Dave Porter Series

 DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS

 OR, THE SEARCH FOR THE LANDSLIDE MINE

 BY EDWARD STRATEMEYER

 Author of "Dave Porter at Oak Hall, " "The Lakeport Series, " "Pan-American Series, " "Old Glory Series, " etc. 

 _ILLUSTRATED BY WALTER ROGERS_

 BOSTON LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. 

 Published, August, 1914 COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. _All rights reserved_ DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS

 Norwood Press BERWICK AND SMITH CO. Norwood, Mass. U. S. A. 

[Illustration: "A NUGGET! A NUGGET OF GOLD!" CRIED DAVE. ]

CONTENTS

 PREFACE

 I. THE LANDSLIDE MINE

 II. DAVE PORTER'S PAST

 III. CAUGHT IN A STORM

 IV. A QUESTION OF STOCKS

 V. A TRAP FOR JOB HASKERS

 VI. ANOTHER SURPRISE

 VII. A GATHERING OF OAK HALL BOYS

 VIII. FIRE AND FIRECRACKERS

 IX. WHAT NAT POOLE HAD TO TELL

 X. DAVE AT HOME

 XI. OVERHEARD IN THE SUMMER-HOUSE

 XII. ON THE WAY WEST

 XIII. DAVE SEES SOMETHING

 XIV. IN BUTTE

 XV. AT ABE BLOWER'S HOME

 XVI. ON TO BLACK CAT CAMP

 XVII. ALONG THE MOUNTAIN TRAIL

 XVIII. THE STOLEN HORSES

 XIX. THE NEWSPAPER CLEW

 XX. THE EXPOSURE

 XXI. ON THE BACK TRAIL

 XXII. DAVE AND THE MOUNTAIN LION

 XXIII. IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE

 XXIV. SEARCHING FOR THE LANDSLIDE MINE

 XXV. CAUGHT IN A STORM

 XXVI. PROWLERS IN CAMP

 XXVII. THE TWO PRISONERS

 XXVIII. THE LOST LANDSLIDE MINE

 XXIX. ANOTHER LANDSLIDE

 XXX. THE NEW CLAIM--CONCLUSION

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

"A NUGGET! A NUGGET OF GOLD!" CRIED DAVE. 

AS DAVE LOOKED, HE SAW A CORNER OF A DISTANT FENCE FLY APART. 

"QUICK, SOMEBODY HELP ME! STOP THAT HORSE FROM FALLING OVER THE CLIFF!"

"IF YOU LOCATE THAT MINE BEFORE WE DO, DON'T YOU DARE TO REMOVE ANYOF MY UNCLE'S LANDMARKS. "

PREFACE

"Dave Porter in the Gold Fields" is a complete story in itself, butforms the tenth volume in a line issued under the general title of "DavePorter Series. "

The series was begun some years ago by the publication of "Dave Porterat Oak Hall, " in which my young readers were introduced to a typicalAmerican lad at a typical American boarding school. 

There was at that time a cloud over Dave's parentage, and to clear thisaway he took a long sea voyage, as related in the next volume, entitled"Dave Porter in the South Seas. " Then he came back to school, as told ofin "Dave Porter's Return to School, " in which he gave one of the localbullies a much-needed lesson. 

During a vacation Dave journeyed to Norway, as related in "Dave Porterin the Far North, " and then came back to Oak Hall, to win varioushonors, as recorded in "Dave Porter and His Classmates. " Then came anopportunity to visit the West, and how our hero did this is set down inthe book called "Dave Porter at Star Ranch. " When he returned to schoolmany strenuous happenings awaited him, and what they were will be foundin "Dave Porter and His Rivals. "

Dave had lived for years with a rich manufacturer of jewelry, and whenthis man was robbed it was our hero who followed the criminals in a longflight, as told in "Dave Porter on Cave Island. " Then, with the booty inhis possession, the youth returned home, to go back to school, fromwhich he soon after graduated with honors, as shown in the volumepreceding this, entitled, "Dave Porter and the Runaways. "

In the present volume are related the particulars of another trip West, taken by Dave and his chums to locate a lost gold mine, willed to RogerMorr's mother by her brother. The boys had some strenuous happenings, and some of their old-time enemies did all they could to bring theirexpedition to grief. But Dave showed his common sense and his courage, and in the end all went well. 

Once again I thank my young readers for the interest they have shown inmy books. I trust that the reading of this volume will benefit them all. 

 EDWARD STRATEMEYER. _February 1, 1914. _

DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS

CHAPTER I

THE LANDSLIDE MINE

"Roger, that sounds like a fairy tale--a real gold mine belonging toyour mother lost through a landslide!"

"So it does sound like a fairy tale, Dave; but it is absolutely true. The mine was owned by my uncle, Maurice Harrison, of Butte, Montana, andwhen he died he left it to my mother, who was his sister. On the day hedied there was a big landslide in the mountains, where the mine waslocated, --and that was the end of the mine, as far as my folks wereconcerned. "

"You mean you couldn't find the mine after the landslide?" asked DavePorter, with deep interest. 

"That's it, " answered Roger Morr. "The opening to it was completelycovered up, and so were the stakes, and several landmarks that showedwhere the mine was located. "

"But why didn't you tell of this before, Roger?" asked a third youth ofthe group seated on the lawn of Senator Morr's country estate. "Did itjust happen?"

"No, Phil, this happened last fall, about nine months ago. The reason Ididn't mention it to you and Dave was because my folks wanted it keptquiet. From what my uncle said in his will, the mine must be veryvaluable, and my folks didn't want any outsiders to re-discover the mineand set up a claim to it. So they started a search on the quiet--hiringsome old miners and prospectors they could trust. But the search hasbeen in vain. "

"Couldn't they discover the mine at all?" queried Dave Porter. 

"No, the landslide was too heavy and too far-reaching. The old minerstold my father it was the biggest landslide known in Montana. Oneprospector said he thought the mine must now be a hundred feet or moreunderground. "

"Had your uncle worked it at all?" questioned Phil Lawrence. 

"Not much, but enough to learn that it was a valuable claim. It was in adistrict that had been visited by landslides before, and so he called itthe Landslide Mine. "

"Well, your uncle could be thankful for one thing--that he wasn't in themine when that big slide took place. But you said he died anyway. "

"Yes, of pneumonia, on the very day the slide took place. Wasn't itqueer? Dad and mother went out to Butte, to the funeral--Uncle Mauricewas an old bachelor--and then they heard his will read and learned aboutthe mine. "

"And they couldn't get any trace at all, Roger?" asked Dave, as hestopped swinging in the hammock he occupied. 

"Nothing worth following up. One of the miners thought he had a landmarklocated, but, although he spent a good deal of money digging around, nothing came of it. You see that big landslide seemed to change thewhole face of the country. It took down dirt and rocks, and trees andbushes, and sent them to new resting places. "

"Perhaps the mine was washed away instead of being covered up, "suggested Phil. 

"No, all those who have visited the locality are agreed that theentrance to the claim must have been covered up. "

"Say! I'd like to hunt for that mine!" cried Dave Porter, enthusiastically. 

"So would I, " returned Roger Morr, wistfully. "I know my mother wouldlike to have somebody find it--just to learn if it is really as valuableas Uncle Maurice thought. "

"Well, if you two fellows go West to look for that mine you can count onhaving me with you, " put in Phil Lawrence. "We were going to decide onwhat to do for the next two months. If Roger says the word----"

"Oh, I could do that easily enough, " said the senator's son. "But Davewrote that he had something up his sleeve. Maybe his plans won't fitinto this. "

"But they just will fit in!" cried Dave. "At least, I think they will, "he added, more slowly. "You say this mine is located in Montana?"

"Yes. "

"Well, that isn't very far from Yellowstone Park, is it?"

"No--in fact a corner of the Park is in Montana. "

"Then, while the others were taking the trip through Yellowstone Park wecould go out to that mining district and try to locate this missingmine, " went on Dave, with a smile. 

"What are you talking about, Dave?" questioned his two chums, in abreath. 

"I'm talking about a personally-conducted tour of the Park that somefolks in and around Crumville are getting up. Mr. Basswood, Ben'sfather, is at the head of it. It's a sort of church affair. They havegot my folks interested, and my Uncle Dunston says he will go, and sowill Laura, and Mrs. Wadsworth, and Jessie, and half a dozen others youknow. They thought maybe we boys would want to go, too. "

"Wow! All to the merry!" cried Phil, and leaping out of the willow chairhe occupied, he turned a "cart-wheel" on the lawn. "Say, this fits inbetter than a set of new teeth, doesn't it?" he went on, enthusiastically. 

"When is this grand tour to come off?" asked Roger. 

"It starts about the middle of July--just two weeks from to-day. Theplan is to spend about four weeks in and around the Park, seeingeverything thoroughly. You know there are some fine, comfortable hotelsthere, and folks like Mrs. Wadsworth don't like to travel in a hurry. "

"Going through the Park would certainly be a great trip, " said Roger. "And especially with the girls. "

"We could travel with them as far as--let me see, what's the name of theplace--oh, yes, Livingston. That's where they leave the main line of therailroad to go on the little branch to the Park. "

"Well, if they spent four weeks in the Park that would give us plenty oftime to hunt for the mine, " said Phil, thoughtfully. "But it would be abig job. "

"And a dangerous one, " added Roger. "Remember, where there have beenseveral landslides there may be more. Fact is, when I spoke to my dadabout going out there, he shook his head and said I had better keepaway--that the search ought to be conducted by experienced men whounderstood the lay of the land and all that. "

"Oh, we could be careful, " returned Dave, impulsively. The idea of goingin search of the lost mine appealed to him strongly. 

"Sure, we'd be careful, " added Phil. "Aren't we always careful? Allaboard for the Landslide Mine, say I! Come on, if you are going!" And hegrinned broadly. 

"Better wait until after lunch, " returned the senator's son, dryly. "Wemight have something you'd like to eat, Phil. "

"All right, just as you say. " The other youth dropped back into a wickerchair. "Say, doesn't it just feel good to think that we have graduatedfrom Oak Hall and don't have to go back?" he added, with a sigh ofsatisfaction. 

"I'm glad I have graduated, but I am not so glad that I am not goingback, " answered Dave. "We had some good times at the Hall. "

"So we did--dandy times!" cried Roger. "I tell you, I shall miss OakHall a great deal. I shall miss our friends and also our enemies. "

"Speaking of enemies, I wonder what ever became of old Job Haskers, "said Phil. 

"I don't know and I don't want to know, " came from Dave. "I never wantto see that good-for-nothing teacher again. I am glad, on account of thefellows left at Oak Hall, that the doctor discharged him. "

"So am I, " put in the senator's son. "Just the same, Dave, Haskers willtry to get square with us if he ever gets the chance. "

"Oh, I know that. But I don't intend to give him the chance. "

"Speaking of our enemies, I wonder what ever became of Link Merwell, "said Phil. "He seems to have dropped out of sight completely. "

"I rather imagine he has left the country, " returned Roger. "For if hewas around at all, some of the school fellows would be sure to hear ofhim. Say, he certainly was a bad egg. "

"Yes, but not as bad as Nick Jasniff, " said Dave. "I am glad they lockedthat fellow up. He was an out-and-out criminal. "

"Let us drop those fellows and get back to this lost mine, " interruptedPhil. "If we are really going out to Montana we ought to make some sortof preparations for the trip. "

"Oh, we've got two weeks to do that in, Phil, " answered Roger. "Andplease to remember, Fourth of July is coming, and I am expecting severalof the other fellows here to help celebrate. We can fix it up about thatwestern trip after the Fourth. "

"Who are coming, Roger, did you hear?" asked Dave. 

"Shadow Hamilton for one, and perhaps Buster Beggs and Luke Watson. Iasked some of the other fellows, but they had other engagements. OldJohn went down to the post-office for letters a while ago. Maybe he'llbring news. "

"Here he comes now, " cried Dave, as he saw a colored man-of-all-workcoming along the road that ran in front of the Morr estate. "And he'sgot a bundle of letters. "

All three boys ran across the broad lawn to meet the colored man. 

"Any letters for me, John?"

"Don't forget me!"

"Who's the pink envelope for?"

"Letters fo' all ob yo' young gen'men, I 'spect, " returned theman-of-all-work. "Mebbe yo' kin sort 'em out better'n I kin, MassaRoger, " he added. "My eyesight ain't no better'n it ought to be. " And hehanded the bunch of mail over to the senator's son. 

"One for Phil and two for Dave, " said Roger, looking the mail over. "Andfour for myself. Pretty good. Here, John, take the rest into the house. "

Without ceremony the three chums returned to their resting place on theshady lawn and began the perusal of their letters. 

"Mine is from my father, " said Phil. "He is going to take a trip on oneof his ships to Nova Scotia and he wants to know if I wish to go along. "

"One of these letters is from Gus Plum, " said Dave. "He is going toEurope with his folks. The other letter is from--er--from Crumville. "

"I'll wager it is from Jessie Wadsworth, " remarked Phil, slyly. "Come, Dave, what does the lady fair say?"

"Sends her best regards to both of you, " answered Dave, blushing. "Shewrites mostly about that proposed trip to Yellowstone Park, and wants toknow if you fellows are going along. "

"One of these letters is from Luke Watson and he will be hereto-morrow, " said Roger. "And another is from Shadow and he is coming, too. And this one--well, I declare! Just listen to this! It's fromBuster Beggs. " And Roger read as follows:

 "I will be along for the Fourth. I've just had a letter from Sid Lambert, that new fellow from Pittsburg. He says he knows Link Merwell and met him about a week ago. He says Merwell is very bitter against you and Porter and Lawrence. Merwell was going West on some business for his father and then he was coming East. I would advise you and your chums to keep your eyes peeled for him. He can't show himself, for fear of arrest, and that has made him very vindictive. Sid tried to get his address, but Merwell wouldn't give it, and he left Sid very suddenly, thinking maybe that some one would put the police on his track. "

CHAPTER II

DAVE PORTER'S PAST

"What do you think of that, fellows?" asked Roger, as he concluded thereading of the letter. 

"I am not surprised, " answered Dave. "Now that Merwell finds he can'tshow himself where he is known, he must be very bitter in mind. "

"I thought he might reform, but I guess I was mistaken, " said Phil. "Say, we had better do as Buster suggests, --keep our eyes peeled forhim. "

"We are not responsible for his position, " retorted Roger. "He gothimself into trouble. "

"So he did, Roger. But, just the same, a fellow like Link Merwell isbound to blame somebody else, --and in this case he blames us. I amafraid he'll make trouble for us--if he gets the chance, " concludedDave, seriously. 

And now, while the three chums are busy reading their letters again, letme introduce them more specifically than I have already done. 

Dave Porter was a typical American lad, now well grown, and a graduateof Oak Hall, a high-class preparatory school for boys located in one ofour eastern States. 

While a mere child, Dave had been found wandering beside the railroadtracks near the little village of Crumville. He could not tell who hewas, nor where he had come from, and not being claimed by any one, wastaken to the local poor-house. There a broken-down college professor, Caspar Potts, had found him and given him a home. 

In Crumville resided a rich jewelry manufacturer named Oliver Wadsworth, who had a daughter named Jessie. One day the Wadsworth automobile caughtfire and Jessie was in danger of being burned to death, when Dave rushedto the rescue and saved her. For this Mr. Wadsworth was very grateful, and when he learned that Dave lived with Mr. Potts, who had been one ofhis instructors in college, he made the man and the youth come to livewith him. 

"Such a boy deserves to have a good education and I am going to give itto him, " said the rich manufacturer, and so Dave was sent to boardingschool, as related in the first volume of this series, entitled "DavePorter at Oak Hall. " There he made a host of friends, including RogerMorr, the son of a United States senator; Phil Lawrence, the son of arich shipowner; Shadow Hamilton, who loved to tell stories; BusterBeggs, who was fat and jolly; Luke Watson, who was a musician ofconsiderable skill, and many others. 

The main thing that troubled Dave in those days was the question of hisidentity, and when one of his school rivals spoke of him as a"poor-house nobody" it disturbed him greatly. Receiving something of aclew, he went on a long voyage, as related in "Dave Porter in the SouthSeas, " and located his uncle, Dunston Porter, and learned for the firsttime that his father, David Breslow Porter, was also living, andlikewise a sister, Laura. 

After his great trip on the ocean, our hero returned to Oak Hall, asrelated in "Dave Porter's Return to School. " Then, as he had not yet methis father, he went in search of his parent, the quest, as told of in"Dave Porter in the Far North, " taking him to Norway. 

Glad to know that he could not be called a poor-house nobody in thefuture, Dave went back to Oak Hall once again, as related in "DavePorter and His Classmates. " He now made more friends than ever. But helikewise made some enemies, including Nick Jasniff, a very passionatefellow, who always wanted to fight, and Link Merwell, the son of a richranchowner of the West. Jasniff ran away from school, while under acloud, and Merwell, after making serious trouble for Dave and his chums, was expelled. 

Laura Porter had a very dear friend, Belle Endicott, who lived in theFar West, and through this friend, Dave and his chums, and also Laura, and Jessie Wadsworth, received an invitation to spend some time at theEndicott place. What fun and adventures the young folks had I have setdown in "Dave Porter at Star Ranch. " Not far from Star Ranch was thehome of Link Merwell, and this young man, as before, tried to maketrouble, but was exposed and humbled. 

The boys liked it very much on the ranch, but all vacations must come toan end, and so the lads went back to school, as recorded in "Dave Porterand His Rivals. " That was a lively term at Oak Hall, for some newcomerstried to run athletic and other matters to suit themselves, and inaddition Link Merwell and Nick Jasniff became students at a rivalacademy only a short distance away. 

The Christmas holidays were now at hand, and Dave went back toCrumville, where he and his folks were living with the Wadsworths intheir elegant mansion on the outskirts of the town. At that time Mr. Wadsworth had some valuable jewels at his works to be reset, anddirectly after Christmas came a thrilling robbery. It was Dave, aided byhis chums, who got on the track of the robbers, who were none other thanJasniff and Merwell, and trailed them to the South and then to sea, astold in "Dave Porter on Cave Island. " After many startling adventuresthe jewels were recovered and the thieves were caught. But, at the lastminute, Link Merwell managed to escape. 

When Dave Porter returned again to Oak Hall he found himself considereda great hero. But he bore himself modestly, and settled down to hardwork, for he wished to graduate with honors. His old enemies were nowout of the way and for this he was thankful. 

But trouble for Dave was not yet at an end. One of the teachers at OakHall was Job Haskers, a learned man, but one who did not like boys. WhyHaskers had ever become an instructor was a mystery. He was harsh, unsympathetic, and dictatorial, and nearly all the students hated him. He knew the branches he taught, but that was all the good that could besaid of him. 

Trouble came almost from the start, that term, and not only Dave, butnearly all of his chums were involved. A wild man--who afterwards provedto be related to Nat Poole, the son of a miserly money-lender ofCrumville--tried to blow up a neighboring hotel, and the boys werethought to be guilty. In terror, some of them feared arrest and fled, asrelated in "Dave Porter and the Runaways. " Dave went after the runaways, and after escaping a fearful flood, made them come back to school andface the music. The youth had a clew against Job Haskers, and in theend proved that the wild man was guilty and that the instructor knewit. This news came as a thunder-clap to Doctor Clay, the owner of theschool, and without ceremony he called Haskers before him and demandedhis resignation. At first the dictatorial teacher would not resign, butwhen confronted by the proofs of his duplicity, he got out in a hurry;and all the other teachers, and the students, were glad of it. 

"And now for a grand wind-up!" Dave had said, and then he and his chumshad settled down to work, and later on, graduated from Oak Hall withhigh honors. At the graduation exercises, Dave was one of the happiestboys in the school. His family and Jessie and several others came to theaffair, which was celebrated with numerous bonfires, and music by aband, and refreshments in the gymnasium. 

"And now what are you going to do?" Laura had asked, of her brother. 

"First of all, he is going to pay me a visit, " Roger had said. "I havebeen to your house half a dozen times and Dave has hardly been to ourplace at all. He is to come, and so are Phil and some of the others. Mymother wants them, and so does my dad. "

"Well, if the others are to be there, I'll have to come, too, " Dave hadreplied; and so it had been settled, and that is how we now find theboys at Senator Morr's fine country mansion, located on the outskirtsof the village of Hemson. Dave and Phil had been there for four days, and Roger and his parents had done all in their power to make thevisitors feel at home. 

"Here is some more news that I overlooked, " said Roger, as he turnedover one of his letters. "This is from a chum of mine, Bert Passmore, who is spending his summer at Lake Sargola, about thirty miles fromhere. He says they are going to have a special concert to-morrowafternoon and evening, given by a well-known military band fromWashington. He says we had better come over and take it in. "

"I shouldn't mind taking in a concert like that, " replied Phil. "I likegood brass-band music better than anything else. "

"How about you, Dave?"

"Suits me, if you want to go, Roger. "

"We could go in the car. Maybe ma and dad would go, too. "

Just then the bell rang for lunch, and the visitors hurried off to washup and comb their hair. Roger went to his parents, who were in thelibrary of the mansion, and spoke about the band concert. 

"I can't go--I've got to meet Senator Barcoe and Governor Fewell in thecity, " said the senator. "But you might take your mother, Roger, andmaybe some of her friends. The big car will hold seven, you know. "

"Sure, if mom will go, " and the youth looked at his mother with a smile. 

"I might go and take Mrs. Gray and Mrs. Morse, " said Mrs. Morr. "Theyboth love music, and since the Grays lost their money, Mrs. Gray doesn'tget out very much. I'll call them up on the telephone and find out, Roger;" and so it was settled. 

But the other ladies could not go, and in the end Mrs. Morr decided toremain home also. So it was left, the next morning, for the three boysto go alone. 

"I'll take the little four-passenger car, " said Roger. "No use in havingthe big car for only three. "

"Boys, Roger tells me you think of going West, " remarked Senator Morr, who stood near. He was a big man, with a round, florid face and a heavybut pleasant voice. "Think of trying to locate that lost mine! Is thereanything you lads wouldn't try to do?" And the big man laughed in hisbluff, hearty manner. 

"Well, it won't hurt to try it, Senator, " replied Dave. 

"Not if you keep out of trouble. But I don't want you boys to go to thatneighborhood and get caught in another landslide--not for all the goldin Montana, " and the senator shook his head decidedly. 

"Oh, we'll be careful, Dad, " burst out Roger. "You know we are alwayscareful. "

"I don't know about that, Roger. Boys are apt to get recklesssometimes--I used to be a bit that way myself. We'll have to talk thisover again--before it's settled, " and then the senator hurried off tokeep his appointment with the other politicians. 

In anticipation of the trip, Roger had had the paid chauffeur of thefamily go over the four-passenger touring-car with care, to see thateverything was in shape for the run to Lake Sargola. The lake was abeautiful sheet of water, some eight miles long and half a mile wide, and at the upper end were located several fine hotels and numerousprivate residences. 

The boys had decided to go to the lake by a roundabout way, covering adistance of about forty miles. They left at a little after ten o'clock, calculating to get to the lake in time for lunch. They would attend theafternoon concert, take Roger's chum out for a short ride around thelake road, and then return to Hemson in time for the evening meal. 

Roger was at the wheel and it was decided that Dave and Phil should rideon the back seat, so as to be company for each other. Mrs. Morr cameout on the veranda of the mansion to wave them a farewell. 

"Keep out of trouble, Roger!" she called. "Remember, there are a goodmany autos around the lake, and some of the drivers are very fast andvery careless. "

"I'll have my eyes open, " answered the boy. "Good-by!" And then hestarted the car, put on more power, and swept from the spacious groundsin grand style. 

"My, but it is going to be a warm day!" remarked Phil, as they ran intoa streak of hot air. 

"I hope it is only warm, " replied Dave, as he looked at the sky. 

"Why, what do you mean, Dave?" asked the shipowner's son, quickly. 

"I don't much like the looks of the sky off to the southwest. Looks tome as if a storm was coming up. "

"Oh, don't say that!" exclaimed Roger. "We don't want any rain. "

"So we don't, Roger. But we'll have to take what comes. "

CHAPTER III

CAUGHT IN A STORM

"Some class to Roger's driving!" cried Phil, as the little touring-carswept along, in the direction of Lake Sargola. "Roger, if you ever wanta recommendation as a chauffeur----"

"We'll give it to him on gilt-edged paper, " finished Dave, with a grin. "But, I say, don't make the turns quite so swift, " he added, as theyswept around a curve at such speed that he was thrown up against Phil. 

"Don't get scared--I know this car as well as Mary knew the tail of herlamb, " responded the senator's son, gayly. "Why, we are only makingthirty-five miles an hour, " he added, half reproachfully. 

On and on they rolled, up hill and down dale, and through severalvillages. At one spot they went through a flock of chickens, thatscattered in all directions. Not one was touched, but an old farmershook a hay-rake at the boys. 

"Kill my chickens an' I'll have th' law on ye!" he yelled. 

"Never came within a mile of 'em!" cried Roger, gayly, and then the carwhirled out of hearing. 

As they passed on, the lads frequently looked at the sky. But theclouds, that had been gathering, appeared to drift away to thenorthward. 

"Maybe the storm is going around us, " suggested Phil. 

"I hope so, " answered Dave. "I don't like to travel in an auto in wetweather--too much danger of skidding. "

A little later they came in sight of the lake and the first of thecottages, and then they ran up to one of the big hotels. A young fellowon the veranda waved his hand to them. 

"There is Bert, now!" cried Roger. And then the young fellow, who hadbeen telephoned to early in the morning, ran down the steps to meetRoger and was speedily introduced to the others. 

"It's going to be a dandy concert this afternoon, " said Bert Passmore. "The bandmaster is going to play one of his new marches and a medley ofpatriotic airs, as well as a piece called 'A Hunt in a Storm. ' They sayit's fine. "

"I hope they don't have to play it in a storm, " returned Dave, withanother look at the sky. 

"Oh, that storm has gone the other way, " answered Bert Passmore. "Theyoften do up here. "

"Did you get tickets?" asked Roger. 

"Sure; and I've reserved seats for you at our table, too, for lunch, andfor dinner to-night, if you'll stay. "

"I don't know about to-night, Bert. But I'm thankful to you, just thesame. After the concert we want to give you a ride around the lake. "

"That will be fine!"

The car was put under the hotel shed, and the boys went in the hotel toprepare for lunch. Mr. And Mrs. Passmore were present and wereintroduced, and a little later all sat down to eat. 

There was an amusement park not far from the hotel and the band concertwas to be given there, in a large pavilion that was open on the sides. As it was but a short distance away, the boys allowed the car to stay inthe shed and walked to the place. A big crowd was collecting, and by thetime the concert commenced, the spot was jammed with people. 

"It's a lucky thing your friend got reserved seats for us, " observedDave to Roger. "Just look at the crowds coming in!"

Phil had gone off--to get some programs. Now, as he pushed his way tohis seat, his face showed unusual excitement. 

"Guess whom I saw!" he gasped, as he sat down. 

"Who was it?" demanded his chums, quickly. 

"Job Haskers. "

"Never!" cried Roger. 

"What is he doing here?" demanded Dave. 

"I saw him for only a moment, " explained the shipowner's son. "He wasright in the crowd and I couldn't follow him. "

"Was he alone?" asked Dave, with increasing interest, for he had notforgotten the trials and tribulations this former teacher of Oak Hallhad caused him. 

"I don't know that, either--there were so many people around him. "

"Maybe you were mistaken, Phil, " said Roger. 

"Not much! I'd know Job Haskers out of a million. "

"I think we all would, " murmured Dave. "Did he see you?"

"I don't think he did. He was over there--that's all I know about it, "and Phil pointed with his hand into a crowd on their left. 

