. Jack, too, in a reckless attempt to -scale an almost perpendicular wall, lost his footing, and went sliding -and bumping in another direction, to pick himself up with a hilarious -shout. - -But the boys, now in the full grip of the gold fever, paid no attention -to these mishaps. From one point to another they climbed, the sharp -clink of the pick blending in with their shouts, as new discoveries -were made. - -"Never expected to see anythin' like this," cried Jack, exultantly. -"When the news gets out, won't it make a sensation?" - -"The California rush o' forty-nine'll be beaten to a frazzle," laughed -Tim. - -"And the Klondike forgotten," chirruped Tom. - -Again Jack seized the pick, and began to dig frantically. Then, as if -suddenly awestruck at the thought of the wealth which might lay hidden -beneath the frowning slopes, he straightened up. - -"Isn't it wonderful!" he exclaimed, softly. - -"Oh, ho!" said Dave Brandon. "I almost have an inspiration for a poem -on gold." - -The violence of the excitement slowly began to abate. With aching backs -and weary arms, they finally flung themselves on the rocks, to take -long, deep breaths of cool, refreshing air. - -"Now, Uncle Stanley," began Tim. - -"Oh, yes; I suppose you are going to tell me that explanations are in -order," laughed Mr. Lovell, who had seated himself on a slab of rock. - -"That's the idea exactly." - -"I have a powerful strong feelin' that the restaurant department ought -ter be got a-goin'," observed Cap Slater, bluntly. - -"So have I," added Dave. - -"Then I proposes an immegiat adjournment," went on the other. "Yarns -sound a heap better when ye ain't a-gittin' no wireless signals o' -distress." - -With a laugh, Bob seconded the motion. Accordingly, the boys rose to -their feet, and, in a lively fashion, began scrambling down the slope. - -A fire was built, and willing hands kept gathering fuel until a great -pile rested in front of the lean-to. While the meal was cooking, Bob, -peeping inside, caught sight of a pile of snow-shoes. - -"Hello, Wanna," he said; "think you'll need those things?" - -The Indian nodded and pointed to the gray sky overhead. - -"Yes; soon a heap big snow," he answered, slowly. - -When appetites were finally satisfied, and all were content, Mr. -Lovell, with the boys forming a circle about him, began again: - -"Our friend here"--he indicated the lumberman--"has no doubt told you -how he brought me very disquieting news." - -"Disquietin' nuff ter make this old salt holler." - -"Well, I felt that you must be intercepted at all hazards. The Portland -steamer was due to pass that afternoon, so my little sailboat, the -'Penguin,' was hastily made ready. There was a good, stiff wind, and -Joe Waller succeeded in putting me aboard the 'Evergreen State.'" - -"An' maybe it didn't s'prise us to see you on a real, nautical -steamboat," gurgled Jack, with a wink at Tom. - -"And all my efforts and the megaphone combined couldn't make you -understand?" - -"Not a word," said Bob. - -"Well, it may be for the best, after all. Naturally, I expected Don -Mason to land you at Wild Oak; but weather sometimes alters plans. We -arrived in due course at Rawdon, and I immediately hurried back to Wild -Oak, expecting to meet you there. - -"My disappointment was great on realizing that the 'Osprey' had sailed -by. It was absolutely necessary for me to return to the lumber camp -that night. What should I do? An answer suggested itself--leave a note -at the post-office." - -"And did you?" cried Tim. - -"Yes; I thought possibly you might think of going there." - -"Well, we certainly didn't," said Bob, cheerfully. - -"So it seems," laughed Uncle Stanley. "Anyway, I was obliged to hire a -rig and leave immediately." - -"Wonder how it was we didn't meet somewhere on the road," mused Dick. - -"The driver told me we could save time by taking another route." - -"Another route?" queried Tim. - -"Yes; one which, while not so good as the main thoroughfare, takes a -short cut through the woods. As it was, I barely had time to catch the -steamer. - -"Wanatoma was at the camp; and the story of the lumberjacks' visit to -his cabin determined us to follow you." - -"It was certainly a dandy thing to do," said Tim. - -"A great deal of important business had to be left to Warrington. We -bought horses at Rawdon--" - -"Not from that 'ere livin' checkerboard, I s'picion," broke in Cap -Slater, with a gruff laugh. - -"Oh, no!" Mr. Lovell smiled. "We made no attempt to follow your trail, -as both Wanatoma and I thought it wiser to push on with all possible -speed to the mine, stake it out, and then keep a sharp watch for your -coming. What's that, Dick--did we know the lumberjacks had arrived? -Oh, yes; and it made us very nervous about you, indeed." - -"Glad to see us, I'll bet," piped Tom. - -"I don't think I was ever more relieved in my life," confessed Uncle -Stanley. "If you hadn't come to-day, Wanatoma