"We can take a look around for him between the parts and after theconcert, " said Dave; and then the brass band struck up and the concertbegan. 

The various musical numbers were well rendered, and encores werenumerous. The concert was divided into two parts, with fifteen minutesintermission, and during that time the boys from Oak Hall and Bertwalked around, the former looking for Job Haskers. But if the formerteacher of Oak Hall was present the boys failed to locate him. 

During the second part of the concert came the wonderful new march andthe fantasy, "A Hunt in a Storm, " and both came in for prolongedapplause. Then came a medley of national airs, ending with the "StarSpangled Banner, " at which the audience arose; and the performance cameto an end. 

"Wasn't it fine!" cried Roger, enthusiastically. 

"Yes, indeed, " answered Dave, warmly. "I am glad we came over. "

"Couldn't have been better, " was Phil's comment. 

"Quarter after four, " said Roger, consulting his watch. "Bert, we cantake you around the lake with ease before we start for home. "

"Yes, and you can have dinner with us, too, before you go, " was thereply. "Now don't say 'No', for father and mother expect it, and so doI. "

"All right, then, we'll stay, " answered Roger, after a look at Dave andPhil. "We can start for home about eight o'clock, or half-past. "

The boys walked back to the hotel shed and got out the touring-car. Bert took the vacant seat beside Roger, and away the party bowled overthe highway that ran around Lake Sargola. 

"I wish we had a car, " said Bert. "But dad won't get one, because, lastsummer, a friend of his was killed in an automobile accident. "

"Well, that's enough to take the nerve out of any one, " was Dave'sanswer. 

The car rolled on, and Bert asked about the doings of the boys at OakHall, and told of life at the technical training school which heattended. They had almost circled the lake when Roger slowed down. 

"What do you say to a trip to the top of Sugar Hill?" he asked. 

"Sugar Hill?" cried Bert. "Can you go up that hill with this car?"

"Sure!" was Roger's prompt reply. "It's pretty steep, I know, but I'msure I can make it. "

"It's a fine view from there, Roger. But the hill is pretty steeptowards the end. "

"Oh, I'm not afraid of it. " The senator's son turned to the others. "What do you say?"

"I'll go anywhere, " declared Phil. 

"Same here, " laughed Dave. "But don't be too long about it, Roger. "

"Why?"

"I think that storm is working its way back again. "

"Oh, nonsense, don't be a croaker, Dave! It won't rain in a year ofMondays!" cried the senator's son, and then he put on speed once more, and headed the touring-car for Sugar Hill. 

The place mentioned was an elevation about a mile back from the lake. Itwas almost a mountain in size, and the road leading to the top wasanything but a good one, being filled with ruts and loose stones. Butthe engine of the car was powerful, and it was not until they werealmost to the top of the hill that Roger had to throw the gears intosecond speed. 

"Some climb and no mistake!" murmured Dave. "Can you make it, Roger?"

"Top or bust!" was the laconic answer. 

Scarcely had the senator's son spoken when there came a loud report fromthe front end of the car. 

"A blowout!" gasped Phil. 

"The front tire on this side has gone to pieces!" announced Bert. "Willyou have to stop?"

"Can't--not here!" announced Roger, grimly. And then he shut his teethhard and turned on more gasoline. Up and up they bumped, the burst tirecutting deeply into the rough stones. But the power was there, and inless than thirty seconds more the car came to a standstill on the leveltop of Sugar Hill. 

"Phew; that was a narrow shave!" remarked Bert, as the boys got out ofthe car. "Roger, what would you have done if you couldn't go ahead?There wasn't room to turn. "

"I knew there wasn't room, Bert; that's the reason I made the car goup, " was the reply. "It was a bad hole to get caught in. "

"I guess it cost you the shoe, " remarked Dave, as he examined thearticle. "Pretty well cut up. "

"It was an old one, anyway, Dave. Now we'll have the pleasure of puttingon one of those new ones, " and he smiled grimly, for he did not likethat task any better than does any other autoist. 

"Oh, we'll all help, " cried Phil. "It won't be so bad, if we all taketurns at pumping in the air. "

"Wish I had one of those new kind of machine pumps on the car, " answeredRoger. "But I haven't got it, so it's got to be bone labor, boys. " Andthen the damaged wheel was jacked up and a new shoe with its inner tubewas put on and inflated. All told, the job took the boys a fullhalf-hour, for the new shoe was a tight fit and did not want to go overthe rim at first. 

"Hello, what do you know about this!" cried Phil, as they were finishingthe blowing up of the tube. "It's raining!"

"Yes, and look how black it is getting over yonder!" exclaimed Bert. "Weare in for a storm now, sure!"

"I was almost certain we'd catch it, " said Dave. He unscrewed the pumpfrom the wheel. "Roger, we had better get back to that hotel just asfast as we can. "

"My idea, exactly, Dave, for I don't want to be caught on this hillyroad in a storm. "

"Better put the top up, " advised the shipowner's son. "It's going topour in a few minutes. "

"And hadn't we better put on the chains, too, Roger?" questioned Dave. "It may be dangerous work going down the hill if it rains hard. "

"Yes, we'll put up the top and put on the chains, " was the quick replyof the senator's son. "You fellows attend to the top and I'll see to thechains. "

By the time the top had been put up and fastened it was rainingsteadily. Also, the wind was beginning to blow, showing that thedownpour was liable to become worse. 

"Fasten the side curtains, Phil; I'll help with the chains!" sang outDave, and while the shipowner's son and Bert fastened the curtains, soas to keep out the driving rain, our hero aided Roger. 

"You'll get wet, Dave; better get in the car, " panted Roger, who wasworking as rapidly as circumstances permitted. 

"No wetter than you, " answered Dave, and then he pulled the secondchain in place and fastened it. Both boys got into the touring-car justas a heavy crash of thunder sounded out. 

"Phew! listen to that, and look at the lightning!" cried Phil. "Say, ifyou are ready, Roger, we had better get out of here!"

"If you can only get back to the hotel, " murmured Bert, anxiously. "If Iwere you I'd not think of going home until the storm clears away. "

"Back to the hotel will be enough for me, " answered Roger. "All ready?"he asked, for he had already cranked up. 

"All ready, " answered Dave, who had gotten on the front seat, thusallowing Bert and Phil the better shelter of the tonneau of the car. 

The senator's son started up the automobile and made a circle on the topof the hill. Then, just as there came another flash of lightning and aloud crash of thunder, the boys began the long and perilous journey downthe rough road leading from Sugar Hill. 

CHAPTER IV

A QUESTION OF STOCKS

"Some rain, believe me!"

It was Dave who uttered the remark, as the touring-car commenced thelong and dangerous descent of Sugar Hill. A sheet of water was dashingagainst the wind-shield, which had been raised as high as possible. 

"I wish it was driving the other way, " answered Roger, who was peeringforward. "It covers the glass so I can hardly see. "

"Better take it slow, " suggested Dave. 

Another flash of lightning lit up the scene, accompanied by a crack ofthunder that made some of the boys crouch down for a second. Then camemore wind and more rain. 

"I hope the wind and lightning don't throw a tree down across theroadway, " cried Phil, loudly, to make himself heard above the fury ofthe elements. 

"We've got our eyes open!" answered Dave. "I'll look over thewind-shield, " he added, to Roger, and lifted a corner of the frontcurtain for that purpose. 

"You'll get wet, Dave. "

"Not a great deal, and I'd rather do that than have an accident, " wasthe reply. 

Roger had thrown the car into low gear, so that the power was reallyacting as a sort of brake. Slowly they slid along, over the wet stonesand dirt. Then came a sharp turn, and the senator's son slowed downstill more. The touring-car skidded a distance of several feet, and allheld their breath, wondering if they would go down into a small gully, or waterway, that lined the road on one side. But in another moment thatdanger was past, and all breathed more freely. 

But almost immediately a fresh peril confronted them. At another turnDave sent up a warning cry:

"Brake up, Roger, there's a tree or a big limb ahead!"

Through the rain-covered shield the senator's son saw the obstruction. He set both the hand-brake and the foot-brake, and all heard the wheelsand the chains scrape over the stones and dirt. But the car could not bestopped, and two seconds later crashed into the tree limb, a branch ofwhich came up, striking the wind-shield and cracking it. 

"Look out for that glass!" yelled Bert, in fresh alarm. "Don't get anyin your eyes, Roger!"

The youth at the wheel did not reply. Dave, quick to act, seized alap-robe that was handy and held it up in front of Roger, who did notdare to leave the wheel. Then came a jingle of glass, but the piecesfell at the feet of the boys in the front of the car. The automobileitself slid on another ten feet, dragging the tree limb with it. 

"Say, that was a narrow escape!" muttered Phil, when the danger seemedover. 

"We'll have to see how much damage has been done, " declared Dave. 

He crawled from the car and Roger followed. The other boys were alsocoming out in the storm, but the senator's son stopped them. 

"No use in all of us getting wet, " he said. "I don't think the damageamounts to much. A mud-guard is bent and the hood is scratched and theglass broken, but I guess that is all. But we'll have to get the limbfrom under the car before we can go ahead again, " he added, after aninspection. 

"Can't you leave it as it is and use it as a drag down the hill?"questioned Bert. 

"I wouldn't do that, " advised Dave. "It might hurt some of the machineryunder the car. I think we can get it out somehow, Roger. "

Both set to work, in the wind and rain. It was far from a pleasant task, and despite the fact that each had donned a dust-coat, both were prettywell soaked before the limb was gotten away from the car. Then Rogermade another inspection of the automobile. 

"I think it's O. K. , " he said. "Anyway, we'll try it. " And then theycranked up once more; and the journey was continued. 

It was a slow trip, and at each turn on the hill the senator's son camealmost to a stop. He was thinking they might meet a wagon coming theother way, but neither vehicle nor person appeared. Sometimes thevisitors at the lake went to Sugar Hill for a picnic, but evidently theconcert, and the thoughts of a possible storm, had kept them away thisday. 

"Down at last!" cried Roger, presently, and a moment later thetouring-car rolled out on the smooth and broad highway that connectedwith that running around Lake Sargola. 

"And I am mighty glad of it, " declared Phil, as he breathed a deep sighof relief. 

"Now for the hotel, and there I will see if I can't get you fellows somedry clothing, " said Bert. "I guess each of you can wear one of my suits. You are both about my size. "

They took the shortest route to the hotel, arriving there fifteenminutes later. Roger ran the automobile to the porch and allowed theothers to alight and then took the car to the hotel garage. 

"Well, I am glad to see you boys back!" exclaimed Mr. Passmore. "How didyou come to break the wind-shield?" And then he listened with interestto the story the lads had to tell. 

"Can't they stay here to-night, Dad?" asked Bert, a little later, whenRoger came in. "I want to let them have some of my dry clothing, and itis storming almost as hard as ever. "

"Certainly, they can stay, if they will and we can get rooms for them, "replied Mr. Passmore. 

The matter was talked over, and Roger called his parents up on thetelephone. A big room containing two double-beds chanced to be vacant inthe hotel, and the lads took that. Then Dave and Roger donned someclothing that Bert loaned them while their own garments were being driedand pressed. A little later all went into the dining-room for dinner. 

"This will knock out the concert for to-night, " remarked Bert, duringthe meal. 

"Yes, and we can be glad we attended this afternoon, " answered Dave. 

"They are going to have a dance here this evening, " said Mrs. Passmore. 

"Oh, we don't want to go to any dance!" cried her son. "They are notdressed for it, and besides, I've got it all arranged. We are going tobowl some games--Roger and I against Dave and Phil. "

"Very well, Bert, suit yourself, " answered the mother. "But if you wishto dance, perhaps I can introduce your friends to some of the youngladies. "

But the boys preferred to bowl and so went to the basement of the bighotel, where there were some fine alleys. They bowled five games, Daveand Phil taking three and Roger and Bert two. In one game Dave turned awide "break" into a "spare, " and for this the others applauded him not alittle. 

The games over, the boys washed and then went upstairs to watch thedancing. Bert and Phil danced a two-step with some young ladies thatBert knew. Just as they started off, Dave caught Roger by the arm. 

"What is it, Dave?" asked the senator's son, quickly. 

"Maybe I'm mistaken, but I just thought I saw Job Haskers!"

"Where?" and now Roger was all attention. 

"Going into the reading-room with another man. "

"Humph! Say, let us find out if he is really here. "

"He isn't staying here, I know that. "

"How do you know?"

"I asked the clerk. "

While speaking the two youths had walked away from the ballroom of thehotel. Now they found themselves at the entrance to a long, narrowapartment that was used as a writing and smoking room for men. Half adozen persons were present, several writing letters and the otherstalking in low tones and smoking. 

In an alcove two men had just seated themselves, one an elderly personwho seemed somewhat feeble, and the other a tall, sharp-faced individualwho eyed his companion in a shrewd, speculative manner. 

"That's Job Haskers, sure enough, " murmured Roger, as Dave pointed tothe sharp-faced man. "Wonder what he is doing here?"

"Well, he has a right to be here, if he wishes, " returned Dave. 

The two former students of Oak Hall stood at one side and watched theman who had been their teacher for so long and who had proved himselfdishonorable in more ways than one. 

"Unless I am mistaken, he is trying to work some sort of a game on thatold gentleman, " whispered Dave, a few minutes later. "See how earnestlyhe is talking, and see, he is bringing some papers out of his pocket. "

"Oh, it may be all right, Dave, " replied the senator's son. "Not that Iwould trust Job Haskers too far, " he added, hastily. 

The two lads continued to watch the former teacher of Oak Hall. He wasstill arguing with the old gentleman and acted as if he wanted to getthe stranger to sign a paper he held in his hand. He had a fountain penready to be used. 

"I'm going a little closer and look into this, " said Dave, firmly. "Perhaps it's all right, but that old man may not know Haskers as wedo. "

"We can go around to the back door; that is close to the alcove, "suggested Roger, who was now as interested as Dave in what was takingplace. 

By walking through a narrow hallway the boys reached the door thesenator's son had mentioned. This was within a few feet of the alcove, and by standing behind the door Dave and Roger could hear all the formerteacher and the elderly gentleman were saying. 

"It's really the chance of a lifetime, " urged Job Haskers, with greatearnestness. "I never knew of a better opportunity to make money. Theconsolidation of the five mills has placed the entire business in thehands of the Sunset Company. If you sign for that stock you'll be doingthe best business stroke you've done in a lifetime, Mr. Fordham. "

"Maybe, maybe, " answered the old gentleman, hesitatingly. "Yet I reallyought to consult my son before I do it. But he is in Philadelphia. Imight write----"

"Then it may be too late, " interposed Job Haskers. "As I told youbefore, this stock is going like wildfire. And at thirty-five it's abargain. I think it will be up to sixty or seventy inside of a month--ortwo months at the latest. You'd better sign for the hundred shares rightnow and make sure of them. " And Job Haskers held out one of the papersin his hand and also the fountain pen. 

Roger and Dave looked at each other and probably the same thoughtflashed through the minds of both. Should they show themselves and letthe elderly gentleman know just what sort of a man Job Haskers was?

"I guess we'd better take a hand----" commenced Dave, when he paused ashe saw the old gentleman shake his head. 

"I--I don't think I'll do it to-night, Mr. Haskers, " he said, slowly. "I--I want to sleep on it. Come and see me again in the morning. "

"The stock may go up by morning, " interposed the former teacher of OakHall. "It went up day before yesterday, two points. Better bind thebargain right now. "

"No, I'll wait until morning. "

"Well, when can I see you, Mr. Fordham?" asked the other, trying toconceal his disappointment. 

"I'll be around about ten o'clock--I don't get up very early. "

"Very well, I'll call at that time then, " said Job Haskers. "But youmight as well sign for it now, " and again he held out the paper and thepen. 

"No, I'll wait until to-morrow morning, " answered Mr. Fordham, as hearose. "It's time I retired now. I--I'm not as strong as I once was. "

"I am sorry to hear that. Well, I'll be around in the morning, and I amsure you will realize that this is a good thing, after you have thoughtit over, " said Job Haskers, with calm assurance, and then he and theelderly man left the room. Dave and Roger saw them separate in the mainhall of the hotel, the old gentleman going upstairs, and Job Haskers outinto the storm. 

CHAPTER V

A TRAP FOR JOB HASKERS

"What do you think of it, Dave?"

"I think Job Haskers is up to some game, Roger. "

"Selling worthless stocks?"

"Yes, or else stocks that are next door to worthless. "

"I wonder who the old gentleman can be? He looks as if he might havemoney. That diamond ring he wears must be worth several hundreddollars. "

"Supposing we ask Mr. Passmore about him?" suggested Dave. 

"That's the idea. "

The youths found Mr. Passmore in a protected corner of a side porch, smoking. Most of the storm was now over, but it still rained. 

"Tired of bowling, eh?" said Bert's father, who was a wholesale dealerin rugs. 

"Mr. Passmore, we want to ask you some questions, " said Roger. "Do youknow an elderly gentleman here by the name of Fordham?"

"Fordham? Yes, I've met him. Nice man, too, but rather feeble. "

"Is he alone here?" asked Dave. 

"Practically. He has a son that comes to see him once in a while. Didyou want to see him?"

"We have seen him, and we were wondering if we hadn't better have a talkwith him, " explained Dave. 

"We'll tell you how it is, " put in Roger, who knew Mr. Passmore well. And then he and Dave related the particulars of what they had seen, andtold something of what Job Haskers was. 

"Hum! This might be worth looking into, " mused the rug dealer. "Ofcourse, these stocks may be all right. But it looks rather fishy to me. Years ago I bought some stocks like that and they proved to be utterlyworthless. It certainly won't do any harm to tell old Mr. Fordham whatyou know about this man Haskers. "

"I'd hate to get into a row----" commenced Roger. 

"I wouldn't--not if I was going to save that old gentleman's money forhim, " interrupted Dave. "Job Haskers sha'n't pull the wool overanybody's eyes if I can prevent it!"

"Oh, I am with you there, Dave!" cried the senator's son, quickly. "Iwas thinking that perhaps we would warn this Mr. Fordham without Haskersknowing anything about it. "

"Better not try to do anything to-night, " said Mr. Passmore. "You cansee Mr. Fordham in the morning, and I'll be present, if you wish it. "

A little later the two boys found Phil and Bert coming from the dance, and told their old school chum of what they had witnessed. 

"Of course, we ought to expose Haskers!" declared the shipowner's son, who was not likely to forget how he had suffered at the hands of theformer teacher of Oak Hall. "We'll go to this Mr. Fordham and tell himjust what a rascal Haskers is!"

The doings of the day had made all the boys tired, and they sleptsoundly. Dave was the first astir in the morning, but the others, including Bert, soon followed. The storm had passed and the sun wasshining brightly. 

"I'd like you fellows to stay here over the Fourth, " said Bert, whenthey went below for breakfast. "Maybe we could have a dandy time. "

"Can't do it, " declared Roger. "I am expecting company at thehouse--some more Oak Hall fellows. But you might come there, if you careto, Bert, " he added. 

"All right, I'll see about it. "

Dave and the others had already made up their minds what to do about Mr. Fordham. About nine o'clock they sent a message to the elderlygentleman's room, stating they wished to see him on a matter ofimportance to himself, and adding that Mr. Passmore would be with them. 

"He says for you to come right up, " said the bell-boy, who had deliveredthe message. 

"Is he up yet?" questioned Dave. 

"Yes, sir. "

The bell-boy led the way to the room, which was in a wing on the secondfloor. All the boys but Bert went up, and Mr. Passmore accompanied them. They found Mr. Fordham seated in an easy chair. He looked quitebewildered at the entrance of so many visitors. 

"Good-morning, Mr. Fordham, " said Mr. Passmore. "I suppose you are quitesurprised to see me at this time in the morning, and with so many younggentlemen with me, " and the rug dealer smiled broadly. 

"A bit surprised, yes, " was the somewhat feeble answer. "But I--Isuppose it is all right. "

"Let me introduce my young friends, " went on Mr. Passmore, and did so. "They have got something they would like to tell you. "

"To tell me?" questioned the aged man, curiously. "Sit down, won't you, "he added, politely, and motioned to chairs and to a couch. 

"We came to see you about a man who called to see you last night, a Mr. Job Haskers, " said Dave, after a pause, during which the visitors seatedthemselves. "Perhaps it is none of our business, Mr. Fordham, but mychums and I here felt it our duty to tell you about that man. "

"We don't want to do him any harm, if he is trying to earn an honestliving, " put in Roger, "but we want you to be on your guard in anydealings you may have with him. "

"Why, what do you young men know of Mr. Haskers?" demanded the oldgentleman, in increasing wonder. 

"We know a great deal about him, and very little to his credit, " burstout Phil. "If you have any dealings with him, be careful, or, my wordfor it, you may get the worst of it!"

"Why this is--er--very extraordinary!" murmured Mr. Fordham. "I--I don'tknow what to make of it, " and he looked rather helplessly at Mr. Passmore. 

"Porter, you had better tell what you know about Haskers, " said Bert'sfather. "But cut it short, for that man may get here soon. "

In a plain, straightforward manner our hero told of several things thathad happened at Oak Hall, which were not at all to Job Haskers' credit. Then he told of the attempt to blow up the hotel, and how the unworthyteacher had tried to throw the blame on the students, and how the truthof the matter had at last come out, and how the dictatorial old teacherhad been dismissed by Doctor Clay. 

"And do you mean to tell me that this is the man who is trying to sellme this stock in the Sunset Milling Company?" asked Mr. Fordham, whenDave had finished. 

"This is the same man, " answered Roger. 

"Yes, and Dave didn't tell you the half of what can be chalked upagainst him, " added Phil. "I wouldn't trust him with a pint of peanuts. "

"Hum! Strange, and I thought he came highly recommended!"

"If he showed you any recommendations I'll wager they were many yearsold, " said Dave. 

"This is really none of my business, Mr. Fordham, " broke in Mr. Passmore. "But as this man is so well known to these young gentlemen, and he has proved himself to be so unworthy, I would go slow aboutinvesting in stocks that he may offer. "

"Yes! yes! Certainly!" cried the elderly gentleman. "But--er--why shouldthese young men take such an interest in me, a stranger?"

"We don't want to see Job Haskers get the best of any one!" answeredPhil, bluntly. "My opinion of it is, that he ought to be in jail. "

"I see, I see! Well, if he did what you say he did, I don't blame you. "

"I wouldn't sign for any stock until I had some outside advice aboutit, " cautioned Mr. Passmore. 

"Why not wait until your son gets back?" he suggested. 

"I'll do it. Mr. Haskers wanted the deal closed at once. But now I won'tsign for the stock. I'll wait. My son will be here day after to-morrowat the latest, and he can look into the matter for me. And I am verymuch obliged to you all for this warning. I think----"

At that moment came a knock on the door, which had been closed. Abell-boy was there with a card, which he handed to Mr. Fordham. 

"Bless me! He is certainly on time!" murmured the old gentleman. "It isMr. Haskers. " He looked helplessly at the others. "I--I don't exactlyknow what to do. "

"We'll get out, if you say so, " answered Roger, quickly. 

"Oh, say, can't we stay and face him?" asked Phil, eagerly. "We'll givehim the surprise of his life!"

"Certainly, you can stay!" exclaimed Mr. Fordham, with sudden energy. "Iwant you to stay. You should not be afraid to say to his face what youhave said behind his back. "

Dave looked around the apartment. A bathroom was handy, the doorstanding ajar. 

"Supposing we step in there for a few minutes, while you and Mr. Passmore meet Mr. Haskers, " he cried. "We'll come out when you say so. "

"A clever idea!" cried the rug dealer. "Maybe we'll be able to catch himin a trap!"

"Mr. Passmore, I'll leave this matter to you, " answered the elderlygentleman. "You know those young men better than I do. "

"So I do, and I'll vouch for Roger Morr and his friends, " was theanswer. "Show the gentleman up, " he added, to the bell-boy. "Don't tellhim who is here--we want to surprise him. "

As the bell-boy left, the three chums crowded into the bathroom, leavingthe door on a crack. Soon there came another knock, and Job Haskerspresented himself, silk hat and cane in hand. He was well dressed andevidently groomed for the occasion. He had expected to find Mr. Fordhamalone, and was somewhat annoyed on beholding a visitor ahead of him. 

"Good-morning, Mr. Haskers, " said the elderly gentleman, politely. "Thisis my friend, Mr. Passmore. "

"Happy to know you, sir, " responded the former teacher, with pretendedwarmth. "A lovely morning after the storm, " he went on, as he drew offthe gloves he was wearing. 

"We were just discussing this stock you have been offering to Mr. Fordham, " remarked Mr. Passmore, a bit dryly. "The Sunset Company is anew one to me. Did you help to organize it?"

"Well, I--er--I had a little to do with the organization, " stammered theformer teacher. 

"You are a regular stock-broker, I presume, Mr. Haskers. "

"Yes, that is my business. But I don't deal in ordinary stocks--I handleonly those which are gilt-edged and big money makers, " added JobHaskers, with a flourish. 

"Been following the business for some years, I presume. "

"About fifteen, all told. I used to have an office in Wall Street, NewYork, but I gave that up, as I found the confinement bad for my health. "

"It must be a pretty exacting business, " went on Mr. Passmore. 

"It is, sir. When a fellow is in stocks he can't follow much of anythingelse. "

"I'd hate to follow stocks for fifteen years. "

"Do you mean to say you have been handling stocks for the past fifteenyears?" questioned Mr. Fordham, slowly. 

"Exactly, sir--ever since I gave up my position as cashier of a Bostonbank, " returned Job Haskers, smoothly. "And now, to get down tobusiness, as my time is somewhat limited. I suppose you are ready tosubscribe for that stock?" And the former teacher brought forth a paperand his fountain pen. 

"We'll see, " mused Mr. Fordham. "Dealing in stocks for the past fifteenyears, eh? How long since you gave up your office in Wall Street?"

"About--er--two years, " stammered Job Haskers. He looked keenly at Mr. Fordham and then at Mr. Passmore. "What--er--why do you ask me thatquestion?"

"Mr. Fordham probably thought it strange that you could be dealing instocks and teaching school at the same time, " answered Bert's father, dryly. 

At this announcement Job Haskers' jaw dropped. 

"I--I don't understand you, " he stammered. 

"Well, you will understand in a minute, " returned the rug dealer, blandly. He raised his voice. "Boys, I guess you had better come innow!"

CHAPTER VI

ANOTHER SURPRISE

The boys had listened to all that was said, and now they lost no time infiling into Mr. Fordham's bedroom. 

Job Haskers stared at them in amazement, and his face dropped inconsternation. 

"Porter!" he gasped. "And Morr and Lawrence! Wha--what doesthis--er--mean?"

"Perhaps you know as well as we do, " answered Dave, sharply. 

"You have been spying on me!"

"We are here by permission of Mr. Fordham, " returned Roger. 

"How did you know I was to call?"

"Never mind about that, " put in Phil. "We are here, and that is enough. "

"And we know all about what you are trying to do, " added Dave. 

"This is a plot--a plot against me--to ruin me!" spluttered the formerteacher of Oak Hall. "Oh, you needn't try to disguise it! I know all ofyou!"

"We have no plot against you, Mr. Haskers, " replied Dave, calmly. "Ifyour business is perfectly legitimate----"

"Never mind about that!" interposed Job Haskers, hastily. He jammed thepaper and his fountain pen in his pocket. "You can't make a fool of me!You have been following me up, and you mean to--to--do what you canto--er--get me into trouble. " He backed towards the doorway. 

"What is your hurry, sir?" asked Mr. Passmore, and he quietly placedhimself in front of the door. 

"Let me pass! Let me pass!" shrilled Job Haskers, and now he lookedthoroughly scared. 

"Don't you wish to talk this matter over?" questioned Mr. Fordham, wonderingly. 

"No, sir. I am not going to stay here to be made a fool of!" cried theformer instructor. "Let me pass, I demand it!" he added, to Bert'sfather. 

"Oh, all right, if you insist, " answered Mr. Passmore, and steppedaside. At once Job Haskers threw the door open and retreated to thehallway. 

"Just wait, you young scamps! I'll get even with you for this!" heexclaimed, shaking a long finger at Dave, Roger, and Phil. "I'll showyou yet! You just wait!" And with that threat he literally ran down thehallway and down the stairs and out of the hotel. 

"Say, he's some mad, believe me!" was Roger's grim comment. 

"I think he is more scared than anything else, " returned Dave. "He actedas if he thought we had trapped him in some way. "

"Just how it struck me, " put in Phil. "He certainly didn't lose any timein getting away, did he?" and the shipowner's son grinned broadly. 

"He had a guilty conscience, " was Mr. Passmore's comment. "Mr. Fordham, I think you can congratulate yourself that he has left. "

"I think so myself, sir, " replied the old gentleman. He looked kindly atDave and his chums. "It looks to me as if you had saved me from beingswindled, " he continued. "If he had a fair sort of a proposition I thinkhe would have stayed. "

"I think so myself, " added Mr. Passmore. "Just the same, supposing Ilook into this Sunset Company for you?"

"As you please, Mr. Passmore. But I doubt if I care to invest--afterwhat I have heard and seen of this fellow, Haskers, " answered the oldgentleman. 

The matter was talked over a little more and then the boys and Bert'sfather departed, first, however, receiving the warm thanks of Mr. Fordham for what they had done. In the foyer of the hotel the chums fellin with Bert. 

"Say, I saw that Haskers fellow shoot out of the hotel in a mightyhurry, " he said. "You must have made it hot for him. "

"We did, " answered Dave. "Where did he go?"

"Up the lake road, as fast as he could walk. "

"I wonder where he is stopping?" mused Phil. 

"We might take the auto and follow him?" suggested the senator's son. "There is no hurry about our getting home. "

"Let's do it!" cried Dave, for he was as curious as the othersconcerning the former teacher of Oak Hall. 

"If you don't mind I'll go along, " said Bert. 

So it was arranged, and letting Mr. Passmore know of their plans theysoon got ready for the trip. 

"Now, don't get into any trouble, " warned the rug dealer, as they wereabout to depart. "That fellow Haskers may be like a rat--very ugly whencornered. "

"We'll keep our eyes open, " answered Dave. 

Soon the touring-car was rolling over the lake road, in the directionJob Haskers had taken. The storm had left the road a trifle muddy inspots, but that was all. Overhead the sky was blue and the sun shonebrightly. 

Less than a quarter of a mile was covered when those in the touring-carsaw a figure ahead they knew to be Job Haskers. He was walking alongmore slowly now, his head bent down as if in deep thought. 

"I suppose he is trying to figure out what to do next, " was Phil'scomment. "Wants to locate another sucker--if he can. "

"Such a man ought to be in jail, " said Bert "He may rob some poor fellowand do it in a legal way, too, --so that the man won't be able to getback at him. "

Roger had slowed down, so that the touring-car kept well behind theformer teacher. Presently the boys saw Haskers turn up a side road, onethat led to a small hotel, standing on a hill overlooking the lake. 

"He's going to the Fenton House, " said Bert. "Maybe he is stoppingthere. "

"Possibly, " returned Dave. 

Slowly following the man, they saw Job Haskers enter the hotel and walkin the direction of the reading-room. Roger stopped the car and turnedto the others. 

"Well, what's the next move?" he asked. "Want to go in?"

"What's the use?" asked Phil. "We'd only have a lot of words with him. He's got a right to stay here if he wants to. "

"Let's go in anyway, " said Dave. "You must know somebody here, " hecontinued, turning to Bert. 

"Oh, yes, I know several young fellows and girls, " answered the lad whowas spending the summer at the lake. 

"Then we can pretend to be calling on them, " put in Roger. 

Leaving the touring-car standing in the road, the four youths enteredthe hotel. They glanced into the reading-room, and noted that over adozen persons were present. Then Dave gave a low cry. 

"Look, boys! What do you think of that?"

He pointed to one corner of the reading-room, where two persons sat on aleather couch, one with a newspaper in his hand. 

"Why, it's Link Merwell!" gasped Phil. "Merwell as sure as you're born!"

"How did that rascal get here?" murmured Roger. 

"Who is it?" asked Bert, curiously. 

"That fellow who is on the couch with Haskers, " whispered Dave. "He usedto go to school with us at Oak Hall, and then he had to leave, and afterthat he and a fellow named Jasniff robbed Mr. Wadsworth's jewelryworks. "

"Oh, yes, Roger told me about that. You fellows followed the rascals toCave Island, didn't you?"

"Yes, and we caught Jasniff, but Merwell got away. "

"Then why not have him locked up right now?" demanded Bert. 

"It's what we ought to do, " declared Phil. 

"Haskers and Merwell must be in with each other, " was Dave's comment. "Maybe Merwell is trying to sell some of that Sunset Company stock, too. "

"Wonder if we can't hear what they are saying?" said Roger. "It mighthelp us to make out a case against them. "

"We can go around to that side window and listen, " suggested Phil, andpointed to the window in question. 

This was quickly agreed upon, and the four boys left the hotel andwalked out on a gravel path close to the window. As the day was warm, the window was wide open. 

"No, it was a frost!" they heard Job Haskers say, in harsh tones. 

"He wouldn't buy the stock?" queried Link Merwell. 

"Worse than that, Merwell. I was trapped, and I had all I could do toget away. "

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know who was there, with that old man, when I went to see him?"

"I have no idea. "

"Three of the boys you hate--Porter, Morr, and Lawrence. "

Merwell started back in consternation. 

"You don't mean it--you are fooling!"

"It's the truth. They were there and ready to have me arrested, Isuppose. I got out in a hurry. " Job Haskers gave a deep sigh and wipedthe perspiration from his forehead. 

"Did--did they follow you?" asked Link Merwell, nervously. 

"I don't think so--I didn't give them time. Oh, this is too bad! Iexpected to get a lot of money from that old man, " and Job Haskers shookhis head, sadly. 

"I told you it wasn't safe to stay around here, " was Merwell's comment. "Why not go out West with me? It will be much safer there, I am sure. "

"My funds are low. "

"I'll stake you, as the miners say. "

"How much money have you?" asked Job Haskers, a bit more hopefully. 

"Enough to take us both West. I made dad come down--he sent the moneyorder this morning, and I just got it cashed. I told him if he didn'tcome down I'd have to give myself up to the police, and that woulddisgrace the whole family. "

"I see. " The former teacher of Oak Hall gritted his teeth. "Oh, how Iwish I could do something to punish Porter and those others!"

"Humph! you don't wish that any more than I do, " replied Link Merwell, scowling. "I'm going to do something some day, mark my words!" he added, vindictively. 

At that moment the agent for a big observation car that ran around thelake approached the boys on the gravel path beneath the window. 

"Wouldn't you young gentlemen like to take a nice ride this afternoon?"he asked, in a business-like tone. "A fifty-mile ride in our newobservation touring-car, visiting all the points of interest around thelake, and taking in Creswood, Lighton, and Tomkins' Mill--a two-hours'ride for one dollar. " And he held up a handful of tickets. 

"We don't want any ride, " answered Dave. 

"We have our own touring-car, " added Roger, pointing to the car. 

"Oh, I see, all right, " said the man, and passed on, to hunt forcustomers elsewhere. 

When the man had started to speak his voice had carried into thereading-room, and much surprised to think others were so near, bothHaskers and Merwell had gotten up from the couch to glance out of thewindow. 

"Well, I never!" gasped Merwell. 

"They must have followed me after all!" groaned Job Haskers. 

The youth who had been mixed up in the robbery of the jewelry worksgrabbed the former teacher by the arm. 

"We can't stay here--at least I can't!" he whispered, hoarsely. "I amgoing to dust!" And out of the reading-room he glided, and Job Haskersfollowed him. 

"Where shall we go?" asked the former teacher, his shaking voice showinghow much he was disturbed. 

"I don't know--but I won't stay here, " returned Merwell. "Have you muchbaggage? I have only a Gladstone bag. "

"I have a suit-case, that is all. "

"Then let us pack up and get out by the back way. We can pay our billslater. Come on, there is no time to spare!"

CHAPTER VII

A GATHERING OF OAK HALL BOYS

"Well, they are gone, that's certain!"

"Yes, and there is no telling where they went to. "

"Must have slipped out by a back way. "

"They sure are a slick pair. "

It was some time later, and Dave and the other boys stood on the broadpiazza of the hotel discussing the situation. 

Following the talk with the observation car agent they had looked intothe reading-room only to discover that Job Haskers and Link Merwell hadvanished. At once they had rushed into the building, looking through thehallways and other rooms that were open to the general public. Not atrace of the two evildoers was to be found anywhere. Then they hadconsulted the clerk at the desk, and through him had learned that onlyJob Haskers was stopping at the place. 

"But he has a young friend here, a Mr. Smith--Jackson Smith, " the clerkhad told them. And then he had described the fellow called JacksonSmith, and Dave and his chums had felt assured that it was Link Merwellunder an assumed name. Finally a visit had been paid to the roomsHaskers and Merwell had occupied, and both had been found vacated, withthe keys sticking in the locks. 

"And neither of 'em stopped to pay his bill, " the clerk had told them, mournfully. 

"I am not surprised, " Dave had answered. "They are a bad pair. "

The clerk had wanted to know the particulars, and the boys had told himas much as they deemed necessary. Then they had come out on the piazzaof the hostelry, wondering what they ought to do next. 

"I don't think it is worth while trying to follow them up, " said thesenator's son. "If you caught Merwell you would have to appear in courtagainst him, and you know what a lot of trouble you had appearingagainst Jasniff;" and this statement was true. 

"Oh, let them go!" cried Phil. "Say, " he added, "did you hear what Linksaid about bleeding his dad for money? Isn't he the limit!"

"That proves he isn't working for a living, " remarked Dave. "And tothink that he told me he was going to reform!"

"That sort of a chap doesn't reform, " asserted Roger. 

"Oh, I don't know. Gus Plum reformed. "

"Yes, but Plum isn't like Merwell, or Jasniff. He was simplyoverbearing. These other fellows are downright dishonest. "

The four boys walked back to the automobile, and soon they werereturning to the hotel at which Bert was staying. By that time it wasclose to the lunch hour and so the visitors were invited to stay overfor something to eat. 

"Didn't catch that man Haskers, eh?" remarked Mr. Passmore, as he cameup, in company with Mr. Fordham. 

"No, he ran away, " answered Roger, and then he and the others told ofwhat had occurred. 

"I am very thankful to you for saving me from a bad investment, " saidMr. Fordham. "I shall not forget it. " And he kept his word, for lateron, after he had consulted with his son and found out just how worthlesswas the stock in the Sunset Milling Company, he sent each of the boys afine pair of gold cuff-links. 

After lunch the lads remained with Bert for about an hour and then tooktheir departure for Roger's home, where they arrived some time beforedark. As they rolled up the driveway a surprise awaited them. 

"Look who's here!" exclaimed Dave. "Hello there, Luke!"

"Hello yourself, " answered Luke Watson, with a broad grin. "I thoughtyou chaps would be along soon. "

"And Shadow!" cried Roger, as another form came into view, from the Morrpiazza. "This is a surprise! I didn't expect to see you quite so soon. "

"Oh, we hadn't anything special to do, so we came ahead, " answered Luke. "Hope it won't put you out?"

"Not at all, glad you are here. " There was a general handshaking, forthe automobile had now come to a stop and the boys had piled out togreet their former schoolmates. 

"Say, that puts me in mind of a story!" burst out Shadow Hamilton. "Afellow made a date with a girl for six o'clock. Well, at five----"

"Wow!"

"Shadow is onto the game already!"

"Say, Shadow, give us a chance to say how-do-you-do first, won't you?"

"I believe Shadow would try to tell a story if he was going to afuneral. "

"Oh, say!" burst out the former story-teller of Oak Hall. "That puts mein mind of another. Two Irishmen went to a funeral and----"

"Shut him off!"

"Put a popcorn ball in his mouth!"

"Make him apologize on the spot!"

At once the four others surrounded the would-be story-teller and pushedhim from the gravel path to the green lawn. Then followed something of awrestling match, all the lads taking part. 

"Let up, will you!" panted Shadow, breaking away at last. "I won't tellany stories if you don't want to listen to 'em. But just the same, thatstory about the Irishmen was a good one. And that about the fellow whowent to see the girl at five o'clock is a corker. You see his watch hadstopped and he----"

"Jump him!"

"He can't stop, no matter how hard he tries!"

"Let's stand him on his head and make him tell it backwards!"

Again there was a rush, but this time poor Shadow took to his heels andrushed up on the piazza, just as the door opened and Mrs. Morr came outto greet the boys. 

"Roger!" exclaimed the lady of the mansion, turning to her son, "what inthe world----"

"Only a little horse-play, Mom, " replied the son, with a smile. "We areso glad to see the fellows that we have to let off a little steam. "

"It looked like a fight to me. "

"Oh, nothing like that, Mrs. Morr, " said Dave, quickly. "Only fun; isn'tthat so, fellows?"

"Of course!" was the quick reply. 

"Have you met Luke and Shadow, Mom?" asked Roger. 

"Yes, about an hour ago. I told them that you had telephoned that youwere on the way home, so they said they'd remain out here, watching foryou. I showed them what room they were to occupy, " added the lady of themansion. 

"Fine!" cried Roger. "I'll put the car away for the present, and thenwe'll fix up for dinner and listen to those stories Shadow had to tell. "

"Somebody said Buster Beggs was coming, " said Luke. 

"Yes, he'll be here the night before the Fourth. "

Quarter of an hour later found the whole crowd of boys upstairs in thehouse. In anticipation of the Fourth of July party, as she called it, Mrs. Morr had turned over one wing of the second floor of the big houseto the youths. There they could "cut up" to their hearts' content. 

"Say, this is something like old times at Oak Hall!" cried Phil, as theyouths gathered in one of the bedrooms and proceeded to distributethemselves in various attitudes on the chairs and the bed. "Somehow, Ithink we are going to miss that school!"

"Miss it! Well I guess yes!" answered Dave. "And that puts me in mind ofsomething. I was thinking----"

"Whoop! Is he going to tell stories, too?"

"Say, Dave, that act belongs to Shadow. "

"No, I wasn't going to tell a story, " answered Dave. "I've got an ideafor a club. "

"A club? What do you mean?" asked Roger. "Do you mean for us to get up aclub?"

"Yes, the Oak Hall Club, to be composed of fellows who attended Oak Hallfor a year or more. "

"Great!"

"Let us do it!"

"We'll make Dave president, " cried Roger. 

"And you treasurer, " added Phil. 

"And Shadow chief story-teller, " put in Luke, with a grin. 

"Huh! What's the use of being chief story-teller when you won't let metell a story?" grumbled Shadow. "But I know what I'll do, " he added, with a sudden twinkle in his eye. "If you won't let me talk, I'll writeit down. And I'll write a sentence none of you can read and be sure of, "he went on. 

"What's that?" asked Phil, curiously. "A sentence none of us can read?Maybe you'll write it in Choctaw, or Chinese. "

"No, I'll write it in plain, every-day United States, and none of youwill be sure how to read it. "

"What's the riddle?" demanded Dave, who saw that the story-teller hadsomething up his sleeve. 

"Give me a sheet of paper and a pencil and I'll show you, " returnedShadow. 

Paper and pencil were furnished by Roger, and the story-teller quicklywrote down the following:

 _"After a row the sailors had a row!"_

"Now read it out loud!" cried Shadow, as he passed the paper to theothers. All gazed at it for several seconds. 

"I pass, " remarked Dave, calmly. 

"Why, that's easy!" cried Phil. "After a ro----Say, Shadow, what do youmean, did they quarrel or row the boat first?"

"Maybe they rowed the boat twice, " suggested Roger, with a grin. 

"Or had two quarrels, " suggested Luke. And then a general laugh went up. 

"You've got us this time, Shadow!" cried Dave. "Give him a lemon, somebody, for a prize, " and then another laugh went up. 

"That idea of an Oak Hall Club is a good one, " said Luke. "But you can'torganize it now--the fellows are too scattered. "

"Oh, I was thinking we might do it later on--perhaps this winter, "answered Dave. 

The newcomers were much interested in what Dave, Phil, and Roger had totell about Job Haskers and Link Merwell, and various were the opinionsadvanced as to what had become of the pair. 

"They are both mighty sore, because they had to leave Oak Hall indisgrace, " said Luke. "Every one of us had better keep his eye peeled, for they'll make trouble if they get half a chance. " And then the bellrang for dinner and the boys went downstairs. 

The next day the lads were all busy getting ready for the Fourth ofJuly. It had been arranged that they should have quite a display offireworks on the lawn of the senator's home, and many folks of thatvicinity were invited to attend. 

"Here is Buster Beggs!" cried Roger, that evening, and the youth who wasso fat and jolly hove in sight, suit-case in hand. He shook hands allaround and was speedily made to feel at home. 

"Glad you are going to have fireworks, " he said to Roger. "I don't caremuch for noise on the Fourth, but I dote on fireworks. Let me set someof 'em off, won't you?"

"Of course, " was Roger's reply. "We boys are going to give theexhibition, while the older folks, and the girls, look on. "

"But we are going to have a little noise--at sunrise, " put in Phil. 

"What kind of noise--a cannon?"

"No, some firecrackers. "

"Oh, that will be all right, " answered Buster, thinking the firecrackerswere to be of ordinary size. 

So they were--all but one. But that one was a monster--the largest Philand Roger had been able to buy. They had not told the others about thisbig fellow, not even Dave, for they wanted the explosion of that to be asurprise. 

"It will sure make them sit up and take notice, " said Phil to Roger, asthe pair hid the big cannon cracker away in the automobile garage. 

"We'll set it off back of the kitchen, " answered Roger. "It won't do anyharm there. "

On the night of the third the boys retired somewhat early, so as to beup bright and early for the glorious Fourth. 

They had been sleeping less than an hour when a sudden cry awakenedthem. 

"Fire! Fire! Get up, boys! The garage is on fire, and I am afraid thegasoline tank will blow up!"

CHAPTER VIII

FIRE AND FIRECRACKERS

"What's that!"

"The garage on fire!"

"Say, look at the blaze!"

Such were some of the cries, as the boys tumbled out of bed, one afteranother. A bright glare of fire was dancing over the walls of the rooms. 

"It's some brushwood behind the garage!" announced Dave, as he poked hishead out of a window to look. "It's that big heap the gardener put thereyesterday. "

"He shouldn't have placed it so close, " said Luke. "Why didn't he rakeit to some spot in the open?"

All of the boys were hurrying into their clothing as fast as possible. The alarm had been given by Senator Morr, and by the chauffeur, whoslept in a room of the barn next to the garage. 

"Oh, Roger!" gasped Phil. "That big cannon cracker!"

"I was thinking of it, Phil!" returned the senator's son, hurriedly. "Wemust get it out somehow!"

"If it goes off it will wreck the building!"

"Yes, and the gasoline tank with it!"

The tank in question was not underground, as would have been safer, butwas located in a bricked-up place at one side of the garage. In thestorehouse were two barrels of gasoline, and also some lubricating oils. If that storehouse caught, it would certainly make a hot and dangerousblaze. 

Pell-mell down the stairs rushed the youths, one after another. In themeantime Senator Morr was dressing and so were the others of thehousehold. 

"Be careful, boys! Don't go too close!" warned Mrs. Morr. 

"Watch out for an explosion!" puffed her husband. The senator was sostout that dressing in a hurry was no easy matter for him. 

When the boys got out in the garden they found the chauffeur and thegardener at work, trying to pull the burning brushwood away from thegarage. The flames were crackling merrily and the sparks were flying invarious directions. 

"I'm going in and get that big cannon cracker, " said Roger to Phil, in alow voice, so that the others might not hear. 

"I'll go with you, Roger. Be careful, though, the sparks are flying allround that doorway. "

"I've shut everything!" bawled the chauffeur, as he saw Roger at thebig sliding doors. "Better not open up, or the fire will get inside. "

"I've got to go in, Jake!" answered Roger. "I've got to get somethingout. "

"What?" asked Dave, who was close by. 

"Never mind, Dave. It's something that can't be left in there, " and sospeaking Roger slid open a door and hurried inside the garage. Phil camedirectly behind him. 

On the floor, in a corner, was a box with ordinary firecrackers init--about two hundred packs in all. On top of this was a package inpaper containing the big cannon cracker. 

"Lookout!"

"It's on fire!"

Thus yelled both boys as they saw that the flames from the brushwood hadmade their way into a corner of the garage, just where the firecrackershad been placed. For an instant they hesitated, then both leaped forwardagain and commenced to stamp out the fire. 

It had caught at a corner of the box containing the smaller firecrackersand was also at the paper containing the cannon cracker. This Philcaught up, knocking the fire away with his hand. 

"What are you after, anyway?" The question came from Dave, who hadfollowed his chums into the building. Buster, Shadow, and Luke wereoutside, at the rear, helping to pull the brushwood away and stamp outthe flames. 

"Firecrackers--a box full!" cried Roger. "We must get it out!"

"A giant firecracker!" added Phil. "Big enough to blow down a house!"And he held up the package and then made a dive for the outer air, forthe garage was now full of smoke. 

Dave understood on the instant, and stooped to pick up one end of theburning box. Roger took the other end, and thus they ran from thegarage. 

Crack! crack! crack! It was the small firecrackers in the box that werebeginning to go off, the pieces flying through a lower corner of theburning box. 

"Into the back yard with it!" cried Roger. "Keep it away from thebuildings!"

"All right, this way!" answered Dave, and then the pair made forsomething of an open lot behind the kitchen of the mansion and therethrew the box on the ground. Crack! bang! crack! went the firecrackers, going off singly and in bunches, until all were shot off. 

"It's a pity we didn't save 'em, " said Roger, mournfully. 

"It's a grand good thing they didn't go off in the garage, " returnedDave. 

"Well, I saved the big cannon cracker anyway, " said Phil, as he walkedup at that moment. 

"Where did you put it?" questioned Roger, quickly. 

"Over there, in a corner of the fence. I didn't want to take anychances, otherwise I might have taken it to the barn. "

"Better leave it outside, where it can't do any damage, " said Dave. 

While talking, the three boys had been running back to the garage. Therethey found their chums and the men at work, including Senator Morr, allhauling the burning brushwood away and pouring water from a small hoseon the flames. The most of the fire was out, so they found little to do. Only one corner of the garage had been touched, and for this the senatorwas thankful. 

"But it was careless of you, James, to put that brushwood there, soclose to the building, " he said to the gardener, "Don't do it again. "

"If you please, sir, I didn't put the brushwood as close as that, "replied the gardener, stoutly. "Somebody else did that. "

"What!" cried the senator, in surprise. 

"I said I didn't put the brushwood so close to the garage, sir, "repeated the gardener. "I put it right there, " and he pointed to a spotabout fifteen feet from the rear wall of the building. "I was going toburn it up first thing in the morning, --that is if the young gentlemendidn't want the stuff for a bonfire at night. "

"But who did put the brushwood up against the garage?" demanded SenatorMorr. 

"I'm sure I don't know, " put in the chauffeur. "But what James says, sir, is true--he put the heap out there--I was working around the garagewhen he did it. "

"Do you mean to insinuate that this fire was set by somebody?" cried thesenator, quickly. 

"I don't know about that, sir, " answered the chauffeur, while thegardener merely shrugged his shoulders. He was an old man and one whohad been trusted by the Morrs for years. 

"If what you say is true, I'll have to look into this matter, " remarkedSenator Morr. "I don't propose to have my garage burnt down, with twoautomobiles worth five thousand dollars, --not to say anything about thedanger to the rest of the place. If I find----"

Bang! It was an explosion like a cannon and made everybody jump. As Davelooked, he saw a corner of a distant fence fly apart, and bits of fireseemed to fill the midnight air. Then followed utter silence. 

[Illustration: AS DAVE LOOKED, HE SAW A CORNER OF A DISTANT FENCE FLYAPART. ]

"The cannon cracker!" gasped Phil. 

"What could have made it go off?" asked Roger. 

"Some sparks from this fire--or else it was lit when Phil took it out, "answered Dave. 

"What are you talking about?" asked Senator Morr, and when he hadbeen told he shook his head and smiled, grimly. 

"Well, I'm glad it didn't go off in the garage, " he said. "But afterthis you must keep your explosives in a safer place. Jake, James, bringsome buckets of water and put out that fire from the explosion. It isn'tmuch, but we want no more sparks flying around here. "

The water was brought, and soon every spark had been extinguished. Thenthe crowd went back to the garage, to make sure that no more firelingered in that vicinity. 

"It certainly looks as if somebody had set this fire, " mused SenatorMorr. "Perhaps a tramp. Have you seen any such fellows around here?" heasked, looking at the others. 

The boys had seen no tramps at all, and James said he had seen none forover a week. 

"I saw one day before yesterday, " said the chauffeur, "but I know heleft town that night--I saw him board a freight train. "

"Well, it is strange. Keep your eyes open, " said Senator Morr, and thenhe returned to the house, to quiet his wife and retire once more. 

"It's mighty queer about that fire, " remarked Luke, when the boys wereundressing. "It certainly does look as if it was set. "

"Dave, do you think Merwell and Haskers would do it?" questioned Roger. 

"Yes, if they were in this neighborhood. But have they been here?"

The boys looked at each other. Nobody had seen Merwell or the formerteacher of Oak Hall in that vicinity. 

"Let us make some inquiries down at the railroad station in themorning, " suggested Dave. "If those two stopped off here somebody musthave seen them. "

"Phew! what a noise that cannon cracker did make!" murmured Phil. "If wehad set that off in the morning--as we intended--I reckon it would havewoke up the neighborhood pretty well. "

"It did wake some folks up, " answered Roger, for quite a few boys andmen had come up to find out what the flames and noise meant. 

"It was certainly some firecracker, " was Luke's comment. 

"Say, speaking of firecrackers puts me in mind of a story!" burst outShadow. 

"Wow! A story this time of night!" murmured Buster. "I'm going to bed. "

"This is a short one, " pleaded the would-be story-teller. "A man wasgiving a celebration one Fourth of July to a lot of children. He hadordered a lot of firecrackers, but they didn't come. So he sent atelegram to the wholesale house in the city. 'Send big and littlecrackers as ordered at once. ' About an hour afterwards he got a returntelegram which said, 'Our grocery department is closed to-day. Yourorder for crackers will be filled to-morrow. '"

"Call that a crackerjack joke?" asked Roger, with a grin. 

"Don't crack any more like that, Shadow, " added Dave. 

"You might get fired if you do, " contributed Phil; and then a generallaugh went up, after which all of the boys again retired. 

In the morning the lads inspected the vicinity of the fire once more, and spent some time in shooting off a pistol and a shotgun which Rogerpossessed. Then, acting on a suggestion from Dave, they took a walk tothe railroad station. 

Here an interesting bit of news awaited them, which was to the effectthat, owing to some trouble with a bridge about a mile outside ofHemson, two passenger trains and a freight had been held up at thestation for several hours. 

"Most of the passengers remained in the trains, " said the station agent. "But some of 'em got restless and they went over to the hotel, and somewalked down to where the bridge was being repaired. "

"Did you notice two people in particular?" asked Roger, and describedMerwell and Job Haskers as well as he could. 

"No, I don't remember seeing those fellows, " said the agent. 