proposed starting off on -a search." - -"Oh, ho," laughed Dave, "you need never have any fear about us." - -"The next thing is to get back to civilization and file a formal claim -with the government," went on Mr. Lovell. "Wanatoma has most kindly -agreed to stay here; and, of course, boys, you will show your skill as -carpenters by building him a comfortable cabin." - -"Well, we will--I should rather say so!" cried Bob, enthusiastically. -"Jolly fun, too!" - -"You bet," agreed Dick. "Hooray! An' we'll make him a good one." - -"And say, boys, I move we call this 'The Jabberwock Mine,'" grinned -Jack. - -"Wal," commented the captain, rising to stretch his arms and legs, "if -this hain't been an ewentful day, I never fired a lazy logger." - -The next few days were busy ones for the seven. The sound of saws and -axes reverberated sharply in the woods, and the sturdy little bronchos -were used to drag fallen trees to the site of the cabin. - -Mr. Lovell was a little fearful, after looking over some extraordinary -drawings made by Jack Conroy, that the boys had laid out for themselves -a whole winter's work; but, by carefully avoiding any reference to -these interesting documents, Bob, as engineer, succeeded in having -constructed a strong, commodious cabin. Bunks and benches were built -along the walls, and perhaps no architect of a world-famed structure -ever felt more proud of his work than did the boys when the cabin was -completed. - -Buck James and Bart Reeder wandered over, one day, to get the surprise -of their lives. - -Buck was just as imposing as ever, but his expression indicated a -subdued and disconsolate spirit. - -"From what I hear, you fellers seem to win out every time," he -remarked. "Weren't that claim no good? ye ask. Wal, there was one or -two spots whar the rocks showed a few specks o' yaller, but that was -all." - -"Maybe that suit o' yourn drived the gold away, sir," remarked Cap -Slater, casually. - -Buck James scowled, but paid no attention to this observation. - -"We had sense nuff to soon see thar weren't nuthin' worth while at that -claim, but Smull an' Griffin"--he made a deprecating gesture--"couldn't -be dragged away. An' Smull told us to chase back to the lumber camp if -we didn't like it." - -Captain Slater guffawed loudly. - -"So we leaves 'em, and, arter prospectin' about to the east, finds -sumphin a bit better, an' put up location notices." - -"An' where are Smull an' Griffin now?" asked Tim. - -Buck James seemed to bristle up. - -"Wal, would ye believe it, arter all our trouble, they comes up at -last, says as how they hadn't been able to find no more yaller streaks, -an', cool as ye please, says they was comin' in with us ag'in." - -"An' did you let 'em?" - -"We did not!" snorted Buck James, his capacious chest swelling out -with indignation. "'Nuthin' like that,' says I. They gits huffy--so -does we, eh, Reeder?--an' arter two minutes o' talkin' that ye could -have heard fur a mile, we chases 'em." - -"An' I guess they know better'n ter ever come back," added Reeder. - -Wanatoma patted the Great Dane's head. - -"Ugh! It is well," he said, "for they have the spirit of the coyote, -who sinks his fangs into his wounded mate." - -"I reckon as how checkers ain't sich a bad feller when ye gits ter know -'im," commented Cap Slater, after the two men had gone. "Lovell, the -air's gittin' sharper, eh?" - -"Yes, captain!" - -"An' to-morrer we uns leave Wanna all ter his lonesome. Wal, I s'picion -as how some o' us'll git back ag'in afore long." - -They were standing around a fire built just outside the cabin. Chilly -gusts of wind made the flames crackle and roar, while showers of embers -carried off on the breeze danced briskly along over the rocky surface -which extended before them. A gray canopy of cloud stretched overhead. - -The wind, increasing in force, whistled around the corners of the -cabin, its mournful cadence rising high above the sighing of the pines. - -"And just to think," remarked Dave, softly, "how soon the scene must -change--I mean our scene. Instead of the wilderness and life in the -open, it will be the Kingswood High School and hard study." - -"But spring and vacation time will come again," said Tom. "I do wonder, -Dave, what you will have a chance to write about next?" - -"You may be sure that, as historian of the Rambler Club, my services -will be required to describe some very interesting and exciting -adventures, eh, Bob?" - -And Bob agreed. - - * * * * * - - The Other Books in this Series are: - - THE RAMBLER CLUB AFLOAT - THE RAMBLER CLUB'S WINTER CAMP - THE RAMBLER CLUB IN THE MOUNTAINS - THE RAMBLER CLUB ON CIRCLE T RANCH - THE RAMBLER CLUB AMONG THE LUMBERJACKS - THE RAMBLER CLUB'S AEROPLANE - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RAMBLER CLUB'S GOLD -MINE *** - -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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