From the railroad station the boys went to the hotel, and then walkedalong the country road leading to the Morr place. Presently they met aman driving a milk wagon. 

"Say, you had a fire last night, didn't you?" asked the driver of Roger, as he reined up. 

"Yes, Mr. Platt, " answered the senator's son. "But it didn't amount toanything. "

"How did it catch, do you know?" went on the driver of the milk wagon, curiously. 

"No, we are trying to find out. "

"Maybe it was set. I see two fellers sneakin' around your place lastevening, " went on Mr. Platt. 

CHAPTER IX

WHAT NAT POOLE HAD TO TELL

"You saw two fellows sneaking around our place last evening?" criedRoger, with interest. 

"I certainly did. "

"What did they look like?" asked Dave. 

"I see 'em plainly an' I was wonderin' what they was up to, " said thedriver of the milk wagon, and then he described the two persons quiteminutely. 

"Haskers and Merwell, beyond a doubt!" exclaimed Phil. "Now what do youknow about that!"

"It certainly is the limit!" murmured Luke. 

"Wonder if they are still around?" came from Shadow. "Say, this puts mein mind of a sto----But never mind, I'll tell it another time, " he brokeoff, hastily, as he saw a look of disgust on the others' faces. 

"I don't believe they are around, " said Dave. "They probably boarded thefirst train that went over the bridge. "

"Just what I think, " returned the senator's son. 

"Think them fellers set the fire?" asked Mr. Platt, curiously. 

"We feel certain of it, " replied Roger. "They are old school enemies ofours, " he added. "It's only one more score we've got to settle withthem, " he continued, to his chums, and shut his teeth with a snap. 

Nothing further could be learned concerning the mysterious visitors, andfinally the boys went back to the Morr mansion, to get ready for theevening celebration. This came off as scheduled and proved a bigsuccess. Fully a hundred town folk were present, besides some from thelake and elsewhere. There were rockets and Roman candles and wheelsgalore, as well as several set pieces. Some fire balloons were alsoliberated. Senator Morr had engaged a local band of eight pieces, and ifthe music was not of a high order it was certainly patriotic, and thatcounted for a good deal. 

Of course the other boys had to hear all about the proposed trip Westand, incidentally, about the lost Landslide Mine. From his father andmother Roger got some more details concerning the missing property. Amap was produced, and also some papers, and the son was advised to huntup an old miner and prospector named Abe Blower. 

"Abe Blower knew your Uncle Maurice well, " said Mrs. Morr, to her son. "They were friends for years. I am sure if you can find Mr. Blower hewill do all he can for you, and for me, too. "

"Then I'll do what I can to find him, first of all, " answered Roger. 

At last came the time when Dave must leave the Morr home and return toCrumville. He was going alone, but he promised to keep in constantcommunication with the others. 

"I wish I was going on that western trip, " said Shadow, wistfully. "You'll have barrels of fun, and if you do locate that LandslideMine--well, it will be a big feather in your cap. "

"I'd like to go, too, " said Buster. 

"I reckon we'd all like to go, " cried the others, in concert. 

"Well, there is just this much about it, " returned Dave. "Anybody whohas the price can go on that personally-conducted tour to YellowstonePark, and, so far as I am concerned, you can go from there into themountains and look for the mine. "

"Why, of course!" burst out Roger. "If any of you want to go, just saythe word. "

This brought on a discussion lasting nearly an hour. In the end severalof the lads said they would see what they could do, and would writeabout it later, or telegraph. 

"Say, but wouldn't it be grand if we could locate that lost mine!" criedPhil, enthusiastically. 

"Well, we'll have a try at it, " returned Dave. 

At last came the time for Dave to leave. Some of the others had alreadygone. Roger drove his chum down to the railroad station in the runabout. The two were alone. Dave noticed that the senator's son seemed unusuallythoughtful. 

"What's up, Roger?" he asked, at last. "You don't seem quite likeyourself. "

"Oh, I don't know that I ought to say anything, Dave, " was thehesitating answer. 

"If there is anything I can do----"

"No, it isn't that. " Roger gave a deep sigh. "I wish we could locatethat mine!" he murmured. 

"So you were thinking about that? Well, we may have luck. Let us hopeso, " and Dave smiled. 

"I might as well tell you how it is, " continued Roger, as he drove up tothe little railroad station. He looked around, to make sure that nooutsiders were listening. "You know father comes up for re-election thisfall. "

"Oh, does his term as senator run out?"

"Yes. Well, there is a movement on foot to put somebody else in hisplace. If they do that--well, he'll be out, that's all. "

"What will he do then?"

"That's just it. I don't know what he can do. He used to be in an officebusiness, but he gave that up to go into politics. Now, if he gets out, he will have to start all over again. "

"Hasn't he anything at all--I mean any business?"

"Not anything regular. He dabbles a little in real estate. "

"Then I hope they don't put him out, Roger. "

"And--er--that isn't all, Dave. I wouldn't tell anybody but you--andmaybe Phil. He has spent a lot of money while in politics--it costs agood deal to live in Washington. I heard him tell mother about it. If hegoes out, it will go hard with him. Now, if we had that mine, and it wasas valuable as they think it is----"

"I see, Roger. We'll have to do our level best to find the mine. "

"If mother had the mine she could let dad use the money in any way hepleased. But if we haven't got the mine to fall back on, and dad getsout of politics--well, it is going to make hard sledding for us. "

"Roger, if it gets too bad, don't you hesitate to come to us!" criedDave, quickly. "I am sure my father, and my Uncle Dunston, would be onlytoo glad to help you out. "

"Thank you, Dave; but I don't think it will get to be as bad as that, "answered the senator's son. And then the train came along and Dave hadto bid his chum good-by. 

The car was only half filled with people, so Dave had a double seat tohimself. He placed his suit-case in the rack overhead and then sank downby the window, to gaze at the swiftly moving panorama and give himselfup to thought. 

"Hello, Dave!"

The youth looked up, to see, standing beside him, Nat Poole, the son ofthe money-lender of Crumville--a tall, awkward youth with a face thatwas inclined to scowl more than to smile. In the past Nat had playedDave many a mean trick, and had usually gotten the worst of it. Nat hadbeen in the class with our hero, but had failed to pass for graduation, much to his chagrin. 

"Hello, Nat!" cried Dave. He put as much warmth as possible in thesalutation, for he felt sorry for the boy who had failed. "Bound forhome?"

"Yes. " The money-lender's son hesitated for a moment. "Want me to sitwith you?"

"Certainly, if you like, " and Dave shoved over to make room. 

"Been visiting an old aunt of mine, " explained Nat as he sat down. "Hada slow time of it, too, over the Fourth. Where have you been?"

Dave told him. "We had a dandy time, too, " he added. 

"It must have been fine. " Nat gave a sigh. "I wish I had been--butwhat's the use? You fellows wouldn't care for me. "

"What were you going to say, Nat?"

"I might have been there myself, if I hadn't--well, if I hadn't made abig fool of myself!" burst out the money-lender's son. "Yes, that's whatI did, made a fool of myself! Uncle Tom told me the plain truth. "

"I thought you said you'd been visiting an aunt. "

"So I have, but she's married again, --married a man named Tom Allen, amerchant. He knows father, and he flocked it into the old man in greatshape, " and Nat actually chuckled. "Told me just what kind of a man dadwas--hard-fisted and miserly--somebody nobody loved or wanted toassociate with. And he warned me not to grow up the same way--not tothink money was everything, and all that. He said a boy ought to beknown for his real worth, not his dollars and his clothes. "

"He's right there, Nat. "

"Yes, he opened my eyes. And when he asked me about Oak Hall, and youfellows, and how I had missed passing, he told me the truth aboutmyself. I--well, I resented it at first, but by and by I got to thinkinghe must be right, and the more I thought of it, the more I made up mymind that I had been a big fool. And then I made a resolve----" Natstopped and gave a gulp. 

"A resolve?"

"Yes. I resolved that, the first time I met you, Dave, and the others, Iwas going to eat humble pie and tell you just what I thought of myself. "The son of the money-lender was in a perspiration now and mopped hisface with his handkerchief. 

Dave hardly knew how to reply. Here was Nat Poole in certainly anentirely new role. 

"I am glad to know you are going to turn over a new leaf, " he returned. "I hope you make a success of it. "

"Do you really, Dave?" There was an eager note in Nat's voice. 

"Sure I do, Nat. You'd be all right, if--if----"

"Go ahead, give it to me straight, just as Uncle Tom did. "

"Well, if you wouldn't be quite so conceited and stuck-up, and if you'dbuckle down a bit more to studying. "

"That's what I am going to do--buckle down to study next fall. And if Ishow any conceit in the future, well, I want you and Ben Basswood, andRoger and Phil, and all the others, to knock it right out of me, " wenton the money-lender's son, earnestly. "My eyes are open and I'm goingahead, and I don't want to slip backwards. "

"I'll help you all I can, Nat, " and Dave held out his hand, which theother grasped vigorously. 

"This talk with Uncle Tom woke me up, " went on Nat, a moment later. "When I get home, I am going to try to wake dad up, too. It's going tobe no easy task, but I'll do it. I know ma will be on my side--she wasnever after the money like dad was. I am going to prove to him that hehas got to do something else besides get money. "

"I wish you luck, Nat, " replied Dave. He could not help but smile whenhe thought of the hard-fisted money-lender, and what he might say whenhis son went at the task of making him more kind and benevolent. 

"And, by the way, Dave, now I am going to turn over a new leaf, I wantto tell you about a letter I received some time ago, " went on Nat, aftera pause, during which the train stopped at a station to take on somepassengers. 

"A letter?"

"Yes. You'd never guess who it was from. "

"Gus Plum?"

"No, Link Merwell. "

"Link Merwell!" exclaimed our hero, in surprise. "What did he write toyou about, Nat? Not that diamond robbery?"

"Oh, no, he had precious little to say about that, for he must know Iknew he and Jasniff were guilty. He wrote about you. It was a longletter--nearly eight pages--and he spoke about what you had done to gethim and me into trouble. "

"I never tried to get you into trouble, Nat. "

"I know it. But I used to think you were trying to do it. Well, Linkwrote about it, and he wanted to know if I would help him in a scheme topay you back. He said he had a dandy scheme to pay you off. "

"Oh, he did?" said Dave, with interest. "What was the scheme?"

"He didn't say. "

"What did you answer?"

"I didn't answer the letter. I kept it to think about. Then, yesterday, after my last talk with Uncle Tom, I made up my mind to wash my hands ofLink Merwell, and I burned the letter up. "

CHAPTER X

DAVE AT HOME

"I'm glad you washed your hands of Merwell, Nat, " replied Dave, withwarmth. "He is not the sort for any respectable fellow to associatewith. But about that letter. Have you any idea what he was going to do?"

"No. All he said was, 'If you will join with me we can pay Dave Porteroff good and get him in the biggest kind of a hole. ' I guess you hadbetter keep your eyes open, Dave. "

"I am doing that already. "

"I--I made up my mind I'd tell you--when I got to Crumville, " falteredthe money-lender's son. "I didn't want you to suffer at his hands. "

"I've got my eyes open already, " was Dave's reply. "Let me tell yousomething, Nat. " And then he related the particulars of the affair atLake Sargola, and told about the burning of the garage. 

"And to think Job Haskers is with him!" cried Nat. "Say, they'll make ateam, won't they!"

"Yes, for I'm thinking that Haskers is about as bad as Merwell, "answered Dave. 

After that came a pause, neither youth knowing exactly what to say. ThenNat cleared his throat. 

"I--I'd like you to do me a favor, " he stammered. 

"All right, Nat. What is it?" returned our hero, promptly. 

"If you get the chance will you tell Ben Basswood and the other fellowshow I'm going to be--er--different after this? And will you tell yoursister and Jessie, too? I don't want them to--to--think I'm wanting todo anything more that's mean. I want to be--be, well, friendly--ifthey'll let me, " and Nat's face grew very red as he made the admission. 

"I'll tell them all--the first chance I get, " promised Dave. "And I amsure they will be pleased. Why, Nat, I know you can turn over a newleaf, if you want to. Look at Gus Plum, how mean he used to be, and whata bully! And look at him now. He's a first-rate fellow. You can do it ifPlum can, can't you?"

"I'm going to try, anyway. "

"And I'll help you all I can--and there's my hand on it, " answered Dave, and then the two lads shook hands. 

A talk lasting all the way to Crumville followed. As they rolled intothe station Nat left rather hastily, going to the rear of the car, whileDave went forward. The money-lender's son knew Dave expected to meethis sister and friends and he did not, just then, wish to face theparty. 

"There's Dave!" cried Jessie Wadsworth, as she caught sight of himthrough a car window. 

"Hello, everybody!" cried the youth, as he swung himself from the carsteps. He gave Jessie's hand a tight squeeze and then kissed his sister. "How are you?"

"Oh, fine!" came from both girls. 

"Hello, Davy!" cried a merry voice, and Dunston Porter, the lad's uncle, came striding forward from an automobile near by. "How did you leaveSenator Morr and his family, and are you ready for that trip throughYellowstone Park?"

"I left the senator and his family well, " was the answer. "And I amready for the trip--that is--part of the trip, " Dave added, hastily. 

"Part of the trip?" cried Jessie. "Why, what do you mean?"

"I'll tell you later. Oh, I've got lots and lots to tell, " went on Dave, with a smile. He caught Laura and Jessie by the arms. "See Nat Pooleover yonder?" he whispered. "Well, you want to be nice to Nat afterthis, for he is going to reform. "

"Reform?" queried his sister. 

"Really?" added Jessie. 

"That's what he told me. We had quite a talk on the train. I'll tellyou about it later. And I've got a lot more to tell, " Dave went on. "Allabout a lost gold mine that belongs to Mrs. Morr, Roger's mother. "

"A lost gold mine!" exclaimed Dunston Porter. "Is this a joke, Dave?"

"No, sir, it's the truth. The strangest tale you ever heard. When we goout to Yellowstone Park we--that is, us boys--are going to look for themine. "

"Of all things!" burst out Laura. "Say, Dave, will you ever settle down?Here I thought you were going to take a nice little personally-conductedtour with us, and you talk of going land knows where to look for a lostgold mine!"

"Is it very far?" asked Jessie, and her face showed some disappointment. 

"Oh, it's not very far from Yellowstone Park, " answered the youth. "It'sin Montana, and you know a corner of the Park is in that State. "

All had walked toward the automobile, which Mr. Porter had been running. The girls got in the tonneau and Dave climbed into the front seat besidehis uncle. Just as they were about to start, Nat Poole walked past, suit-case in hand, and tipped his hat politely. Both girls smiled andbowed and Mr. Porter nodded. Then the touring-car rolled off in thedirection of the big Wadsworth mansion, where, as I have before stated, the Porters resided with the jeweler's family and old Caspar Potts. 

As they passed through the main street of Crumville--now built up agreat deal more than when Dave had first known it--many persons bowedand smiled to all in the car. Everybody knew the Porters and liked them, and the fact that Dave had once been an inmate of the local poor-housewas almost forgotten. 

To the youth himself the ride was full of interest. As he sat back inthe comfortable seat of the automobile he could not help but think ofthe many changes that had taken place since he had been found wanderingalong the railroad tracks, alone and hungry. He had found a father, anuncle, and a sister, and he had made many warm friends, including JessieWadsworth, to him the dearest girl in all the world. Certainly he hadmuch to be grateful for, --and he was grateful from the bottom of hisheart. 

A few minutes of riding, after leaving the center of the town, broughtthem within sight of the Wadsworth residence, a fine mansion set backfrom the roadway, with beautiful trees and shrubbery surrounding it. Down at the great gateway stood Professor Potts, now white-haired andsomewhat bent, but with a kindly smile of welcome on his face. Davewaved his hat and the old gentleman bowed with old-fashioned courtesy. Then the touring-car swept up to the broad front piazza and Mrs. Wadsworth showed herself. 

"Home again, are you, Dave, " she said, pleasantly. "I am glad to seeyou. " And then she allowed him to kiss her. There had been a time whenDave had been somewhat afraid of this stately lady of society, but thattime was past now, and Mrs. Wadsworth looked on Dave almost as ason, --indeed, it had been this affection for the youth which had causedthe two families to live under the same roof. 

Dave was soon up in his room, putting away his things and getting readyfor dinner, which would be served in half an hour. He was almost readyto go below when he saw Caspar Potts pass through the hallway. 

"Well, Professor, how have you been?" he asked, pleasantly. 

"Very well, David, very well, " was the somewhat slow reply. "It is avery pleasant life here, very pleasant!" And the eyes of the old collegeprofessor glistened. 

"Got the library in shape now, I suppose?" went on Dave, for he knewthat was the old gentleman's hobby. 

"Yes, David, we have every book and pamphlet catalogued. And I am addingsomething new, " continued the professor. "I am getting the autographs ofmany of the writers and pasting them on the fly-leaves. And where awriter dies and I get a printed obituary notice I paste that in the backof the book. I think it adds something to a volume to know about thewriter and to have his or her autograph. "

"Fine, Professor!" cried Dave, and tapped him on the shoulder. "My, butit is nice here! Much better than the old farm, eh, and the poor-housethat I came from!"

The old gentleman nodded several times, and the tears stood in his eyes. 

"Yes! yes! It is very, very nice. I have found real friends, and I amthankful, very thankful!" And he continued on his way down the hall, wiping his eyes with his handkerchief. 

On the stairs Dave met Jessie. She was in a fresh dress of white, andhad a rose in her hair. 

"How pretty you look!" he whispered, as he took her arm. "Just like a--apicture!" And then Jessie blushed and that made her look prettier thanever, if such a thing were possible. 

Dave's father and Mr. Wadsworth had come in, and both were glad to seethe boy back. Soon dinner was announced, and all sat down to the longtable, Dave between his sister and Jessie. It was old Professor Pottswho asked grace; and then some rapid-fire conversation followed, thegirls and the others demanding to know all about what had happened atSenator Morr's home, and about the lost mine. 

"It certainly sounds like a romance!" declared Dave's father, referringto the lost mine. 

"But I have heard of such things before, " answered his brother. "I knowof several valuable mines in South America that were lost throughearthquakes. Landslides have not only buried mines, they have buriedcities as well. "

"Oh, Dave, supposing you went to look for that mine and there wasanother landslide!" gasped Jessie, and turned pale. 

"That's a risk we'd have to run, " was his answer. "But I'd be verycareful as to where I went, Jessie. "

"I don't know about this, " put in Mr. David Porter, with a grave shakeof his head. "Better take the trip through Yellowstone Park, Dave, andlet the Landslide Mine slide, " and he smiled, faintly. 

"Oh, I promised Roger that I'd go with him, --and Phil is going, too!"pleaded Dave. "We'll be very careful. "

"I might go with you myself, only I think I ought to stay with the partyto go through the Park, " said Dunston Porter. 

"Yes, we want you with us!" cried Laura. 

"I don't like this at all!" pouted Jessie, and looked somewhatreproachfully at Dave. 

"Oh, you mustn't take it that way!" cried the youth. "Why, we'll be withyou on the trip to the Park, and then we'll join you on the tour alittle later. You are to stay at least four weeks, remember. Well, if wespent two or even three weeks looking for that mine we'd still have aweek in the Park--and one can go through in six days, so the circularsays. "

After that the talk became general, Dave learning more concerning thetour and who from Crumville and vicinity had signed to go, and theothers asking for the details concerning the mine, and about the doingsof Job Haskers and Link Merwell. 

"You steer clear of that rascally teacher and young Merwell, " advisedDave's father. "They are a bad lot. "

"I'll steer clear if I can, " answered Dave. "But if I catch them in anywrongdoing and I can manage it, I am going to have both of themarrested. "

"I'd not blame you for that. "

After the meal Dave spent a pleasant evening with Laura and Jessie. Thethree young folks went out on the porch and there, a little later, BenBasswood joined them. All talked about the trip to Yellowstone Park, andabout the Landslide Mine. 

"I'd like to go after that mine myself, " said Ben. "But I know I can'tdo it, for I promised mother and my Aunt Kate that I'd stay with themall through the trip. "

"Then you'll have to stay with Laura and Jessie, too, " returned Dave. "I'll leave them in your care while I am away. "

"Oh, Dave, as if Uncle Dunston wasn't going along!" cried his sister. 

"Well, you can't have too many protectors, in such a wild portion of ourcountry, " and Dave laughed, for he knew as well as did all of them thatthe trip through Yellowstone Park is a perfectly safe one. 

By and by Ben walked around the garden with Laura, while Dave tookJessie. It was moonlight and perhaps some sentimental things were said. Anyway, when Dave and Jessie came back he held her arm and both lookedvery contented. Then Ben had to go, and Dave walked down to the gatewaywith him and spoke about Nat Poole. 

"Well, if he reforms he's a good one, " was all Ben said. He and Nat hadbeen on the outs for a long while. 

"He'll do it, " answered Dave. "At least, I hope so. "

CHAPTER XI

OVERHEARD IN THE SUMMER-HOUSE

"Dave, what do you think! I saw Link Merwell this morning!"

It was Laura who spoke, as she burst into her brother's room, where theyouth was looking over the things he expected to take with him on histrip West. 

"You saw Link Merwell!" cried Dave, dropping some collars he held in hishand. "Where?"

"Down on Main Street, near the post-office. "

"Did he speak to you?"

"Oh, no, the minute he noticed that I saw him he hurried out of sightaround the corner. I followed to the corner, but when I got there he hadgone. "

"Was Job Haskers with him?"

"I didn't see him. "

"Humph! This is interesting, to say the least, " mused Dave. He thoughtof what Nat Poole had told him, and of what Merwell and Haskers hadattempted at the Morr homestead. "I'll have to look into this, " headded, aloud. 

"Oh, Dave, do you think he'll try to do something more round here--or atthe jewelry works?"

"I'll warn Mr. Wadsworth, Laura, and he can notify the police. But it'squeer Merwell should show himself, knowing there is a warrant out forhis arrest. Weren't you mistaken?"

"I don't think so. Of course he had on a slouch hat, drawn down over hiseyes, and an unusual suit of clothing, but I am pretty certain it wasMerwell. "

"Then Haskers must be here, too. They travel together. " Dave heaved asigh. "It's too bad! I wish they were in China, or at the North Pole!"

It was two days after Dave's arrival at Crumville and most of the timehad been spent in getting ready for the trip to Montana. Roger and Philwere coming to the house that afternoon, and Dave had received atelegram from Shadow Hamilton that he would accompany the tourists asfar as Yellowstone Park. The other lads were unable to make thenecessary arrangements. 

It was lunch time and Dave lost no time in going to Mr. Wadsworth, whohad just come in from his jewelry works. Both of them, accompanied byDave's father, went into the library to talk the matter over, so thatJessie and her mother might not be disturbed. 

"I'll see the police about this, " said Mr. Wadsworth, when he had heardabout Merwell. "If possible, we must place this young scamp where thatfellow Jasniff is, behind the bars. "

"I wish they could arrest Haskers, too, " sighed Dave. 

"I don't see how we can--we have no charge against him, " answered themanufacturer. 

It was about three o'clock when Roger and Phil came in. As my oldreaders know, the senator's son and Dave's sister were on unusually goodterms with each other, and the greeting between them was very cordial. 

"But I don't like you for one thing, Roger, " said Laura, halfreproachfully. "I don't like this idea of Dave going off to look forthat lost mine. "

"Oh, we won't be away from you long, Laura. "

"And the danger--not only to Dave but to--to you, " went on the girl, andgave him a look that meant much. 

"We'll be careful, " answered the senator's son. "But I hate awfully toworry you, " he added, in a lower tone. 

For Phil, Laura had some good news, which was to the effect that BelleEndicott, the daughter of the owner of Star Ranch, where the young folkshad spent such an enjoyable summer, had written that she would join theparty at Livingston, for the trip through Yellowstone Park. Phil hadalways admired Belle, she was so dashing and so full of fun, and thenews was just to his liking. 

"We'll have the best times ever!" he cried. "That is, after Dave andRoger and Shadow and I get back from locating that lost mine!"

"You talk as if it was going to be the easiest thing in the world tolocate the Landslide Mine!" laughed Roger. "I think it is going to behard work--and we may not get a trace of it. "

"Did you bring those papers and that map?" questioned Dave. 

"I did. "

"Let us go over them now, " cried Phil. But this was not to be, for therewere other things to attend to just then, and the girls demanded a goodshare of the boys' attention. 

The following morning found the three youths in a summer-house attachedto the Wadsworth estate. This was located down near a tiny brook and wasovergrown with vines and bushes. It was a cozy retreat, especially onsuch a hot day in July, and the boys proceeded to make themselves athome by throwing off their coats and caps. 

"Now let us get down to business on this thing, " said Dave; whereuponthe senator's son brought forth his papers, and the map of the miningdistrict wherein the Landslide Mine was supposed to be located. 

"That lost mine is supposed to be somewhere along this old trail, " saidRoger, pointing with his finger. "This trail is known as the RodmanTrail, because a fellow named Billy Rodman discovered it. As near as Ican make out, the papers say the mine was on this Rodman Trail, half amile north of Stony Cut and to the west of the Four Rocks. "

"Huh! That ought to be dead easy to locate, " was Phil's comment. "All wehave to do is to walk along the trail half a mile beyond Stony Cut andthen to the west of the Four Rocks, --and there you are. "

"Exactly, except for two things, " replied Roger. "The landslide wipedout Stony Cut and the Four Rocks, too. "

"Oh!"

"But some one must have some idea where Stony Cut was located, " saidDave. 

"My idea is to hunt up that old miner, Abe Blower, and see if he can'tlocate Stony Cut for us, even approximately, and tell us something aboutFour Rocks--how it used to look before the great landslide. Then, afterwe've got that information, we'll start on the hunt. "

"Do you think we'll find Abe Blower in Butte, Montana?" asked Phil. 

"More than likely. He was there some time ago, mother heard. He andUncle Maurice used to be great chums. "

"And are you sure the mine is valuable?" queried Phil, after a pause. 

"It must be, otherwise my uncle wouldn't have been so anxious about it. "

Again the boys went over the papers and also the map, talking theproposed trip over from various points of view. They all agreed thatlocating the lost mine would be no easy task. 

"Supposing somebody else locates it?" said Phil, presently. "Couldn't helay claim to it?"

"I don't know about that--I suppose so, since the mine is now completelylost. "

"I hope you can find this Abe Blower and get him to go with us, " saidDave. "An old prospector like that ought to know that territory well. "

"Blower does know it--so they say. "

"Did you ever meet him?" questioned Phil. 

"No, I never even heard of him until Uncle Maurice died and left hisproperty to mother. "

"Then you don't know what kind of a man he is?"

"Oh, he must be pretty nice, or my uncle wouldn't have had him for afriend. I've no doubt that he is rough--many of that sort are--but Ifeel certain----"

Roger stopped short, as a strange crashing in some bushes back of thesummer-house reached his ears and the ears of the others. 

"What's that?" cried Dave. "Some animal?"

"Hi, what are you doing there?" came, in the voice of the Wadsworthgardener. "Come here, I want to talk to you!"

"Somebody is in those bushes!" exclaimed Roger, and ran from thesummer-house, followed by his chums. 

They were just in time to find Joseph, the new gardener, running after ayoung fellow who was making his way through an apple orchard on theother side of the brook. Joseph was somewhat stout and not quick offoot, and the young fellow easily outdistanced him, leaped the orchardfence, and hurried down the back road. 

"Who was it, Joseph?" demanded Dave, when the gardener came up, all outof breath. 

"I--don't--know--sir!" gasped the man, puffing for breath. "He--was--hiding--in the bushes back of--the--summer-house. "

"Hiding here!" cried Dave. He looked at his chums. "Can it have beenMerwell?" he murmured. 

"Would he dare come here?" asked Phil. 

"He dared to come to Crumville, after he knew there was a warrant outfor his arrest. "

"How did that fellow look?" questioned Roger. 

"I didn't see his face, sir, " answered the gardener, who had nowrecovered somewhat. "He had on a soft hat and a brown, baggy suit. "

"That's the way Merwell was togged out, so Laura said!" cried Dave. "Fellows, it must have been Link! Now what do you know about that!"

"Do you think he heard what we said?" asked Roger, much disturbed. 

"He must have, if he was hiding in those bushes, " answered Phil. 

"Wonder how long he was there?"

None of the boys could answer that question, nor could the gardenerenlighten them. Joseph had been coming along the side of the orchardwhen he had espied the fellow and had called to him, thinking it wassome boy from Crumville who had sneaked up to steal some of the orchardfruit. He had been surprised when the fellow dashed away so quickly. 

"Maybe he wasn't alone, " suggested Roger. "Let us take a look around. "

This was done, but nobody else seemed to be near. Much disturbed, thethree lads walked all over the place, and even down the back road in thedirection the intruder had fled. 

"If it was Merwell he must have heard all that was said, " remarked thesenator's son, gravely. 

"If he did, it won't do him any good, " answered Phil. "I don't thinkhe'll hunt for that mine. "

"He may follow us and try to make trouble, " returned Dave. "He is verybitter--and so is Job Haskers. They'd put themselves out a whole lot togive us a black eye, so to speak. "

"Oh, I know that. "

Much disturbed, the three youths returned to the house, where Roger puthis map and papers in a safe place in his trunk--the one he was to takeon the trip West. In the meantime Dave telephoned to the police, tellingthem that Merwell had been seen in the vicinity of the Wadsworthmansion. He was glad of the fact that Mrs. Wadsworth and the girls hadgone out to do some shopping, for he did not wish to alarm them further. 

In the meantime, down the hot and dusty road in the rear of the orchardran the young fellow who had leaped the fence. It was indeed LinkMerwell, sour-faced, and with that same cunning look as of old in hiseyes. 

He kept on for fully a quarter of a mile, then suddenly plunged into astrip of woodland. There, beside a large stream of water, were the ruinsof an old stone house. 

Link Merwell stopped running and after a stealthy look around, emitted aclear, short whistle. This he repeated twice. 

From behind the ruins of the stone house a man appeared, with a soft hatdrawn well down over his forehead. The man was Job Haskers. 

"Back again, eh?" snapped the former teacher of Oak Hall. "Did you doit?" he questioned, curiously. 

"No, I didn't get the chance, " answered Link Merwell. He sank on a logand fanned himself with his hat. 

"Humph! Better let it go then. If they see you, they'll be after you. "

"They are after me, Haskers. "

"They are! Then let us get out at once!" And the former teacher plainlyshowed his nervousness. 

"I'm willing, " returned Link Merwell. "I've changed my mind about doingsomething here, " he went on. "We can do something somewhereelse--something that will pay us both big. "

"What do you mean?"

"We can go after a fortune that is coming to Roger Morr's mother. It'sthe Landslide Mine, and it's lost. Haskers, if we can locate that mine, our fortunes are made! Come on, and I'll tell you all about it while weare getting away from this place. We must go West just as fast as we canmake it!"

CHAPTER XII

ON THE WAY WEST

"Off at last!"

"Hurrah for the West!"

"And the Landslide Mine, Roger, don't forget that!"

"What a splendid day for beginning the trip!"

"Say, we make quite a crowd, don't we?"

"Wonder if the train will be on time, Dave?"

"I suppose so. Special excursions are supposed to start on time. Iseverybody here, and have we all our baggage?"

"I've got all of mine, " returned Laura. "How about you, Jessie?"

"I've got my hand-bag. The trunk went with the other trunks. "

"Say, seeing this crowd, puts me in mind of a story, " burst out ShadowHamilton. "Once some tourists--"

"Oh, Shadow!" came from several in concert. 

"Better keep the story until after we are on the way, " cried Dave, gayly. "We'll have plenty of time on the train. It's a four-days' tripto Yellowstone Park, remember. "

"Here comes the train!" was the cry. 

The scene was the Crumville station. The little platform was crowdedwith the folks who were going on the personally-conducted tour to thatplace of many wonders, Yellowstone Park. Mr. Basswood was on hand, wearing a blue and gold badge, and so was one of the local ministers, and these two had charge of the tour, these and a railroad official whohad to look after connections and meals. In the crowd were the boys andgirls, and also Mrs. Wadsworth, Mr. Dunston Porter, and about fortyothers from Crumville and vicinity. The tour was being run at a veryreasonable rate, considering the accommodations afforded, and many weretaking advantage of this fact to see Yellowstone Park, with itswonderful geysers, its curious boiling "paint pots, " and its bears andbuffaloes. The minister had once given a lecture on the Park and thishad stimulated curiosity to go and see this land of such naturalwonders. It is a great national reservation that every American ought tobe glad to visit. 

As the train rolled into the station the crowd got aboard and theporters showed the tourists to their seats. All of the "Porter tribe, "as Phil dubbed them, were together. Mrs. Wadsworth and another lady hada stateroom, and next to this Laura and Jessie had a section, with Daveand Roger opposite. Then came the other boys, and Mr. And Mrs. Basswoodand Dunston Porter. The Crumville contingent filled two cars, and therewere three more cars from neighboring towns. To the front were a baggageand a dining-car and to the rear an observation car. 

"All aboard!" was the cry. 

"Good-by!"

"Don't forget to write!"

"Here, Tom, don't forget your valise!"

"Be sure to look for Brother Jack in Chicago!"

"Be sure to get some good pictures!"

"Don't forget some souvenirs!"

Then came more cries, and the waving of numerous handkerchiefs; and offrolled the excursion train, on its long western trip, Dave waving hiscap to his father and Mr. Wadsworth, who had come down to the depot tosee the party off. 

It took some little time to settle down on the train. They had leftCrumville at half-past ten and almost before the young folks knew it, itwas time for lunch. Quite naturally Dave escorted Jessie to thedining-car, while Roger took Laura, and Mr. Dunston Porter looked afterMrs. Wadsworth. 

"I hope the good weather continues, " said Jessie, as she sat down withDave. "It will add so much to the trip. "

"Oh, I've ordered nothing but the best of weather, " he replied, with asmile. 

"Tell me, Dave, " she whispered, "did you hear anything more about thatLink Merwell?"

"Not a word, Jessie. "

"You are sure it was he who was behind the summer-house that day?"

"Fairly sure. Of course, we might have been mistaken. But we know he wasin Crumville--Laura was sure of that--and it would be just like him tosneak up to our place to see what he could do to annoy or injure us. "

"Oh, if only they would leave you alone, Dave!" and the girl sigheddeeply. 

"Don't you worry, Jessie; I can take care of myself. "

The lunch was a delightful one, and with so little to do, the youngfolks took their time over the repast. Then they drifted back to theobservation car, and the boys saw to it that the girls and the ladiesgot good seats, where they might see all that they passed. 

The afternoon found them rolling in the direction of Buffalo, which theywere to reach before it was time to retire for the night. Then the trainwould pass through Cleveland while they slept, on its way to Chicago. 

"I'll be glad to get a look at Chicago, " said Ben Basswood, who had notdone much traveling. 

"We are to take a tour in a rubber-neck wagon, " he added. 

"A rubber-neck wagon!" cried his mother. "Benjamin, what language!"

"Well, that is what they usually call the touring automobiles, " heanswered, with a grin. 

To some of the folks on the trip, going to bed on a train was much of anovelty, and they watched with interest while the porters made up theberths. 

"Do you remember the time we had Billy Dill along, and what he thoughtof sleeping on a train?" remarked Dave, to Phil and Roger. 

"I sure do, " answered the shipowner's son, with a chuckle. "When he sawthe seats converted into beds he wanted to know if they didn't have aballroom aboard, or a church, or a farm, " and at the recollection of theold tar's questions all in the party had to laugh. 

"Where is this Billy Dill now?" asked Shadow. 

"Safe in an old sailors' home, " answered Dave. "He took a trip or two tosea, but he couldn't stand it, so we had him put in the home. "

"You've got him to thank for a good deal, Dave, " remarked the senator'sson, in low tones. 

"Yes, and I'll never forget Billy Dill, " answered our hero, as heremembered how the old tar had helped him to find his Uncle Dunston, asrelated in detail in "Dave Porter in the South Seas. "

Mr. Dunston Porter had found some congenial spirits in thesmoking-compartment of the car and spent a good deal of his time there. He met a man who had done considerable hunting in the West, and the two"swapped yarns, " as Mr. Porter said afterwards. 

Only a short stop was made at Buffalo, just long enough to allow theboys and some of the men to stretch their legs on the depot platform, and then the excursion train started on its trip along the shore of LakeErie towards the great Windy City, as Chicago is sometimes called. 

Morning found the party well on the way to Chicago, and that metropolisof the Great Lakes was reached about noon. Lunch had already beenserved, and at the depot all hands found a string of touring automobilesawaiting them, to take them around to various points of interest, including the business section, the finer residential district, andLincoln Park, with its Zoölogical Garden. Some of the party went in adifferent direction, to visit the Stock Yards, that great place wherehundreds of cattle are slaughtered daily. 

"By the great tin dipper!" cried Phil, suddenly, when waiting for theautomobile in which he and some others sat to start off. "Look who'shere!"

"Jim Murphy!" cried Dave and Roger, in a breath. 

"So it is!" came from Shadow. "Hi, Jim!" he called out. "Don't you knowus any more?"

The young man they addressed, a tall fellow of Irish parentage, whostood on the sidewalk, turned swiftly. Then his face broke into a grin, and he rushed forward. 

"Sure, an' what do you think of this now!" he exclaimed. "Dave Porter, an' Phil Lawrence, an' Roger Morr, and Shadow Hamilton, an', sureenough, Ben Basswood! Say, what is this, a tour o' Oak Hall boys!" andthe former monitor of that institution of learning smiled more broadlythan ever. 

"We are on an excursion, " explained Dave, and gave some details. "Whatare you doing in Chicago, Jim?" he went on. 

"Sure I got a job here, after I left Oak Hall. "

"What are you doing?" questioned Roger. 

"I'm one of the gatemen in the train shed. But I expect to get a betterjob than that in a week or two--it's promised to me, " added the formermonitor. "An', by the way, lots of Oak Hall boys passing through Chicagonow, " he continued. 

"What do you mean?" asked Phil, quickly. "Whom did you see?"

"Saw Teddy Fells about a week ago, and two days ago I saw Link Merwell. "

"Merwell!" came from several of the youths. 

"Was he alone?" questioned Dave. 

"No, he had Mr. Haskers with him. Haskers lost his job at the Hall, didn't he?"

"Yes. "

"I thought so, for the minute he and Merwell spotted me they got out ofsight in a hurry. "

"Where were they going?" asked Phil. 

"I'm sure I don't know. They got off the Eastern Express, and left thedepot in a hurry. They acted as if they didn't want anybody to notice'em. "

"All ready!" came the cry of the man in charge of the touringautomobiles, and then one after another the turnouts rolled away fromthe depot. 

"Shall we stay here and look into this?" asked Dave, of Roger and Phil. 

"What's the use?" returned the shipowner's son. "It isn't likely theyare here now. " And then the boys waved a good-by to big Jim Murphy, andthe automobile passed out of the former monitor's sight. 

Laura and Jessie had heard what was said and they were as much disturbedas the boys themselves, if not more so. 

"Oh, Dave, do you think Haskers and Merwell are following you?" askedhis sister, anxiously. 

"They can't be following us if they are ahead of us, " he replied, with afaint smile. 

"Well, you know what I mean. "

"I don't know what to think, Laura. Merwell may be going West to joinhis folks. They are somewhere out there. "

"But Haskers----"

"He may be sticking to Link because Link has money--he gets it from hisparents, who don't want to see him caught and sent to prison, as was thecase with Jasniff. I think Job Haskers was always a good sponge when itcame to getting something out of other people. "

"Maybe you are right. Oh, I hope we don't meet them on this trip!" AndLaura shuddered; she could not exactly tell why. 

The touring trip took the Crumville folks first to the business sectionof Chicago, and the man in front, with a megaphone, bawled out thevarious points of interest. Then the touring-cars, in a sort ofprocession, moved to a residential section, fronting Lake Michigan, withits palatial homes. 

"Just as fine as Riverside Drive, New York, " was Dave's comment. 

"Every large city in the United States has its beautiful section, "remarked Dunston Porter. 

They were soon in Lincoln Park, and here a stop was made to look at theanimals in the Zoo. The young people had a good deal of fun with themonkeys, and with a couple of bears that stood up to box each other. 

Five o'clock found the party back to the depot, ready to board the trainonce more. As they stood near the car steps talking, a porter of the cartouched Roger on the arm. 

"Excuse me, Mr. Morr, " he said, "but did you send a man here for yoursuit-case?"

"I certainly did not!" cried the senator's son. 

"You didn't!" gasped the colored porter, and at once showed hisexcitement. "Well, one came here, with a written order for yoursuit-case, and I done gave it to him!"

CHAPTER XIII

DAVE SEES SOMETHING

"You gave somebody my suit-case!" cried the senator's son, while anumber of tourists gathered around, to learn what was going on. 

"Yes, sah!" returned the colored porter of the car. Plainly he was muchdistressed. "He had an order, sah, " he added, and fumbled in one pocketafter another, at last bringing out a crumbled bit of writing paper. "Here it is, sah!"

Roger took the slip and read it, with Dave and Phil looking over hisshoulders. The sheet read as follows:

_"Porter, Car Medora: Deliver to bearer my suit-case. Roger A. Morr. "_

"This is a forgery--I never wrote it!" cried the senator's son. "It'ssome swindler's trick!"

"I--I didn't know you didn't write it, " faltered the porter. "I axed theman where you was and he said you was visitin' his house and wanted toshow him something you had in the case. "

"Do you know what I think?" exclaimed Dave. "I think this is the workof Link Merwell!"

"Yes, and Job Haskers, " added Phil. "They are working together. "

"But why did they steal my suit-case?" asked Roger. "Do yousuppose----?" He stopped short, for strangers were about. He was on thepoint of mentioning the map and instructions he carried for locating theLandslide Mine. Dave and Phil, as well as Ben and Shadow, understood. 

"Did you have anything in the case outside of your clothing?" whisperedthe shipowner's son. 

"Only a few things of no importance, " answered Roger. He tapped hisbreast pocket. "Those papers are here, and my money is here, too. "

"Good!" murmured Dave. "Then Merwell and Haskers will be sold--outsideof getting your clothing. "

The porter was closely questioned, but could give no very gooddescription of the man who had presented the order for the suit-case. 

"I was busy--waitin' on an old lady wot was sick, " he explained. "I jessread that order and got the suit-case, and he went off in a hurry. I'mmighty sorry I let him have the bag. But he had the order, all signed, "and the porter rolled his eyes mournfully. 

"I can't say that I blame you, " answered Roger. "But after this----"

"I won't give away nuffin to nobody, " cried the porter, quickly. 

The matter was talked over for several minutes, and then it was time forthe train to leave Chicago. The paper looked as if it might be in LinkMerwell's handwriting and the boys concluded that he was the guiltyparty. Probably he had come to the train, knowing our friends were awayon the sight-seeing tour, and possibly he had been disguised, maybe witha false mustache, or wig, or both. The porter was almost certain the manhad worn a heavy black mustache. 

"Well, all I lost was one suit of clothes, some shirts and collars, afew neckties and some underclothes, and a comb and brush, andtoothbrush, " remarked Roger, when the train was once more on its way. "It's a total loss of about sixty dollars. "

"Maybe you can make the railroad pay it, " suggested Shadow. 

"Perhaps. But I am thankful that those rascals didn't get what they wereafter. They must have thought I carried those papers in the suit-case. "Such was indeed the truth, and it was Merwell who had forged Roger'ssignature and gotten the traveling bag. It may be added here that, lateron, the railroad company offered to pay for the loss of the suit-caseand its contents, doing this very promptly when it was learned that theloser was the son of a United States senator. 

On and on rolled the excursion train, and after the excitement attendingthe loss of the suit-case was over, the boys and girls settled down toenjoy themselves. Dave and the other lads loaned Roger such things as heneeded, until he could get at his trunk in the baggage-car. 

The next morning found the train in St. Paul, and there the touristsspent a day, riding around the city and visiting Minneapolis, which isbut a short distance away. By nightfall they were on board once more andbound for Livingston, a small place, where a branch-line runs a distanceof about fifty miles southward to Gardiner, the northern entrance toYellowstone Park. At Livingston, Dave and his chums were to separatefrom the others and keep on westward to Butte, where they hoped to fallin with Abe Blower, the old miner and prospector. 

"Oh, Dave, it won't be long now before we separate!" said Jessie with asigh. It was the second day of the trip after leaving St. Paul, and thetwo were by themselves on the observation end of the train. 

"Well, I don't think it will be for long, " he said, as cheerfully aspossible. "We'll soon join you in the Park. "

"I--I wouldn't mind it so much if it was not for that Link Merwell--andthat old Haskers!" continued the girl. "Oh, Dave, you must be careful!"and she caught him by the arm. 

"I'm going to keep my eyes open for them, " Dave answered, and, as nobodywas looking, he caught her hand and gave it a tight squeeze. "Will youmiss me, Jessie, while I am gone?" he continued, in a low tone. 

"Terribly!" she whispered. 

"I'll miss you, too. But it sha'n't be for long that I'll be away--Ipromise you that. "

"Oh, you must find the mine if you can, Dave. I rather think the Morrsare depending on it. Laura said Roger looked very much worried when hegot that letter in St. Paul. "

"Yes, matters are not going well with the senator's affairs--I knowthat, Jessie. If he gets out of politics he'll have to do somethingelse. Finding this lost gold mine would be a big lift for the wholefamily. "

Then Laura came out, in company with Roger, and soon the othersfollowed. It was a perfect day, as clear as could be, and off in thedistance could be seen the mountains. 

"Going to shoot any bears out there in the Park?" asked Shadow, ofDunston Porter, with a grin. 

"Hardly, Shadow, since outsiders are not allowed to carry firearms, "replied Dave's uncle. "Only the United States soldiers are armed in thePark. "

"Somebody told me the bears were tame enough to eat out of your hand, "said Phil. 

"Maybe they are, but I shouldn't advise anybody to feed them that way, "answered Mr. Porter. "A bear isn't naturally a sociable creature. "

It had been decided that Dunston Porter should go into the Park with theladies and the girls, letting the boys shift for themselves in thesearch for Abe Blower and the lost Landslide Mine. An hour before thetime for parting came Dunston Porter called Dave, Roger, and Phil tohim, in a car that was practically vacated at the time. 

"Now, I want to caution all of you to be careful, " said the old hunterand traveler. "This isn't the East, remember. It's the West, and in someplaces it is as wild and woolly as can be. But I don't think you'll haveany trouble if you mind your own business and keep your eyes open. Don'trely too much on strangers, and I think it will be wise for all of youto keep together as much as possible. Don't show any more cash than youhave to. And remember, you can always reach us in the Park, by telegraphor long-distance telephone. "

"We'll try to take care of ourselves, " said Dave; and then his unclecontinued to give the youths advice, on one subject or another, until itwas time to get ready to leave the train. 

"Livingston!" was the cry presently, and the excursion train rolled intothe long depot. It was to stop there for fifteen minutes and thenproceed to Gardiner. 

"There is Belle!" cried Laura. 

"I see her!" put in Phil, and was the first to reach the platform andshake the girl from Star Ranch by the hand. Belle Endicott looked thepicture of health, and was glad to greet them all. 

"Sorry we can't visit awhile, " said Roger. 

"We'll do that after we come back, " added Phil. 

"Well, good-by everybody!" cried Dave, shaking hands with many, anexample followed by those who were to go with him. 

"Wish I was going on that hunt for the mine with you, " said Ben, who hadto remain with his folks. 

"So do I, " added Shadow, who was to stay with Ben. 

"Never mind, we'll rely on you to look after the girls, " answered Dave. 

"Oh, we can do that, " said Ben, with a grin. 

"Say, that puts me in mind of a story, " cried Shadow. "No reflection onthe girls here, " he added, hastily. "Once on a time a young ministerpaid a visit to some relatives in the country. He got a letter statingthey'd be glad to have him come and would he attend a picnic in thewoods and help to take care of four girls. He wrote back that he wouldbe delighted. When he arrived and started for the picnic he found thefour girls waiting for him--four old maids from thirty to forty years ofage!" And at this joke a smile went around, in which the girls joined. 

Soon the last of the good-bys had been said. The girls were on theobservation end of the last car, and as the train rolled onward towardsYellowstone Park they waved their handkerchiefs and the boys on theplatform swung their caps. Then the train slowly disappeared from view. 

"Well, here we are, " said Phil, with something like a sigh. 

"We've got an hour to wait before that train comes along for Butte, "said Roger, consulting his watch. 

"How far is Butte?" went on the shipowner's son. 

"About a hundred miles, as the crow flies, " answered Dave. "But I guessit is longer by the railroad, and we'll have some climbing to do--to getinto the Rockies. "

"Say, supposing we ask the men around here if they saw anything ofMerwell and Haskers?" suggested the senator's son. 

"It won't do any harm, " answered Dave. 

Inquiries were made of the baggage-master, a ticket-seller, and half adozen other men around the depot. But none of them remembered havingseen the pair mentioned. 

"They probably kept out of sight, " was Dave's comment. "They would beafraid we were on their trail, or that we had telegraphed ahead aboutthem. "

From the station-master they learned that their train was two hoursbehind time, and would not reach Butte until late that night. This beingso, they left their baggage on check at the depot and took a strollaround, looking at the sights. Then they found a small restaurant andgot what they called supper, although it was not a very good meal. 

When the train came along it proved to be crowded, for there had been asale of public and private lands not far away and many of thedisappointed would-be buyers were on board. 

"We can't take any through passengers, " said the conductor, and wavedthe boys back. 

"We only want to go to Butte, " answered Roger. 

"Oh, all right then. Take the forward car, next to the baggage-car. ButI don't think you'll find any seats. We are swamped because of the landsale. "

The boys ran forward, after making sure that their baggage was tumbledinto a baggage-car. As the conductor had said, the cars wereovercrowded, and they had to stand up in the aisle. A number of the menwere smoking and they continued to do so, even though it was against therules. 

"Pretty rough-looking crowd, " whispered Phil, after the train hadstarted. 

"Not all bad, " was Dave's comment. "But some of them are certainly thelimit, " and he nodded towards one crowd that were talking loudly andusing language that was anything but choice. In this crowd one fellow inparticular, a tall, thin, leathery individual, called by the others SolBlugg, seemed to be a leading spirit. 

About half an hour had passed, and the conductor had just gone throughcollecting tickets, when the man called Blugg pushed up alongsideanother man who sat on the arm of a rear seat. 

"Say, do you know what Staver jest told me?" he exclaimed. 

"No, what?" demanded the other man. 

"He says as how he is almost sure Abe Blower put this crimp in our landdeal, " responded the man called Blugg. 

"Abe Blower!" exclaimed the other. "Say, maybe thet's right. Blowerain't got no use fer our crowd. Well, if he did it, he better lookout!"

CHAPTER XIV

IN BUTTE

Dave overheard the conversation between the two rough-looking men in thecrowded car, and so did Phil and Roger. All glanced at each othersuggestively. 

"Do you think they are talking about the Abe Blower we want to find?"asked Roger of Dave, in a whisper. 

"More than likely, Roger, " was the answer. "It is not likely that thereare two Abe Blowers in this part of the country. It's not a common name, like Smith. "

"Listen, " whispered Phil, for the two men had begun to talk again. 

"I lost a lot of money by havin' thet land deal fall through, " growledthe fellow called Blugg. 

"So did I, " responded the man on the arm of the car seat. "We all did. "

"If Abe Blower knows we are on his trail he'll keep out o' sight. "

"Maybe; although Blower wa'n't never the fellow to take backwater, "responded the other, doubtfully. 

"We'll git him yet; see if we don't, " was the savage response. And thenfollowed some conversation in such a low tone that the boys could nothear what was said. 

But it was easy to surmise one thing, which was that these men hated AbeBlower most cordially. And because of this, and because they had heardthat Blower was a strictly upright, honest man, the chums concluded thatthese fellows in the car had been trying in some manner to put throughsome land deal that was not strictly fair, and that Abe Blower hadfoiled their designs. 

Presently a third man, a fellow named Larry Jaley, joined the others. All were very bitter against Abe Blower, and each vowed that he would"git square" with the old prospector sooner or later. From their talkthe boys learned that the men, along with some others of the crowd, werestopping in Butte at the Solid Comfort House, a place that, so theyafterwards learned, bore a very shady reputation. Nothing was said aboutwhere Abe Blower was stopping, and the youths did not dare to inquire, for fear of making the men suspicious. 

"They might think we were friends of Blower sent to spy on them, " saidPhil. "They must know we have heard some of their talk. "

"If Abe Blower is so well known in Butte it ought to be an easy matterto find him, " returned Dave. "We can look for him in the directory andthe telephone book, and ask for him at the hotels and mining offices. "

"And remember, I have one of his old addresses, " said Roger. "Maybe thefolks at that place know where he has gone. "

It was dark when they rolled into the railroad station at Butte, atypical western mining city, with a population of about thirty-fivethousand souls. 

"No use in trying to do anything to-night, " said Roger, who was tiredand knew his chums must be the same. "We'll go to some first-class hoteland start on our hunt for Blower in the morning. "

"Yes, I'm dead tired, " answered Phil, who had been yawning for the lasthour. 

The boys had the address of a good hotel, and were soon on the way tothe place. They saw the man called Sol Blugg start off down a sidestreet with his companions. 

"I wish we would run into Link Merwell and Job Haskers, " remarked Dave, as they hurried towards the hotel. 

"What good would that do?" demanded the senator's son. 

"Then I'd know they hadn't left Butte to look for that lost mine. "

"Humph! you don't suppose they are going to find it all in a minute, doyou, Dave?" asked Phil. 

"No, but an idea just struck me. "

"What?" asked both of the others. 

"Supposing Merwell and Haskers should hunt up Blower and see what he hadto say about the lost mine. "

"Phew!" cried Roger. "Do you think they'd dare?"

"They might. They have done some pretty bold things lately. Link is realreckless. "

Roger came to a halt on the pavement. 

"Maybe we had better hunt for Abe Blower right away, " he declared. 

"Oh, come on, and get to bed, " yawned Phil. "Where are you going to lookfor him this time of night?"

"I don't know, exactly. But we could make some inquiries. "

"Let us go to the hotel first, " said Dave. "Then, after we have securedrooms, we can hunt around, if we want to. "

A little later they found themselves at the hotel, where they securedtwo rooms with a bath. At the desk they asked the clerk if he knew anold miner and prospector named Abe Blower. 

"Seems to me I've heard the name, " replied the clerk. "But I can't justplace it. You might ask Tom Dillon, over yonder. He knows all theold-timers in Butte, " and the clerk pointed to a man who sat in a cornerof the hotel lobby, reading a newspaper. 

Tom Dillon, round-faced and white-haired, put down his paper and smiledas the boys came up and addressed him. He was an old-time miner, who had"struck it rich, " and who had known how to take care of his wealth. 

"Sure, I know most of the old-timers!" he exclaimed, genially, in replyto Roger's question. "Who are you looking for?"

"Let me introduce myself first, " said Roger. He gave his name and alsothose of his chums. "I am the nephew of the late Maurice Harrison, ofthis place. "

"You don't tell me! Maurice's nevvy, eh? Then you must be the son o'Senator Morr, o' the East?"

"Yes. "

"Glad to know ye! Put her there, young man!" And Tom Dillon shook handscordially all around. "Yes, I knowed your uncle well--we did a bit ofprospectin' together onct. It broke me all up to hear how he died--somany o' the old-timers droppin' off. "

"It was a great shock to our family, " replied Roger. "Perhaps you knowwhat brought me to Butte, " he continued, looking at the old miner, questioningly. 

"To settle up the estate, I reckon. "

"In a way, yes. I suppose you have heard about that lost mine?"

"What, the Landslide? Sure. An' she's gone fer good, lad; don't bank onever findin' it ag'in, for if you do, well, I think ye'll bedisapp'inted. " And Tom Dillon shook his head slowly. 

"You really think it can't be found?" asked Dave. 

"I ain't sayin' that. But chances are all ag'in it. Whar that mine waslocated, the big landslide changed the hull face o' nature, an' allkinds o' landmarks have been teetotally lost. "

"Well, I am going to do what I can, " put in Roger. "And my two chums aregoing to help me. But I was going to ask you a question. The clerksuggested that we ask you. Do you know an old miner named Abe Blower?"

"Sure. "

"Can you tell me where he is now?"

"He lives with an old lady named Carmody, on the other side o' town. Sheis some kind o' a relative of his, and came on from the South to keephouse fer him. But he ain't home much. He spends most of his timeprospectin'. Seems like he can't give it up. "

"I wish you'd give me his address, " said the senator's son, and, havingreceived it, put it down in a note-book. 

As late as it was, it was decided to walk across town to where AbeBlower resided, and the three boys set out without delay. 

"I'd get a cab, if any was around, " said Roger, who saw how tired Philwas. 

"Maybe, Phil, you had better go to bed and let Roger and me go toBlower's home, " suggested Dave. 

"No, if you go, I'll go too, " declared the shipowner's son, who nevercared to be left behind when anything was going on. 

The place where Abe Blower resided was down at the end of a side street, which, at this hour of the night, was dark and deserted. They had somelittle difficulty in finding the right number. The house stood back fromthe street, and not a single light shone within it. 

"Everybody gone to bed, " announced Dave. "It seems like a shame to wakethem up. "

"I'll wait till morning, " announced the senator's son. "Now we know justwhere the place is, we can come here directly after breakfast. " And soit was settled. 

At the hotel Phil found himself so tired that he pitched into bed withscant ceremony. After the long trip on the train, Dave felt that heneeded a bath and took it, followed by Roger. Then all went soundasleep, not to awaken until daylight. Then Phil took a good "soak, " ashe called a bath, and all dressed for an early breakfast. In thedining-room they met Mr. Dillon. 

"Find Abe last night?" asked the old miner, with a smile. 

"We located the house and are going over there right after we eat, "answered the senator's son. "And by the way, Mr. Dillon, " he continued. "Do you know any men named Blugg, Jaley, and Staver?"

"Do I!" cried Tom Dillon. "Sure I do, an' so do lots of other folks inthese diggin's. What do you know about 'em?"

"We met them on the train. "

"Don't ye have nothin' to do with that crowd, lads. They ain't the sortyou want to train with, nohow. "

"We are not going to train with them, " said Dave. 

"We thought they were pretty hard customers, " added Phil. 

"They mentioned Abe Blower and one of them said he thought Blower hadqueered some sort of a land deal they were trying to put through, "continued Roger. 

"Is that so! Well, if Abe did that I give him credit for it, I sure do. Those fellers are swindlers, pure an' simple. But they generally work insech a way that the law can't tech 'em. I ain't got no use for 'em--andI reckon Abe ain't neither, " went on the old miner, vigorously. Andthen he sat down to breakfast with the boys, telling them much aboutButte, and the mining country around it, and about what dealings he hadhad with Roger's uncle. 

"A square man he was, " he said. "And a great pity the way he dropped offand had his mine lost by a landslide. "

The meal over, the three boys lost no time in walking over to the otherside of the city, where Abe Blower lived. They found the front windowsof the house open and an elderly woman was sweeping off the front stoopwith a broom. 

"Good-morning, " said Roger, politely. "Is this Mrs. Carmody?"

"Yes, I'm Mrs. Carmody, " was the reply, and the old lady lookedquestioningly into Roger's face. "I don't seem to remember you, " shewent on. 

"We never met before, Mrs. Carmody, " answered Roger, and introducedhimself and his chums. "I came to see Mr. Abe Blower. "

The woman looked quite bewildered, so much so that the boys wereastonished. She dropped her broom. 

"Did you say you was Roger Morr?" she gasped, looking at the senator'sson. 

"Yes. "

"Then what brought you here--lookin' fer Abe?"

It was now Roger's turn to be surprised. 

"Why do you ask that?" he questioned. "I came because I want to have atalk with him, and maybe get him to help me look for a lost mine. "

"Well, I never!" gasped Mrs. Carmody, and looked more bewildered thanever. 

"Isn't Mr. Blower here?" asked Dave. A sudden idea had sprung into hismind. 

"Of course he isn't here. I--I--don't understand this at all--really, Idon't. "

"Don't understand what?" asked Roger. 

"Your bein' here, after the letter Abe sent yesterday afternoon. Didn'tyou say your name was Roger Morr?"

"Yes. "

"Then you went off with Abe, didn't you?"

"Me?" cried Roger. "Why, I have never seen him as yet. "

"Never seen him!" gasped Mrs. Carmody. "Well, I never! Of all the queerthings! What can it mean?" And she walked to a chair on the stoop andsank down heavily. 

CHAPTER XV

AT ABE BLOWER'S HOME

The boys saw at once that something was wrong. Mrs. Carmody wascompletely bewildered, and being old, had no easy time of it to collecther wits. 

"Do you feel faint?" asked Dave, kindly. "Can I get you a glass ofwater?"

"No, I'll be all right in a minute. But this beats all, it sure does!"replied the old lady. "Abe wrote that he was going off with a Roger Morrto look for a lost mine, and here you are lookin' for Abe. It sure is apuzzle. "

"He wrote that he was going off with me?" ejaculated the senator's son. 

"He said Roger Morr. If that's your handle----"

"It certainly is. "

"This must be Link Merwell's work!" cried Dave. "Perhaps he metBlower----"

"And impersonated Roger, " finished Phil. 

"Would he do that?" questioned the senator's son. "Would he dare?"

"He would, if he thought he could get away with the trick, " repliedDave. He turned to Mrs. Carmody. "Would you mind letting us see theletter Mr. Blower sent you?"

"Sure. I'll get it. I left it on the table, " was the answer, and, getting up, the old lady went into the house. "Come in, " she invited. Inher younger days she had been used to the rough life of a pioneer andshe did not stand on ceremony. 

The boys went in, and presently Mrs. Carmody brought forth a letterwritten in lead pencil on a half-sheet of note paper. It ran as follows:

 "DEAR KATE:

 "You remember I tole you about Maurice Harrisons sister, who was married to a seanatour of the government. Well, his son, Roger Morr has come on to look for that lost mine--wants for me to go on a hunt with him to onse--so as it is good money I am going--start to nite in a hour--you git Nell Davis to stay with you her an Ben I wont be gone morn a weak or to. ABE. "

"That's the letter Abe sent me yesterday, " announced Mrs. Carmody. "Yousee he says Roger Morr, the son of the senator. If that's you, what doesit mean?" and she looked at Roger. 

"I'll tell you what it means, " answered Dave. "It means that somebodyelse has pretended he is Roger here--an enemy who wants to locate thelost mine first, if he can. "

"O dear! Did you ever hear the like! Who was it, do you suppose?"

"We've got a pretty good idea, " said Roger. "Nobody you know. But tellme, where did this letter come from?"

"You mean who brought it?"

"Yes. "

"Billy Lane. "

"Who is he?"

"Oh, a feller around town, who does all sort o' odd jobs. "

"Then you don't know where Mr. Blower was when he sent it?"

"No, I don't. But I guess he wasn't very near, otherwise he would havecome here hisself, instead o' writin'--for writin' comes hard to Abe--henever had no chanct for much education. And he would want some o' hisclothes. "

The boys read the letter a second time. All were convinced that LinkMerwell had gotten ahead of them and had perpetrated the fraud byimpersonating Roger. 

"It was certainly a bold stroke, " was Phil's comment. 

"Yes, and a clever one too, in a way, " replied Dave. "From our talk inthe summer-house Link must have learned that Blower and the late Mr. Harrison were warm friends, and, that being so, Blower would be willingto do almost anything for Mr. Harrison's nephew. And Link rushed Bloweraway in a hurry, so that we wouldn't get at him. "

"I wonder if Haskers is with him?" mused Roger. 

"I shouldn't wonder. If the mine is found, Link can't claim it, for hewould be arrested on sight. But he could let Haskers claim it, and thenturn it over to somebody else and thus mix it up, so that you would beout of it, " answered Dave. 

"What do you think I had best do next?" asked the senator's son. Theunexpected turn of affairs had bewildered him almost as much as it hadbewildered Mrs. Carmody. 

"I don't see what you can do, Roger, excepting to start on a hunt forthe Landslide Mine without Blower. "

"Yes, let us do that!" cried Phil. "Who knows but that we'll run acrossBlower and Merwell? And if we do, we can easily prove that Link is afraud. "

"Well, we'll have to get some sort of a guide, " answered Roger. "Itwould be utterly useless for us to start out alone in such a country asthis. "

"We might ask Mr. Dillon to recommend somebody, " said Dave. "Heappeared to be a reliable man. "

The boys talked to Mrs. Carmody for a few minutes longer. They were onthe point of leaving the house when there came a loud rap on the frontdoor. 

"Perhaps Blower has come back!" cried Phil. 

"I don't think he'd knock, " answered Dave. 

"No, it isn't Abe, " said Mrs. Carmody. "I'll go and see who it is. "

She went to the door and opened it, --to find herself confronted by atall, leathery-looking individual whose breath smelt strongly of liquor. 

"Is Abe Blower home?" demanded the man, in a thick voice. 

"No, he isn't, " replied Mrs. Carmody, stiffly. She did not like theappearance of the visitor. 

"When will he be home?" went on the man, and tried to force his way intothe house. 

"I don't know. You can't come in here, Sol Blugg!" And Mrs. Carmodytried to shut the door in the man's face. 

"I am a-comin' in, " stormed the newcomer. "I'm a-comin' in to wait ferAbe Blower, an' when I meet him--well, we'll have an account to settle, "and the man lurched heavily against the door-frame. 

"It's one of the fellows we met on the train!" whispered Phil. "Thefellow called Sol Blugg!"

"Yes, and that other man, Larry Jaley, is waiting on the sidewalk forhim, " announced Dave, after a glance through a window. "And neither ofthem seem to be very sober. "

"You get right out of here, Sol Blugg!" cried Mrs. Carmody, with suddenenergy. "Abe ain't home, an' I won't have you hangin' around. You getright out!" And she caught up her broom, which chanced to be behind thedoor. 

"Drop the broom, old woman!" snarled Sol Blugg, and it was plain to seethat he was befuddled by liquor. "I'm a-comin' in, and you sha'n't stopme!"

He made a sudden grab and caught Mrs. Carmody by the arm. But as he didthis, Dave leaped into the little hallway and shoved him back. 

"Let go of this lady!" he said, sternly. "Let go, or I'll knock youdown!"

Surprised and bewildered, Sol Blugg dropped his hold on Mrs. Carmody'sarm and glared uncertainly at our hero. 

"Who--who are you?" he faltered. 

"Never mind who I am, " replied Dave. "You let this lady alone and goabout your business. "

"I wanter see Abe Blower. "

"He has gone away. "

"Say, where have I seen you?" demanded the leathery-looking man, suddenly. "Oh, I remember now, on the train, comin' from the land sale. Say, was you there?"

"No. "

"I know better! I saw you on the train--you an' them other fellers, too!" And Sol Blugg pointed unsteadily at Phil and Roger. "I know how itis, " he went on, ramblingly. "You went there in place o' Abe--queeredthe hull thing fer us, you did! I know! You're in with Abe, an' Abe's inwith you! Thought you'd do us out o' our little game, eh? Say, Larry!"he called to the man on the sidewalk. "Look at these three fellers--sameones was on the train last night. They are in with Abe--and they queeredus--put a crimp in the hull game. Now they say Abe ain't here. Wot arewe going to do, tell me that now, what are we goin' to do?"

"Them fellers!" exclaimed Larry Jaley, catching sight of the boys. "Iremember 'em. Say, maybe they heard us talkin'!"

"Sure--they must have, " mumbled Sol Blugg. 

"Do you know these men?" asked Mrs. Carmody. 

"We saw them on the train last night, that is all, " answered Roger. "They said something about Mr. Blower queering a land deal for them. "

"Yes, he told me about that, too. They were going to swindle some folks, and Abe heard about it and gave the thing away. Abe won't stand foranything that ain't strictly honest. "

"Say, I want you to know----" commenced Sol Blugg, and tried to catchhold of Mrs. Carmody again. But this time Dave was too quick for him. Hepushed the man back, turned him around, and sent him flying down thesteps to the street. 

"Now, you go on!" he cried. "If you don't, you'll get into trouble!"

"That's what!" said Roger. 

"Perhaps you'd like to be arrested, " added Phil. 

"Come on!" said Larry Jaley, in a low voice. "Come on, Sol. I told youit wouldn't do any good to come here. "

"I didn't expect to see them young fellers, " growled theleathery-looking man. "But I'm a-goin' to git square with Abe Blower, jest wait an' see, " he added, thickly; and then he and his companionstarted up the street and around the first corner. 

"The beasts!" murmured Mrs. Carmody, as she gazed after them. "I do wishI had used the broom over Sol Blugg's head! Maybe it would have done himgood!"

"You know these men, then?" asked Dave. 

"Oh, yes, and Abe knows 'em, too! It seems that, years ago, before Icame here, Abe used to train with those men, in the mining camps. Butthey were a hard crowd, used to drinkin' and gamblin', and Abe gave 'emup and went with men like Mr. Harrison, and Tom Dillon. That made SolBlugg and his crowd sore, and they often tried to do Abe harm. Now thatAbe queered that land swindle for 'em I suppose they are more sore thanever. But I don't think they would have come here, only they have beendrinkin'. "

"You had better keep on the lookout--they may come back, " said Dave. 

"I'll keep on guard, don't fear. I've got one of Abe's pistols in thehouse, and a club, too. And I'll get that neighbor Abe spoke about tostay with me, " returned Mrs. Carmody. "But, say, " she added, suddenly. "You better keep on guard, too. 'Tain't no nice thing to run up againstthat bunch, I can tell you that!"

"Yes, we'll have to be on the watch from the very moment we leave thishouse, " said Roger. 

The boys talked for a few minutes longer with the old lady, getting whatinformation they could, and then hurried back to their hotel. On the waythey kept a sharp lookout for the leathery-looking man and his cronies, but they did not show themselves. 

It was an easy matter for them to find old Mr. Dillon, who was reading amining journal in the smoking-room. He listened with much interest towhat they had to tell. As they felt they could trust such a man, theywithheld nothing from him. 

"It certainly is some game--this trying to locate that lost LandslideMine, " said the old miner. "I've been thinkin' it over again since youtold me about it, and it interests me mightily. So you want somebody togo with you, and help you find the right trail, and find Abe Blower?Well, if you don't think I'm too old, I'll go myself!" And he smiledbroadly at the boys. 

CHAPTER XVI

ON TO BLACK CAT CAMP

"You go!" cried Dave. 

"I thought you had given up prospecting, " exclaimed Roger. 

"Not but that we'd be glad to have you along, " put in Phil, hastily. 

"Well, I have given up prospecting, " answered Mr. Dillon, with thatbroad smile still on his face. "But I like to go out once in a while, just for the sake of old times. Besides that, I was interested in theLandslide Mine myself in a way. "

"How so?" asked the senator's son. 

"Well, when Maurice Harrison staked the claim I came along and staked aclaim a bit further up the trail. It wasn't near so good a prospect aswas the Landslide, but it was pretty fair, and I was sorry to see thatlandslide come along an' knock us all out. So, if we find the lostLandslide Mine maybe we'll locate my mine, too. "

"Come by all means, and welcome, Mr. Dillon!" cried Roger. "If you hadthat mine you speak about you must know as much about that district asAbe Blower--maybe more. "

"I think I know as much, but not any more, lads. Abe is a goodprospector, and he knows Montana from end to end, an' Idaho, too, aswell as other gold fields. He has made money, too, but he allers spentthe cash lookin' fer bigger things, while I salted a good bit o' mineaway!" And Tom Dillon chuckled broadly. 

The matter was talked over for the best part of an hour, and it wasdecided to begin the hunt for the Landslide Mine on the followingmorning. 

"There ain't no ust bein' in too much o' a hurry, " said Mr. Dillon. "That mine ain't goin' to walk away, and Abe Blower an' those with himain't goin' to find it right plumb to onct, believe me! I guess the onlyreason those others hurried so was because they feared you would comealong and queer their game with Abe. "

"I think that myself, " said Roger. 

"Abe had a prospectin' outfit all ready--he allers has--up to Black CatCamp. That's the startin'-point for the Rodman trail, on which theLandslide Mine an' my mine was located. Now we haven't any outfit, sowe'll have to git one right here in Butte. "

"We'll get whatever you say, " answered Roger. "Of course, I don't wantto make this too expensive, " he added, thinking of something his fatherhad told him--that just at present finances in the Morr family were notat their best. 

"We can hire hosses--I know where to git just the right animals, " saidTom Dillon. "And we won't pay no fortune for 'em either. And then you'llwant some different clothes, " and he looked critically at thewell-dressed youths. 

"Oh, we know that--we have roughed it before, " returned Dave. And hementioned their trip to Star Ranch, to Cave Island, and to the South SeaIslands, Norway, and other out-of-the-way places. 

"Well, you sure have traveled some!" exclaimed Tom Dillon. "You'll dofor this trip. I'm glad you know how to rough it. I onct had a bunch oftenderfeet along--young fellers from the East, who had never roughed itbefore--and, believe me, what those chaps didn't know would fill aboomer's wagon twict over. Why, they couldn't wash less'n they had abasin to do it in an' a towel to dry on, an' it mixed 'em all up to tryto sleep on the ground rolled in a blanket. An' when it come to grub, well, they was a-lookin' for napkins an' bread-an'-butter plates, an'finger bowls, an' I don't know what all! It jest made me plumb tired, itsure did!" And the old miner sighed deeply. 

"We won't give you any trouble that way, " said Dave, with a grin. "Regular camp food is good enough for us, and I can sleep almostanywhere if I am tired enough. "

"And you can't beat Dave riding, " broke in Roger. "When he was at StarRanch he busted the wildest bronco you ever saw. "

"Is that so! Well, I don't like no wild broncos. I like a good, steadyhoss, one as can climb the mountain trails and is sure-footed on theedge o' a cliff. That's the kind we'll git, " concluded Tom Dillon. 

The remainder of the day proved a busy one. The boys went out with theold miner to secure the horses and such an outfit as he deemednecessary. Then they spent part of the evening in writing letters to thefolks in Yellowstone Park and at home. Only one letter came in forthem--one from Senator Morr to his son--and this made Roger look verysober. 

"No bad news, I hope, " said Dave, kindly. 

"It's about dad's private affairs, " was the reply. "Things have takensomething of a turn for the worse financially. " Roger gave a sigh. "Oh, I do hope we can locate that lost mine!"

"We all hope that!" said Dave. 

"Indeed, we do!" cried Phil. "We've just got to do it, " he added, enthusiastically. 

Now that he had made up his mind to undertake the expedition, old TomDillon brightened up wonderfully, and to the boys he appeared ten yearsyounger than when they had first met him. He was a fatherly kind of aman, and the more they saw of him the better they liked him. Heselected the outfit with care, securing five good horses--one for eachof them and an extra animal for the camp stuff, and other things theywere to take along. 

In a place like Butte, where Tom Dillon was so well known, it soonbecame noised around that he was going on a prospecting tour. Some askedhim where he was going, but he merely replied that he was going alongwith his young friends to show them the mining districts. 

"It won't do to let 'em know we are going to look for a mine, " heexplained, in private. "If we did that, we'd have a crowd at our heelsin no time. "

The news concerning the expedition reached the ears of Sol Blugg and hiscronies, and this, coupled with the sudden departure of Abe Blower, setthat crowd to wondering what was up. 

"Maybe it's another gold strike, " suggested Larry Jaley. 

"It might be, " said the fellow called Staver. 

"If I thought it was a gold strike I'd follow 'em, " announced Sol Blugg. "Tom Dillon allers was a good one at strikes, an' so was Abe Blower. They know enough to keep away from anything thet looks like a wildcat. I'm a-goin' to look into this, " he concluded. And after that the Bluggcrowd kept close watch on Dave and his friends. 

The departure was made from Butte about noon of the next day. It wasclear and warm, with a gentle breeze blowing from the west. 

"We might have taken a train for the first forty miles, " remarked TomDillon. "But it wouldn't have helped us a great deal, for we'd have toside-track for ten miles. We'll go the old way--the way we went aforethere was any railroads. "

"There must be a lot of mines in Montana, " remarked Phil, as they rodeout of Butte. 

"Somebody told me there had been over fifteen thousand minin' claimsstaked and recorded, " answered the old miner. "O' course, lots of 'emain't never been developed. But a good many of 'em have. "

"They must produce a lot of gold, " said Dave. 

"Yes, lad, the output runs up into the millions every year. Oh, a goodmine is a bonanza!" added Tom Dillon, emphatically. 

"Then I trust we locate the Landslide Mine, and that it proves abonanza, " returned Roger, eagerly. 

On the way they passed mine after mine, and the boys were muchinterested in watching the process of getting out ore, and also in thework of the huge quartz-crushers. Whenever they passed a mine therewould be sure to be somebody to wave a friendly hand to Tom Dillon. 

"He certainly is well known, " whispered Roger to Dave. 

"Yes, and we were mighty lucky to fall in with him--after missing thatAbe Blower, " was the reply. 

It was not until about five o'clock in the afternoon that they reached asmall settlement known as Robby's. Here they rested and had supper. Theyinquired about Abe Blower and his party, but could find out nothingconcerning them. 

"They must have gone around by Tilton, " said Tom Dillon. "That's just asgood a trail and about as short. We'll hear from them at Black CatCamp. "

It had been decided to push on to Black Cat Camp after supper, the oldminer stating they ought to make the distance in three hours. Soon theywere on the way again, just as the sun was sinking behind the greatmountains in the west. 

"I hope Abe Blower stopped for the day at Black Cat Camp, " said Roger tohis chums. "I'd like to meet him and confront Link Merwell--and JobHaskers, too, if he is with them. "

"So would I, " added Dave and Phil, in a breath. 

It was more agreeable riding, now that the heat of the day was over. Atnoon it had been very hot, but none of the boys had complained, althoughthey had perspired freely. 

As it became darker they could see the twinkling lights of many a miningtown and camp shining out in the mountains and the valleys below. 

"It didn't used to be so, when first I came to Montana, " remarked TomDillon. "In them days you could ride out here all night an' not see alight. But the State has settled putty fast in the last twenty-fiveyears. They are buildin' railroads everywhere, an' towns spring up overnight, like toadstools. "

"Are there any wild animals out here?" questioned Phil. 

"Heaps of 'em, further away from the cities. Bears, an' mountain lions, an' wildcats, an' wolves. An' then we have plenty o' mule an' otherdeer, an' elk, as well as Rocky Mountain goats, an' mountain sheep. "

"Perhaps we'll get a chance to do some hunting!" exclaimed Phil. 

"Not much, this time o' year, lad. But you might hunt a bear--if hecornered you!" And Tom Dillon laughed at his little joke. 

"Did a bear ever corner you?" asked Dave. 

"Onct, just onct, and it was the wust experience I ever had with a wildbeast, " replied the old miner. "I was out prospectin' when I got on anarrow ledge o' rock. All to onct I discovered a grizzly on the tudderend o' the ledge. We was both sitooated, as the sayin' is, so Icouldn't pass the bear an' he couldn't pass me. I had fired my gun an'missed him. When I tried to pass by he riz up an' growled an' when hetried to pass me I swung my gun a-tryin' to knock off his head. An' sowe had it fer about an hour, nip an' tuck, an' nobuddy doin' nuthin. "

"But you escaped, " said Roger. "How did you do it?"

"I didn't do it--your uncle, Maurice Harrison, done it. It was a favor Iowed him that I never got paid back, " responded Tom Dillon, feelingly. "The bear got mad and all to onct sprung at me. I swung the gun an' heknocked it outer my hand. Then I heerd a report from another ledge aboveus, and over rolled Mr. Bear, shot through the heart. An' MauriceHarrison done it. "

"Good for Uncle Maurice!" cried Roger. 

"That shot came just in time, " went on the old miner. "If ithadn't--well, I wouldn't be here, lookin' for the Landslide Mine, "concluded Tom Dillon. 

"I don't know that I want a bear to corner me, " said Phil, with ashiver. 

"No, we'll leave the bears alone, if they'll leave us alone, " returnedDave. 

It was a little before nine o'clock when they came in sight of Black CatCamp, a typical mining community, perched on the side of one of thefoothills leading to the mountains. There was one main street, stretched out for the best part of a quarter of a mile. All thebuildings were of wood and none of them over two stories in height. 

"We'll go to Dick Logan's place, " said Mr. Dillon. "That is where AbeBlower used to keep his outfit. "

The boys found Logan's place to consist of a general store, with a sortof boarding-house and stables attached. Dick Logan was behind thecounter of the store, in his shirtsleeves. He greeted the old miner witha smile, and shook hands cordially. 

"Is Abe Blower around?" demanded Tom Dillon, without preliminaries ofany kind. 

"He was around, Tom, yesterday, " was Dick Logan's answer. "But he lefthere about the middle of the afternoon. "

CHAPTER XVII

ALONG THE MOUNTAIN TRAIL

The boys had expected some such answer as this, so they were not greatlysurprised. They were introduced to the storekeeper by Tom Dillon, whothen asked if Abe Blower had been alone. 

"No, he had two others with him--strangers to me, " answered Dick Logan. 

"Was one of the strangers an elderly man and the other a young fellowlike ourselves?" asked Roger. 

"Yes, a tall, thin man. The young feller called him Haskers, I think. "

"What name did the young man go by?" asked Dave. 

"Morse, I think--or something like that. "

"Morr?" put in Phil. 

"Yes, I reckon that was it. Then you know 'em?" questioned thestorekeeper, with interest. 

"Yes, we know them, and we'd like to meet them, " answered Roger, dryly. 

"Well, I dunno where they went--Abe didn't say an' it wasn't mybusiness to question 'em, " returned Dick Logan. "Looked to me like theelderly gent was some kind o' a school sharp. "

"He used to be, " answered Dave. "And we all were under him. "

"Oh, I see. Well, I dunno where they went, 'ceptin' they struck outalong the Billy Rodman trail, " said the storekeeper. 

"Abe took his regular outfit, I reckon, " remarked Tom Dillon. 

"Sure--he never goes up in the mountains without it, Tom; you knowthat. "

"And the three were alone?"

"I didn't see nobody else. "

"Can you put us up for the night, Dick?"

"I can if the young fellers will sleep in one room. I got a little roomfer you an' a big one I can put three cots in. "

"That will do for us, " answered Roger. "We have been out in such placesas this before, " he added, with a faint smile. 

"We ain't got no bathrooms, nor electric elevators, " returned DickLogan, with a chuckle. "But we kin give you clean beds an' blankets, andgood grub. "

"You don't have to tell me that, Dick, " put in Tom Dillon. He turned tothe others. "It's all right, boys; just make yourselves at home. We'llget a good night's rest here, and follow Abe and the others fust thingin the mornin'. "

The room the boys occupied was on the second story, at the corner of thebuilding. Under the side window was a driveway leading back to thestables attached to the establishment. The apartment had two cotsalready in it and a third was speedily forthcoming, being put in placeby a negro man-of-all-work. 

"Well, that long ride to-day certainly made me tired, " remarked Phil, ashe started to undress. "I could sleep standing up, as the saying goes. "

"I'm tired myself, " answered Roger. 

"Wonder how the folks are making out in the Park, " came from Dave. "Ihope they have better accommodations than this, " and he glanced aroundat the bare walls and bare floor. 

"Oh, Yellowstone Park has some fine hotels, " declared Roger. "I read allabout them in one of the tourists' guides. They have just erected a newone that they say is a dandy. "

"Never mind those hotels now!" cried Dave, as he slipped off one shoeafter another. "It's get to bed now and an early start in the morning tosee if we can't catch Blower, Haskers, and--Morr!" and he grinned. 

"The cheek of Link Merwell using my name!" murmured the senator's son. "I'll--I'll knock him down for that, if I get the chance!" And his eyesblazed for the moment. 

Soon the boys were abed and it did not take them long to drop intoprofound slumber. In the next room was Tom Dillon, also sleepingpeacefully. 

Dave was the first to awaken and he slid off of his cot to look out ofthe window, to see what kind of weather it was. The window had been leftwide open, to let in the fresh air, and as our hero stuck out his headand glanced down in the alleyway leading to the stables, he uttered anexclamation of surprise. 

"What is it?" questioned Roger, rousing up, followed by Phil. 

"Those men!" murmured Dave. "Look, fellows!"

The others came to his side and looked out of the window. Just emergingfrom the alleyway were three men on horseback, all equipped for campingout. The three men were Blugg, Jaley, and Staver. 

"Well, I declare! What are those fellows doing here?" cried thesenator's son. 

"Can they be following us?" questioned Phil. 

"I don't know. They came from the stables, " answered our hero. "Mostlikely they had their horses there over night. We can find out when wego down. "

"Where are they going?" asked the shipowner's son. 

All watched for a minute or two and saw the Blugg crowd pass down themain street of the camp and around a warehouse corner. Then they werelost to view. 

Tom Dillon had heard the boys rising and was now up himself and gettingdressed. He listened with interest to what they had to relate. 

"It's queer that crowd should be here, after what happened in Butte, " hesaid. "I'll ask Dick Logan about 'em, when we go to breakfast. "

When questioned, the proprietor of the place stated that Blugg and theothers had come in late, after the Morr party were abed. As the placewas full they had accepted a room in the building across the street, buthad put up their horses in the Logan stable. They had paid in advance, stating they were going to leave at daybreak. 

"Let us ask the stable man about this, " suggested Dave, in a whisper, tohis chums, and as soon as breakfast was over, they went out and huntedup that individual. 

"Nobody teched your outfit, I dun see to that, " said the colored man. "Islept right by your hosses an' things. "

"Did you talk to those men who came in late last night?" asked Dave. 

"They did most of the talkin', boss. They wanted to know all about yourparty--whar you was a-gwine, an' all that. But I didn't give 'em nosatisfaction, I didn't. Boss Dillon tole me las' night to keep mytrap-doah closed, an' when Boss Dillon sez a thing I dun know he meansit, --so I didn't tell 'em nuffin'. "

"Good for Mr. Dillon!" cried Roger. "They didn't say what brought themhere?"

"No, sah. When they see I didn't have nuffin' to tell they jest closedup, too, " and the negro grinned, broadly. He had been liberally tippedby Tom Dillon and, besides, he considered it an honor to serve such awell-known personage and one who had "made his pile, " as it is oftenexpressed in that part of our country. 

The lads and the old miner were soon ready for the trail, and, biddingDick Logan farewell, they set off through the main street of Black CatCamp in the direction of the Rodman trail, called by a few old-timersSmoky Hill trail. As they rode along they kept a sharp lookout for SolBlugg and his cohorts, but that gang did not show itself. 

"But they must be watching us, I am almost certain of that, " said Dave. And he was right. They were watching from behind one of the buildings ofBlack Cat Camp, and as soon as it seemed safe to do so, Sol Bluggordered those with him to take up the trail. 

"Abe Blower came this way, in a hurry, too, " said Blugg, to his cronies. "Now Tom Dillon is going the same way, and also in a hurry. That meansthat something is in the wind. Maybe it's another big discovery of gold, like when they opened up Big Bear Camp, and Hitchley's, an' if it is, wewant to be in on the ground floor. "

"Right you air, Sol, " said Larry Jaley. "And if we can cut Abe out o'anything, so much the better, fer the trick he played us in that landdeal. "

"The two crowds must be in with each other, otherwise wot was them youngfellers as is now with Dillon doin' at Abe's house?"

"We'll find out their game, sooner or later, " muttered Sol Blugg. "We'llkeep on their trail--but we mustn't let 'em see us, or they'll take tosome side-trail and put us in blind. "

It was another clear day, but the breeze from the mountains was fresher, so that riding was not so tiresome as it had been on the first day out. The trail was wide, in fact often used by wagons and carts, so that ourfriends could ride two abreast. 

"Not much of a farming country around here, " remarked Dave, as he lookedat the general barrenness of the aspect. Here and there were clumps oftrees and patches of rough grass, and that was all. 

"The farming country is further down, in the valleys, " answered TomDillon. "Some pretty good soil, too. But up this way it's only good formining. But that's good enough--if you've got a paying mine, " and hiskindly eyes twinkled. 

"You bet!" replied Dave, slangily. "Oh, I do hope we find this mine, " headded, in a lower tone. "The Morr family need it. "

"I thought the senator was putty well fixed. "

"He was, but he isn't now--and there is danger of his losing his officethis fall. If he does lose it, and we don't find the mine, I am afraidit is going to go rather hard with the family. "

"I see. Well, we'll do our best--nobuddy can do more. "

"About how much further is that Landslide district from here?"

"Not over sixty miles as the crows fly. But by the trails it's every bito' twice that distance. An' some putty stiff travelin', too, in somespots, believe me!" added the old miner. 

"Do you think you can stand it?"

"Sure I can. And I like it, too, lad. I git tired o' sittin' around thehotel, doin' nuthin' but readin' the papers and trying to be what theycall a gent of leisure. I was brought up on hard work, and outdoor life, and I just have to git back to it onct in a while. If you hadn't comealong as you did, most likely I would have dug out for the diggin'salone afore long. "

"It's a grand life to lead--this one in the open air, " said Dave, filling his lungs with the ozone from the mountains. 

"Best in the world, lad. It's the only life fer me, too. If I had to sitin an office all day, or around a hotel where I had to wear one of thembiled shirts and a coat cut like a tack puller, I'd die, believe me! I'drather wear a gray shirt, an' eat off a tin plate, any day!"

By noon they came to a little mountain stream of the freshest and purestof water and there they went into temporary camp. A tiny blaze waskindled, and they made some coffee, which they drank while eating somesandwiches Dick Logan had put up for them. 

"See that ridge?" asked Tom Dillon, just before they were ready to startagain, and he pointed to an elevation to the northwest. And as all threelads said they did, he continued: "Well, just back o' that is thedeestrict where that big landslide took place and buried the LandslideMine out o' sight. "

"Why, that doesn't look to be very far away!" cried Roger. 

"No, it don't look so, lad. But you must remember that the air up hereis very clear an' you can see for a long distance. You'll find it along, hard ride afore you reach that ridge, let alone the place behindit where the mine was. "

"Are there any settlements on the way?" asked Phil. 

"None that we will visit. Shaleyville is in that direction, and TimDixon's over yonder, with Big Tree back o' it. But we will give them allthe go-by an' stick to this trail, " concluded Tom Dillon. 

All through the long afternoon they rode forward, up and up, the horsespanting for breath as the ascent grew more steep. Many times they had tostop to rest. As they mounted higher, the panorama of hills andmountains grew larger. 

"What a beautiful spot!" cried Dave, when they were resting. "What agrand painting this would make!"

"You'll find a painting of it--at the capitol building, " replied TomDillon. "A celebrated painter painted it and sold it to our Stategovernment. "

Forward they went again. Phil was now in the rear, looking after thehorse that was carrying their camping outfit. Just as those in front hadturned a dangerous corner of the rocky trail they heard a sharp cry fromthe shipowner's son. 

"Help! Quick, somebody help me! Stop that horse from falling over thecliff!"

[Illustration: "QUICK, SOMEBODY HELP ME! STOP THAT HORSE FROM FALLINGOVER THE CLIFF!"]

CHAPTER XVIII

THE STOLEN HORSES

"Oh, look!"

"That horse is going over the cliff!"

"Take care, Phil, or he'll drag you with him!"

Such were some of the cries which arose as the others looked back on therocky trail and saw the situation. 

The horse with the outfit had struck against a projecting rock and beenthrown sideways, to where the trail crumbled away in some loose stonesclose to the edge of the dangerous cliff. The animal and the outfit werein danger of going down to the depths below. Phil, on his own horse, hadcaught hold of the other horse's halter and was trying to haul him to asafer footing. But the youth and his steed were losing ground instead ofgaining it. 

"Let go, or you'll go over!" screamed Roger, in increasing alarm. "Letthe outfit go, Phil!"

The shipowner's son tried to do as bidden. But now a new difficultypresented itself. In his eagerness to hold the halter Phil had twistedit about his hand and wrist. Now it was caught in the very flesh andalmost pulling one arm from its socket, as he tried to make his ownhorse hold back. 

Dave turned swiftly and so did the others, and for the moment there wasquite a mix-up on the narrow trail, and all were in danger of losingtheir footing. Then they crowded to Phil's side, and while Dave caughthold of the halter, Tom Dillon and Roger caught the falling horse withthe outfit. 

"Turn him around--this way!" yelled the old miner, and, old as he was, he showed a wonderful strength in shoving the falling horse back to afirmer footing. The loose stones went clattering over the cliff in ashower, and more than one horse snorted in fright. 

It was a moment of dire peril and it looked as if somebody, or at leastone of the animals, must go over into that yawning chasm below. A stonewas flung up by a hoof, hitting Dave in the cheek. But he retained hishold on the halter and pulled for all he was worth. Then came anotherstruggle, and at last the horse with the outfit stood on the safeportion of the dangerous trail; and the peril was at an end. 

"Oh!" gasped Phil, and for the moment that was all he was able to say. 

"Give me that halter, " said Tom Dillon. "I'll lead him while we are onthis narrow part of the trail. "

"Are you hurt, Phil?" asked Dave. 

"I--I guess not!" was the panting answer. "But I--I sure did think I wasgoing over there!" And the shipowner's son shuddered. 

"Your cheek is cut, Dave!" cried Roger. "How did that happen?"

"Oh, it's only a scratch--made by a flying stone, " was the answer. "Itdoesn't amount to anything. "

"I didn't dream that this trail would be so dangerous, " went on thesenator's son. "If I had known it, I wouldn't have asked you fellows tocome along. "

"Oh, it's not so bad, " returned Phil, hastily. "That horse wasawkward--he's the worst of the bunch. "

"That's right, an' they had no right to hire me such a hoss, " put in TomDillon. "When we git back I'll give that feller who did it a piece o' mymind. I tole him I wanted critters used to the mountain trails. Thehosses we are ridin' are all right, but this one, he's a suretenderfoot. He ought to be in the city, behind a truck. "

Soon the narrow portion of the rocky trail was left behind and then allof the boys breathed easier. 

"That trail back thar is bad enough, " was Tom Dillon's comment. "But yeought to see it in the winter time, with ice an' snow on it! Then it'ssome travelin', believe me!"

"None for mine!" answered Phil. "I want to see the ground when I travelin a spot like that. "

As soon as the trail became better they went forward at the bestpossible speed, for they wished, if they could, to catch up with AbeBlower and those with him. 

"You don't suppose Blower would turn off of this trail?" questionedRoger, of the old miner, as they rode along. 

"He couldn't turn off until he reached wot we call Talpoll Crossin', "answered Tom Dillon. "And we won't git thar until some time to-morrow. "

They were climbing up a steady grade and so had to stop again and againto rest the horses. The trail wound in and out among the hills, andbefore the party was the big mountain. 

"Stop an' I'll show you something!" cried the old miner, presently, andas they halted he pointed toward the mountain with his hand. "See thatknob a stickin' out ag'in the sky?" he questioned. 

"The one with the yellowish spot on it?" asked Dave. 

"Yes. Well, that is where the big landslide took place an' buried theLandslide Mine an' my claim out o' sight. "

All of the boys gazed with interest at the spot which, of course, wasmany miles away. They saw they would have to work their way over twomore hills and through several hollows to get to it. Ahead they couldoccasionally see the trail, but not a soul was in sight. 

"Look!" exclaimed Dave, as he turned to gaze below them along the trailthey had been pursuing. "I can see something moving!"

"Maybe cattle, " suggested Roger, after a long look. 

"No, I think it is a crowd on horseback, " answered our hero, afteranother look. 

Roger had with him a small pair of field-glasses, and he had broughtthem forth to gaze at the mountain where the Landslide Mine had beenlocated. Now he turned them on the distant objects Dave had discovered. 

"Horsemen true enough, " he said, after a look. "Three of them. "

"Oh, say, do you think they can be Sol Blugg and his two cronies?" burstout Phil. 

"Maybe, " answered Roger. "I can't make them out from this distance. "

"Let me take a look, " suggested Tom Dillon, and adjusted the glasses tohis eyes. "You are right--they are three men on horses. But who theyare I don't know. Plenty o' miners travel this trail at one time oranother. "

They looked at the distant horsemen for several minutes. Then thefield-glasses were put away and they continued their journey. 

Nightfall found them in a district that, to the boys, was desolationitself. Rocks were on every side, with little patches of the coarsestkind of growth, brushwood, stalk-like grass, and cacti. The air was sopure and thin that it fairly made one's nose tingle to breathe it. 

All were tired out--indeed the boys were so stiff from the long ridethat they could scarcely climb down from their saddles. But not for theworld were they going to let Tom Dillon know this. They had told the oldminer that they were used to roughing it and they wanted to "make good"in his eyes. 

Some brushwood was gathered and a fire started, and the horses weretethered near by. The old miner knew where there was a spring ofdrinkable water--something occasionally hard to find in a district fullof all sorts of minerals--and soon they had some boiling for coffee. Then their outfit was unstrapped, and they prepared supper and got readyto turn in for the night. 

"I wonder if we can't see something of the campfire of Abe Blower, if heis ahead, " remarked Dave. 

"We might have a look for it, " answered Roger. 

There was a tall rock just behind their camp, and this the two youthsclimbed, Phil saying he was too tired to stir. It was harder work thanDave and Roger had anticipated, but, once they had started, they hatedto give up. Up and up and still up they went, climbing from oneelevation to another by means of the rocks themselves and bits of coarsegrass and brushwood. 

"There, I reckon we are high enough now!" cried the senator's son, afternearly half an hour's climbing. "Anyway, I am going to stop!" And hebegan to pant for breath. 

The two boys looked around them. The sun had sunk to rest behind themountain in the west, and the hollows between the hills were deep in thegloom of the oncoming night. Far back on the trail they had come theysaw a small fire start up. 

"That must be the campfire of those three horsemen, " said Dave. 

"More than likely, " responded his chum. "Do you see anything ahead?"

Both looked, but for a long time could see nothing. Then they caught afaint gleam from a point apparently halfway up the mountain, in thedirection where the Landslide Mine was supposed to be located. 

"Maybe that's Abe Blower's camp!" cried Dave, who was the first todiscover the light. 

"I'd like to know if Link Merwell and Job Haskers are really with him, "said Roger. 

"We ought to be able to catch up to them by to-morrow, so Mr. Dillonsaid. "

"Unless Merwell and Haskers fix it so that they throw us off theirtrail, Roger. You know Mr. Dillon said they could branch off at TalpollCrossing. That is where a spur of the railroad cuts in, to reach themines on the other side of the hills--the railroad I suppose theLandslide Mine would have to use in getting out ore. "

The boys watched the distant light for a while longer, and thendescended to the camping spot. The others listened with interest to whatthey had to report. 

"We'll be after 'em at sun-up, " said Tom Dillon. "An' now all o' yer hadbetter turn in an' get what rest you can. "

This was sensible advice, and the three youths lost no time in followingit. They turned in around the fire, which was kept burning, so as tokeep away any possible prowling beasts. Tom Dillon was the last toretire, he looking to it that all of the horses were tethered. 

It was just growing daylight when Dave awoke with a start. Something hadaroused him--what he could not tell. He sat bolt upright, and at thesame moment the old miner, who was beside him, did the same. 

"What's up?" asked Tom Dillon, instinctively feeling for the pistol hecarried. 

"Our horses!" cried Dave. "They are running back on the trail!"

"Somebody is stealin' 'em!" roared Tom Dillon, and was on his feet onthe instant. 

By this time the noise had awakened Phil and Roger, and all three boysfollowed the old miner in arising. In the gray light of the morning theycould see that their four horses were moving along the back trail on agallop. A single man seemed to be in charge of them, on a steed of hisown. 

"Halt!" yelled Tom Dillon. "Halt, or I'll fire on you!" And he raisedhis pistol. 

At this sharp command the man with the horses turned slightly to lookback. He crouched low, and wore a sombrero pulled down well over hisface. On the instant he rode to the front of the galloping steeds, thusgetting out of range of the old miner's weapon. 

"Come on, we must get our hosses!" sang out Tom Dillon, and startedforward on the run. Then he let out a shrill whistle, one he knew wasused for calling the animal he had been riding. 

The effect of the whistle was all that could have been desired. Thehorse dropped to a walk and then turned back. And as Tom Dilloncontinued to whistle, the intelligent steed came closer and closer, until the old miner was able to grasp it by the halter. 

But all this had taken valuable time, and meanwhile the other horsescontinued to gallop on, led by the man in front, who was now riding likethe wind. Who he was they could not make out, but they stronglysuspected Sol Blugg or one of his cronies. 

"I'd shoot if them hosses wasn't in the way!" cried Tom Dillon, wrathfully. 

"Can't you go after them?" asked Dave and Roger, in a breath. 

"I can and I will!" answered the old miner. "Stay right here till I getback!" And with those words he saddled his horse with all speed, and inless than a minute later was flying down the back trail after the stolensteeds and the rascal who was making off with them. 

CHAPTER XIX

THE NEWSPAPER CLEW

"Do you think he'll catch that fellow?"

It was Phil who asked the question, as he and Dave and Roger watched theold miner disappear around a bend of the back trail. 

"I don't know about that, " returned Dave. "But if he gets the horsesback it will be something. "

"I should say yes!" cried the senator's son. "Why, we won't be able togo on unless we get them back!" he added, his face showing his worry. 

"Listen!" exclaimed Roger a minute later. "Somebody is shooting!"

It was true--a shot had sounded out on the morning air. Soon it wasfollowed by another, at a greater distance--showing that pursued andpursuer were drawing farther from the boys. 

The boys walked slowly back to the campfire and commenced to stir it up, and then they finished their morning toilet. Dave heaved a deep sigh. 

"I must say I don't feel much like eating, " he observed. 

"Oh, we might as well fix breakfast, " came from Phil. "It will help topass the time. It won't do any good to just sit around. "

Fortunately their provisions were at hand, so it was an easy matter toprepare the morning meal. Before eating, however, Roger and Dave climbedthe tall rock behind the camp and looked for some sign of Tom Dillon andthe man he was pursuing. 

"I can't see a thing, " announced Roger, after a long look through thefield-glasses. "Here, you try, " and he handed the glasses to our hero. 

For several minutes Dave surveyed the distant landscape in vain. Then heuttered a cry. 

"I see them, Roger! There they go!" And he pointed excitedly with hisfinger. 

At a distance they could not calculate they saw Tom Dillon and therascal he was after, and also the flying horses. They were all boundingalong a rocky trail, the would-be horse thief well in advance. Suddenlythey saw this individual make a turn and disappear around some rocks. The free horses kept on, with the old miner after them. 

"That rascal has gotten away!" announced Dave. "He has given Mr. Dillonthe slip. "

"Dave, do you think Mr. Dillon will catch our horses?"

"Yes--sooner or later. They are bound to stop running, to feed or todrink, and then he'll round them up. I guess all we can do is to godown and wait for him to get back. "

"But those shots! What if he is wounded!"

"I hope he isn't, Roger. "

They climbed down to the camp and told Phil about what they hadwitnessed. Then all ate breakfast slowly, meanwhile discussing theadventure from all possible standpoints. 

"It was one of the Blugg crowd, I feel certain of that, " said Dave. "Perhaps it was Sol Blugg himself. "

Slowly the morning wore away. When the sun came up it was very hot andthe youths were glad enough to draw into the shade of the rocks. Justbefore noon all three climbed the tall rock again, to look not only forTom Dillon and the horses, but also for Abe Blower and those with him. 

But not a soul was in sight, nor did any horses show themselves. At adistance they made out some mule deer and several goats, but that wasall. 

"Do you think we ought to walk along the back trail?" asked Roger, whenthey were getting lunch. "Mr. Dillon may need our services. "

"I'll go if you want me to, Roger, " answered our hero. "But he was agood distance away when we saw him through the glasses. "

"Let us wait awhile--until the awful heat of the midday sun is over, "suggested Phil. "The sunshine just now is enough to give one asun-stroke. "

It was a little after three o'clock when the three lads prepared to walkalong the back trail, on the lookout for the old miner. But just as theystarted Dave put up his hand. 

"Listen!"

All did so, and from a distance heard the clatter of horses' hoofs onthe rocky trail. Then came a cheery call. 

"It's Mr. Dillon!" cried Roger, and let out a call in return, and theothers did likewise. 

Soon the old miner appeared around a bend of the trail. He was seated onhis own steed and driving the others in front of him. He looked tiredout, and the horses looked the same. 

"Are you all right, Mr. Dillon?" sang out Dave, as he ran forward tostop the nearest horse. 

"All right, boys!" was the answer. "That is, I will be as soon as I'verested a bit. I've had some ride, believe me!"

Roger and Phil helped Dave to secure the free horses and tether them, and our hero held the old miner's steed while he fairly tumbled to theground. The horse was in a heavy lather, and Mr. Dillon was covered withdust. 

"You weren't shot, were you?" questioned the senator's son, anxiously. 

"No, although I come putty nigh to it, " was the answer, and the oldminer pointed to a hole through the brim of the hat he wore. "The skunkfired twict at me!"

"We heard two shots, " said Dave. "We were afraid you might be introuble. If we had had horses we would have followed you. "

"I did better nor he did, " went on the old miner, with a satisfied ringin his voice. "I plugged him in the arm. "

"You did!" exclaimed Phil. "We heard only two shots!"

"I fired later on, after he left the trail. He was just gittin' ready toaim his gun ag'in when I caught him. His arm went down like lead, an'the gun dropped to the ground; so I know I winged him. He didn't shootno more, only got into the timber quick as he could. Then I rounded upthe hosses an' started back. "

"Who was it, do you know?" questioned Dave. 

"It was Ham Staver. I suppose Sol Blugg and Larry Jaley sent him aheadto steal the hosses. They thought it would be easy, with us asleep. "

"It came pretty near being so, " answered Dave, gravely. 

Tom Dillon was glad enough to rest, and to partake of the hearty mealthe boys prepared for him. The horses were cared for, and the boys werepleased to learn that they had not suffered through the wild run alongthe rocky trail. 

"If that Staver shows himself around Butte I'll settle accounts withhim, " said the old miner, while eating. "But I reckon he'll stay awayfor a while. "

After an hour's rest the old miner announced that he was ready to goforward once more. The sun was now well in the west, and it was not nearso hot as it had been in the middle of the day. 

"I wish we could catch up to the Blower party by to-night, " said Roger, earnestly. "Mr. Dillon, do you think we can do it?"

"We can try, lad. But you must remember, we'll have to favor the hossesa leetle. They have had a mighty hard run on't. "

"I know. Well, don't go any further than you deem wise. "

For the distance of half a mile the trail was comparatively good. Butthen they came to an uneven locality, filled with dangerous holes andpitfalls. 

"Careful here, boys!" cried Tom Dillon. "We don't want none o' thehosses to break a leg. "

He was in the lead, and under his guidance they advanced slowly. At thetop of a short rise of ground he came to a halt. 

"Here is where part o' that landslide occurred, " he announced, pointingwith his hand. "I think myself it was somethin' of an earthquake, although the scientific sharps say not. But if it wasn't an earthquakeit was mighty queer that it hit this spot and the other at the sametime--both bein' miles apart. "

"Perhaps the shock of the falling rocks at one place shook the other, "suggested Dave. 

"Perhaps, lad. It's a mystery--an' I suppose it will remain a mystery. We know some things about Nater, but there's others she keeps putty wellhid. "

They went down on the other side of the rise, and then commenced tomount an even larger hill--the last but one, so the old miner told theboys. Far in the distance they could make out the railroad tracks, winding along through the mountains. The sun was setting, and thewestern sky was aflame with varied colors of most gorgeous hues. 

"What a beautiful sunset!" murmured Dave. 

Soon the gloom of evening commenced to settle about them. All had theireyes ahead, but so far they had seen no trace of the Blower party. 

"Wait a minute!" cried Dave, presently. He had seen something whitefluttering among the rocks on the side of the trail. 

"What do you see?" asked Phil. 

"A newspaper. "

"Oh, let it go, Dave. We have all the old newspapers we want. "

"I want to see how recent it is, " was our hero's reply. 

He got down, walked to where the paper rested in a crevice, and drew itforth. 

"It's a copy of a mining journal, " he announced, as he looked the sheetover. "The issue for last week, " he added, gazing at the date. "It'sfull of grease, too, --that's why they threw it away. "

"Do you suppose it belonged to Abe Blower?" questioned Roger, coming up. 

"It did!" cried Dave. He had turned to the front page of the paper. "See, here is Abe Blower's name and address, stamped on for mailingpurposes. He got it through the mail just before he left and took italong to wrap something in. "

"Then that proves we are on the right trail!" cried Roger, joyfully. "Iwonder how long ago it was when he threw the paper away?"

"I'm not detective enough to tell you that, Roger, " answered Dave, witha grin. "But it's something to know we are on the right trail. Theymight have taken to that cross trail, you know. We'll catch up to themsooner or later. "

Once more our friends went forward, this time along the very edge of thenew ridge that had shown itself after the great landslide. They had toadvance with caution, for loose stones were numerous and so weredangerous holes. 

"We can't go much further to-night, " announced Tom Dillon; presently. "This trail ain't safe in the dark. "

"All right, Mr. Dillon, we'll stop when you say so, " returned Roger, with a bit of a sigh. "How much further to where the Landslide Mine waslocated?"

"Not over two miles, as the crows fly, lad; but four to five miles bythe trail. "

They went into camp in the very midst of the rocks. Strange as it mayseem, there was water there, coming from a tiny spring under a hugeboulder. It had a somewhat unpleasant odor, and the horses at firstrefused it, but the old miner said it was drinkable. 

"Only you don't want to live on it all the year around, " he added, witha grin. "A doctor onct tole me if you did that you might turn intostone!"

"I know what I am going to do, as soon as it gets dark enough, " saidDave to his chums, while they were preparing supper. 

"What?" asked the other boys. 

"I am going to look for the campfire of that crowd ahead. "

"Of course!" cried Roger. "And, Dave, if it isn't too far off, maybe wecan walk to it!" he added, quickly. 

"So I was thinking. "

Eagerly the three boys waited for the darkness of night to fall, in themeanwhile getting supper and tidying up the camp. Then they climbed tothe top of the highest rock that was at hand and looked around them. 

"I see a fire!" cried Dave, and pointed it out. 

"Yes, and it looks to be less than a mile away!" returned Roger. 

"Let's walk to it!" put in Phil. 

And on this plan the three chums quickly agreed. 

CHAPTER XX

THE EXPOSURE

When Tom Dillon heard about the light that had been seen and thedetermination to walk to it, he wanted to know how far off it was. 

"If it's that close we had better all go, " he announced, after beingtold. "If it's Abe Blower's camp it must be in a good spot, for Abeknows this locality as good as I do and maybe better. A mile isn't sofar. We can walk an' lead the hosses, if we have to. "

Less than quarter of an hour later found them on the way. The old minerwas in front, with Roger beside him, and Dave and Phil bringing up therear. All were on foot, for they had to pick their way in the darkness, which seemed more intense than it had been on previous nights. 

"The sky is overcast, " observed Dave, as they trudged along theuncertain, rocky trail. "Looks to me like rain. "

"We'll catch it sooner or later, " announced Tom Dillon. "And maybe we'llhave a big blow in the bargain. "

"Then it blows up here?" queried Roger. 

"Does it? I should say yes, lad! I've been in such a wind up here onecould hardly keep his feet. And the rain comes so thick an' fast it nighdrowns you!"

As they advanced, they kept their eyes on the alert for the distantcampfire. Twice they found and lost it, but, as they came around anotherspur of rocks they beheld it quite plainly and saw several figuresmoving around it. 

"Wait!" called Dave, to the others. "If that is Abe Blower's camp, andMerwell and Haskers are with him, I've got an idea. "

"What is that?" asked Roger. 

"Why not let Mr. Dillon go ahead alone, and find out what Merwell andHaskers have to say? We can sneak up in the darkness and show ourselveslater. "

This was considered a good plan, and, after a short discussion, it wasadopted. The old miner mounted his horse and rode onward, the three boyscoming after him on foot and keeping in the shadow of the rocks to oneside of the uneven trail. 

The clatter of the horse's hoofs on the rocks soon attracted theattention of those around the distant campfire. The three persons cameforward, to see who was coming. 

"Why, if it ain't Tom Dillon, of all men!" cried one of the three, andhis face, that had shown anxiety, broke into a smile. "How are you, Tom, and what brings you up here?"

"I came to find you, Abe, " was the old miner's reply. "They told me downin Butte you were off to have another search for the lost LandslideMine. "

"Saw Kate Carmody, I reckon, " went on Abe Blower. "Yes, I'm goin' onanother hunt fer the mine--account o' these two gents, " and Abe Blowerpointed to his companions. 

"Who is this man?" asked one of the others, who had come from thecampfire. 

"This is Tom Dillon, one o' the best old-time miners and prospectors inMontany, " answered Abe Blower, with a broad smile. "He used to know yeruncle well, " he added. 

"Is that so? Then--er--perhaps he can help us to locate the lost mine. "

"Mebbe--if he wants to spare the time. Ye see, Tom ain't so poor as Ibe, " explained Abe Blower. "He made his pile an' saved it, he did, " headded, admiringly. 

"Who are your companions, Abe?" asked Tom Dillon, rather abruptly. 

"Oh, sure, excuse me fer not introducin' you, " cried the other miner. "This here is Mr. Morr, son o' Senator Morr an' nevvy of MauriceHarrison, an' this is his friend, Prefesser Haskers, o' the colledgeMorr ust to go to. Gents, this is Mr. Thomas Dillon, a miner an'prospector, an' one o' the richest an' best men in Butte. "

"Ah, glad to know you, sir!" exclaimed Job Haskers, and held out histhin hand. But, somehow, Tom Dillon did not seem to see it and he merelybowed. 

"And you are Senator Morr's son, eh?" said the old miner, turning toLink Merwell. 

"I am, " was the bold answer, but when the old miner looked him squarelyin the eyes, Merwell had to turn his gaze away. 

"I understood that Maurice Harrison, when he died, willed the LandslideMine to your family, " went on Tom Dillon. 

"He did, and I and my friend are here to look for it, " answered LinkMerwell. 

"Think you'll find it?"

"Blower here says he will do what he can to discover it, " broke in JobHaskers. "He has a great reputation as a prospector. "

"I will surely do my best for Maurice Harrison's nevvy, " said AbeBlower. "Maurice Harrison was mighty good to me, an' I ain't the one toforgit that. "

"Have you a brother?" asked Tom Dillon, turning again to Merwell. 

"A brother? Why--er--no, " answered the imposter, and then turnedsuddenly pale. "Why--er--do you ask that question?" he faltered. 

"I met another young fellow in Butte named Morr. "

"I--I don't know him. "

"He was with two other young fellows named Porter and Lawrence. "

At this unexpected announcement Link Merwell's face grew paler thanever. Job Haskers, too, showed that he was much disturbed. 

"Did this--this Morr say where he was from, or where he was going?"asked the former teacher of Oak Hall. 

"Oh, the whole crowd was from the East. I reckon they are coming uphere, " answered Tom Dillon, dryly. "They want to find you, Abe, " headded, with a wink at the other miner. 

"Me? What fer?"

"They want you to locate this same Landslide Mine for them. "

"The same mine? Say, Tom, what are you drivin' at?" demanded Abe Blower, in astonishment. 

"What I'm drivin' at is just this, Abe, " answered Tom Dillon, and hisvoice grew suddenly stern. "This ain't Roger Morr at all. The realfellow you ain't met yet. This chap is a fraud!"

"Say--look here----" began Link Merwell. 

"Is the--er--the other Morr--er--coming here?" faltered Job Haskers. 

"I am not coming--I am here!" cried a voice, and Roger stepped from theshadow of a near-by rock. 

The senator's son faced Link Merwell and Job Haskers, and both stared athim as if they were looking at a ghost, and backed away. 

"Roger Morr!" faltered Merwell. 

"Yes, Link. You didn't expect I'd follow you so soon, did you?" criedRoger. "Now, I've got a nice account to settle with you. I want to knowwhat you did with my suit-case, and I want to know what you mean byimpersonating me. "

"I--I----" began Merwell, and then stopped, not knowing how to proceed. 

"This is--er--very unfortunate, " murmured Job Haskers. He would haveretired had there been any place to retire to, which there was not. 

"Say, are you Roger Morr?" gasped Abe Blower, gazing fixedly at thesenator's son. 

"I am. And you are Abe Blower?"

"I sure am. But see here----"

"We'll explain everything in a few minutes, Mr. Blower. These fellowsare swindlers! They robbed me of my suit-case and then got ahead of me, and that fellow impersonated me, " and Roger pointed to Merwell. "Wehired Mr. Dillon to bring us to you--or at least he offered to come. Heknows that I am the real Roger Morr, and Maurice Harrison was mymother's brother. "

"Well, I never! But wot did they think to gain----"

"They wanted to locate the lost mine before I got here, that was theirgame. What they intended to do later I don't know, but probably JobHaskers was going to cook up some deal whereby our family could be keptout of the property. He is a rascal----"

"See here, Morr, I won't--er--have you--ahem!--talk about me inthis----" commenced the former teacher. 

"But I will talk about you!" interrupted Roger. "You are a rascal, almost as bad as Merwell here, and you know it. "

"Yes, and we know it, don't we, Phil?" cried another voice, and Dave andPhil stepped into view. 

"Porter--and Lawrence!" faltered the former teacher of Oak Hall, and helooked almost ready to drop. "I--I----" He did not know how to finish. 

"Say, I want to git the straight o' this!" burst out Abe Blower. 

"This young man is givin' it to you straight, Abe, " replied Tom Dillon, pointing to Roger. "And these are his friends--all true blue to thecore. These other fellers are first-class swindlers. They took you ingood an' proper. "

"If they did, they shall suffer fer it!" roared the other miner. "Do youknow, I kinder suspected somethin' was wrong. They didn't act as open ashonest folks should. An' they was in an all-fired hurry to git away fromButte and from Black Cat Camp. "

"Because they knew we were following them, " explained Dave. "Link, Iguess you had better admit that the game is up, " he went on, turning tohis former schoolmate. 

"Is it up?" sneered Link Merwell. "Well, I don't know, Dave Porter. Wehave as much right to hunt for that lost mine as you have. "

"Oh, so that's the game, eh?" burst out Roger. 

"You had no right to impersonate Roger, " asserted our hero. "He can haveyou arrested for that. "

"Huh, that was--er--only done for--er--fun, " faltered Link Merwell. "Andas for your old suit-case, it's on check at the Glenrose Hotel in Butte, and there's the check for it, " and he drew the brass disc from hispocket and passed it over to the senator's son. 

"Why did you take my suit-case?"

"Oh, for fun. "

"He took it thinking he was going to get your map!" cried Dave. "Link, what makes you act as you do?" went on our hero, earnestly. "When Ihelped you on Cave Island you promised that you were going to reform. "

"What's the use of reforming?" burst out the other. "Everybody in thisworld is down on me! I don't dare to show my face wherever I am known!There is a warrant out for my arrest!" And Link Merwell's face showedhis bitterness. 

While the boys were talking Abe Blower and Tom Dillon had beenconversing together. Job Haskers was left in the cold, and he lookedmuch disturbed. Evidently he was thinking how foolish he had been tocome to Montana with Merwell. 

"So this is the trick yer played on me, consarn ye!" cried Abe Blower, coming from the other miner to Haskers. "I've a good mind to take it outof yer hide!" And he shook his fist in the former teacher's face. 

"Don't you touch me--don't you dare!" howled Job Haskers, in new alarm, and he backed away so hastily that he tripped over some of the campoutfit and went flat on his back. 

The accident was such a comical one that Dave and his chums laughedoutright, and Tom Dillon and Abe Blower grinned broadly. Link Merwellreached down and assisted the former teacher to his feet. Job Haskers'sface was sourness itself. 

"Stop that! Don't you dare to laugh at me!" he roared. "Don't you dare!"

"We'll laugh as much as we please, " answered Dave, boldly. 

"I--I guess we had better get out of here, " whispered Link Merwell, nervously. "They--they might take it into their heads to harm us. "

"Do you think so?" asked Job Haskers. "All right, I--I am ready to go. But how are we to find our way back to the town?" he asked, helplessly. 

"We'll have to follow the back trail, " answered Link Merwell. Being usedto ranch life, this being in the open did not daunt him as it did theformer teacher. "Come on, let us get our horses and be off!" the youthadded. "It is getting too hot for us here!"

CHAPTER XXI

ON THE BACK TRAIL

"Just you two wait a minute!"

It was Tom Dillon who uttered the words, as he saw Link Merwell and JobHaskers turn to where their horses were tethered. 

"You bet they'll wait!" exploded Abe Blower, wrathfully. He steppedforward and seized Merwell by the arm. "What do you mean by playing sucha trick as this on me?"

"Le--let go of me!" cried the youth, in fear. "Let go. I--I--didn't Isay it was only done in fun?"

"Fun? You won't think it's fun when I git through with you!"

"I--ahem! I think this whole matter can be settled amicably, " put in JobHaskers, with an effort. "I am satisfied now that we made a--er--amistake. But, as Merwell states, it was all done in a--er--a spirit offun. "

"And now you want to sneak off--without even paying me for my trouble!"cried Abe Blower. 

"You said you'd come with me for nothing, " returned Link Merwell, andhis voice had almost a whine in it. 

"So I did, thinkin' you was Maurice Harrison's nevvy. If I had known youwas an outsider I wouldn't have come at all. I've got my own affairs to'tend to. But bein' as I did come, you're goin' to pay me for my timeand trouble, " went on the miner, sharply. 

"Don't you want 'em arrested, Abe?" put in Tom Dillon. "As I understandit, this here Merwell feller is wanted by the police as it is. "

"Oh, don't arrest me! Please don't do that!" cried Link Merwell. Heturned to Dave and his chums. "Let me go, won't you? I--I didn't doanything. I didn't take a thing out of your suit-case, " he added, toRoger. 

His manner was so humble and he seemed so full of terror, that the boyscould not help feeling sorry for him, even though they realized that hewas a criminal and should be in the hands of the law. 

"What do you think we ought to do, Dave?" whispered the senator's son, pulling our hero to one side. 

"That is up to you, Roger. "

"If we make them prisoners what can we do with them? They will onlybother us in the search for the lost mine. "

"I think I'd make them pay Abe Blower for his trouble and then let themgo. "

"Yes, but they have got to promise not to bother us in the future, " putin Phil, who had followed Dave and Roger to a distance. 

"They'll promise that, Phil. But you know what their promises areworth, " answered our hero. 

A hot war of words followed, Abe Blower and Tom Dillon telling the tworascals just what they thought of their conduct. Link Merwell was badlyscared, and the former teacher of Oak Hall looked very much disturbed. 

"Well, I'll let you go, if the young gents say so, " said Abe Blower, finally. "But you have got to pay me fer my services in bringin' you outhere, an' you've got to put up fer them hosses you're to ride, so I'llknow they'll git back to town all right. "

"We'll return the horses, never fear, " said Link Merwell. 

"Maybe--but I won't take no chances. You put up the price o' them, an'I'll give yer a written order fer your money, to be paid to you by HankDavis, when he gits the hosses, " said Abe Blower. 

More words followed, but the miner was obdurate, and in the end LinkMerwell and Job Haskers had to put up nearly all the cash they had withthem. Then they were allowed to take the two horses they had ridden anda small portion of the camping outfit--just enough to see them safelyback to the nearest town. 

"Now remember, Link, " said Dave, on parting with the youth, "you havepromised to leave us alone in the future. See that you keep thatpromise. "

"If you don't, we'll be down on you like a ton of bricks, " added Phil. 

"I won't bother you again, " said Link Merwell, with downcast eyes. "I--Iguess I was a fool to go into this. "

Job Haskers said little. But when he looked at our friends it was withan expression as if he wanted to eat them up. He was in a great rage, but he did not dare to show it. In utter silence he and Merwell mountedtheir steeds and rode out of the camp, on the back trail. Not once didthey look behind. Soon the gloom of the night swallowed them up. 

"A 'good riddance to bad rubbish, '" quoted Phil. "My, what a fool Linkis!"

"And Haskers is just as bad, " said Roger. 

"Link has the making of a fine fellow in him, " said Dave, with a sigh. "But he evidently prefers to be bad rather than good. "

"Thet's the way with some fellers, " remarked Abe Blower. "I've seen itin minin' camps many times. A feller would slide in, an' he could makemoney diggin' fer gold. But instead o' doin' it, he would jest fool awayhis time gamblin' an' drinkin'. It's awful--the way some folks act. "

"They won't have any easy time of it, getting back to Butte, " said Dave. "Perhaps they'll meet that Sol Blugg crowd on the way. "

"Oh, don't say that!" cried Roger. "Why, they might side right in withBlugg!"

"So they might, " added Phil. "A case of 'birds of a feather, ' you know. "

"And so you are the real Roger Morr, " said Abe Blower, catching Roger bythe shoulder and looking him squarely in the eyes. "Wall, I must say Ilike yer looks a heap better nor I did the bogus one!" And he chuckled, broadly. 

"I am glad you do, Mr. Blower. I----"

"Now, stop right thar, lad, stop right thar! Ef you're goin' to be myfriend call me plain Blower, or Abe. "

"As you will, Abe. I'm real glad to meet you, and I am sure we are goingto get along first-rate together, " said Roger, and then the pair shookhands once more. 

"You must tell me all about yourself, and your friends, an' about themtwo skunks as was wantin' to git in ahead o' you. "

"I'll do that gladly, " returned the senator's son. And then all in thecamp gathered around the fire, to talk the situation over and arrangetheir plans for the morrow. 

In the meantime Link Merwell and Job Haskers rode along the rocky trailleading in the direction of Black Cat Camp. As long as they were withinhearing of those left behind neither said a word, but once at a distanceJob Haskers fairly exploded. 

"Now you see what a plight you have brought us into!" he snarled. "Herewe are miles and miles from anywhere, and with hardly a dollar in ourpockets! It's a shame! If I had remained in the East, selling miningstock, or something like that, instead of going on this wild-goosechase----"

"I didn't know they were so close behind us, " whined Link Merwell. "Ithought we would get off the regular trail before they came to thislocality. "

"We were off the trail--it's the campfire told them where, " went on theformer teacher. "Now, what are we going to do when we get back to town, tell me that?"

"We'll get our money for the horses first, " replied Link Merwell. Hegrated his teeth. "I wish I could get back at them!" he cried. 

"So do I, Merwell. But it can't be done--at least, I am not coming backto this forlorn district, once I get to town again. And it looksdangerous to me, with all these loose rocks ready to slide down into thevalley, " added Job Haskers. 

Full of bitterness, and trying to plan out what to do later on, the paircontinued on the back trail, moving slowly and with caution. At last, completely tired out, they reached the spot where Dave and his chums hadstopped for supper. The campfire still smoldered among some rocks, forin such a barren district it was not necessary to be careful for fear ofa conflagration. 

"We'll rest here, " declared Job Haskers, sliding from his saddle. He wasnot used to riding and was so sore and stiff he could hardly move. 

"All right, " responded Merwell, and alighted also. They found the springand drank eagerly of the somewhat bitter water. Then they stirred up thefire and proceeded to make themselves as much at home as possible. 

But human nature can stand only so much, and soon, instead of talkingover their affairs, each sought forgetfulness in slumber. Exhausted, they slept soundly until the sun came up. Then, eating a frugalbreakfast--for their stores were scanty--they continued on the way inthe direction of Black Cat Camp. 

It was less than two hours later, when, coming around a turn in thetrail, they came in sight of another camp. They found three men seatedin the shadow of some rocks, for the day was becoming warm, all talkingearnestly. One man had his right arm in a sling. 

"I wonder who they are?" remarked Link Merwell, as he and his companioncame to a halt. 

"Wait, don't let them see us until you are sure they will be friendly, "cautioned Job Haskers. "For all you know they may be some of thosedreaded road-agents one reads about in the newspapers. We don't want tobe robbed, or have our horses stolen. "

"They certainly look like a hard crowd, " whispered Merwell. "But I don'tthink you'll find road-agents here, --not enough folks to rob. "

The men were talking earnestly and had not noticed the approach of thepair. As quietly as possible, Merwell and Haskers drew to one side anddismounted. Then the boy who had spent so much time on his father'sranch, motioned for the former teacher of Oak Hall to follow him. 

"We'll crawl up and listen to a little of their talk, " he whispered. "That will soon tell us if we can trust them. If we can't, we'll goaround them--although I don't see any other trail among the rocks. "

Job Haskers nodded, and slowly and cautiously the pair crawled over therocks until they gained a position close to the three men. Then theysettled back, to listen to whatever might be said. 

Inside of half an hour Link Merwell and Job Haskers gained all theinformation they desired. They learned that the three men were Sol Bluggand his cohorts. The wounded man was Staver, and he had been shotthrough the hand by Tom Dillon. He was very angry and willing to doalmost anything to square accounts. The men were sure that the Dillonparty and the Blower party were on the trail of a new find of gold andwanted to get in "on the ground floor, " as they expressed it. 

"They can't do nuthin' to me about tryin' to git the hosses, " saidStaver. "It's only Dillon's word against mine--an' you all know I gotshot in the hand by accident, " and he winked suggestively. 

"Sure, I done that myself, " said Blugg, and laughed. "Nobody took theirhosses--so far as we know. "

"I guess the new strike o' gold must be near the old Landslide Mine, "said Larry Jaley. "Maybe it's the old mine itself. "

"We'll soon know, if we watch 'em close enough, " returned Sol Blugg. Andthen they continued to talk, while Staver dressed his wounded hand, which, fortunately for him, was not very badly hurt. 

Link Merwell caught Job Haskers by the arm and pulled him back. 

"I've got an idea!" he whispered, his eyes brightening with suddenexpectation. "Why can't we join these men and go after the Morr crowdwith them? It will give us a chance to get back at those fellows. "

"No, I've had enough of this business, " replied the former teacher ofOak Hall. "I am going back to town as fast as I can, and then to theEast. "

"Yes, but----" began Link, when he stopped short. Haskers's foot hadshoved a round stone and now this rattled over the rocks, creatingconsiderable noise. 

"Who's that!" roared Sol Blugg, and leaped to his feet, drawing hispistol as he did so. "Ho, look there! Hands up, or I'll fire!" heyelled, as he discovered those who had been in hiding. 

CHAPTER XXII

DAVE AND THE MOUNTAIN LION

"Don't fire, I beg of you! We--we are friends! Don't fire! Please putdown that pistol, do!"

It was Job Haskers who called out in this fashion, as he raised hishands high in the air. He was seized with a chill, and shook from headto foot. 

Link Merwell was also agitated, and for the instant tried to back away. Perhaps, now that Sol Blugg had spoken so harshly, the youth realizedthat he was not such a kind-hearted fellow as Abe Blower had proved tobe. 

"Come out here, where we can see you!" cried Blugg. "Larry, got yerpistol?"

"I sure have, " responded Larry Jaley, with a wicked grin. 

"There is no need to do any shooting, " said Link Merwell. 

"You were spyin' on us, " growled Staver. 

"Who are you? Come here and give an account o' yourselves, " ordered SolBlugg. 

There was no help for it now, and, rather awkwardly, with their handsstill upraised, Job Haskers and Link Merwell stumbled over the rocks towhere the three men had been resting and talking. 

"Humph, a tenderfoot!" muttered the leader of the trio, as he inspectedthe former teacher of Oak Hall. "I don't reckon he's goin' to do us anyharm. " He turned to Merwell. "Who are you, sonny?"

Link told him and also mentioned Haskers's name. "I was just comingforward to introduce myself, " he added. 

"How kind, " sneered Larry Jaley, with a mock bow. 

"I was. We stepped behind the rocks to find out what sort of men youwere. And I guess you are just our kind, " added Merwell, with a sicklygrin. 

"How so?" demanded Sol Blugg, sharply. "No game, now. "

"I'll give it to you straight, " answered Link Merwell. "Can I put downmy hands? It's not comfortable to talk with them up in the air. "

"All right, --and fire away, " answered the leader of the men. 

"We overheard what you said about the Abe Blower party and the TomDillon party, " pursued Merwell. "We were with Abe Blower, but the othercrowd came up and made it hot for us, and we got out. You saidsomething about their being here to locate gold. So they are, and nowthat we are on the outs with those other people, if you say the word, we'll go in with you. Isn't that right, Haskers?" asked Link, coolly. 

"I--I presume so, " answered the former teacher, nervously. He haddropped his hands, but Sol Blugg still had his weapon handy, and thesight of it was far from comforting. 

"Had a row, did ye?" asked Blugg, curiously. 

"Yes. You see, Blower wanted to run things to suit himself andwe--er--we didn't see things quite that way. Then Dillon came up withhis crowd, and they made matters worse than ever. We had someinformation that we didn't want the others to have, so we got out, " wenton Link Merwell, glibly. He was now recovering from his fright. 

"Got information, have ye?" cried Larry Jaley. "About wot fer instance?"

"About what those fellows are after, " answered Merwell. "Isn't that so?"he asked, of Haskers. 

"It is, " answered the former teacher. 

"Is it another gold strike?" burst out Sol Blugg, eagerly. 

"Not exactly a strike, " answered Merwell. "All of us came out torelocate the lost Landslide Mine. "

"What! That mine!" yelled Staver, and the tone of his voice showed hisdeep disgust. "Nuthin' to it--nuthin' at all. If you're arfter thet mineye might as well go right back home. It's buried deep an' fer good. "

"Let us hear what they have to tell, " said Sol Blugg. "They may havenews worth listenin' to, Ham. "

"I ain't goin' to waste no time lookin' fer thet lost mine, " growled therascal who had been shot. "I'm goin' back to town an' let a doctor lookat this hand o' mine. "

"And I will go with you!" put in Job Haskers, eagerly. "I have hadenough of the mountains! The others can locate that lost mine if theywish. "

"See here, you fellers sit down an' we'll talk this thing over, " saidSol Blugg. "If you've got Blower an' Dillon interested in lookin' ferthe lost mine there must be somethin' in it wuth knowin'. Might be asyou've got a new lead, or somethin'. "

"I'll tell you what I know, " answered Link Merwell. 

He and Haskers, after bringing in their horses, sat down, and a talklasting the best part of an hour followed. The men from Butte asked manyquestions, and wanted to know about the map and papers Roger wascarrying. Blugg and Jaley were evidently much impressed. 

"You are right about one thing, Merwell, " he said. "That mine is nowteetotally lost--the claim was shifted by the landslide. If we couldrelocate the mine I think we could make our claim to it good at the landoffice. "

"Let us try it!" cried Merwell, eagerly. "We have as much chance to doit as the Morr crowd. "

"But he has that map, and the directions. "

"We overheard all their talk, so I know as much as Roger Morr does. Asfor Blower and Dillon, they don't know this district any better than youmen do, do they?"

"Not much better, " answered Larry Jaley. "We've been here a good manyyears. " He turned to Staver. "What do you say, now?"

"Wall, wot this young feller says puts a different look on thesituation, " replied the man who had been shot. "I'd like to have aninterest in thet mine myself--thet or the one Tom Dillon onct said hehad near it. An' as Sol says, if we relocated the claim, maybe we couldhold it at the land office--anyway, we could claim a fat slice o' thewuth o' it. "

"We'd claim it all!" cried Merwell. 

"So we would!" came from Sol Blugg. "Say, sonny, you're the right kind, I reckon, an' we'll call ourselves friends, " he added, and put out hishand to Link. 

"Then we are--ahem!--not going back to town?" queried Job Haskers, indisappointed tones. 

"No, we'll watch those other fellers an' try to locate the lost mine, "answered Sol Blugg; and this was finally agreed to, after a discussionlasting another half-hour. Job Haskers was plainly disappointed, and hisface showed it, and Link Merwell had much difficulty in cheering up theformer teacher. 

"We came out to locate that gold mine and we'll do it, " said Merwell. "And I want you to be on hand, when the time comes, to attend to thelegal end of it, so that we get our share. Of course, as I am wanted bythe police, I can't appear, but you can, and you can, secretly, represent me. "

"All provided the lost mine is found, " responded Job Haskers. He hadplainly lost heart in the undertaking. 

"Oh, we are bound to locate it--sooner or later, " said Link Merwell, enthusiastically. 

While this plotting was going on, Roger and those with him were pickingtheir way with care over the loose stones that covered the ridge ofrocks where the great landslide had taken place. Here traveling wasexceedingly dangerous and often they had to proceed on foot, for fear ofgoing down into some hollow. None of the footing seemed to be safe, andmore than once Tom Dillon shook his head doubtfully. 

"This land ain't got settled yet, " he said to Abe Blower. "I shouldn'tbe surprised if there was another landslide before long. "

"Mebbe you're right, Tom, " was Blower's reply. "But if it's to come, Ihope it comes arter we're away. "

"I was thinkin' that maybe we had better go over to the second ridge. Itmight be safer. "

"I was thinkin' that myself. "

"Then we'll git over as soon as we hit a good crossin-over place, "replied Tom Dillon. 

As they were now close to the spot where the Landslide Mine was supposedto have been located, Roger became very eager to do some real searchingfor the mine. And Dave and Phil were equally anxious to aid their chum. 

Coming to something of a plateau of rocks, the party spread out, searching for certain landmarks which Abe Blower had mentioned. Thissearch was by no means easy, for some of the loose rocks were very largein size--one being as big as a house--and it was difficult to find one'sway along among them. 

Dave was riding along slowly, letting his horse find the best footingpossible, when he came to a narrow defile. The rocks were on both sides, and most of them sticking up from five to ten feet above his head. 

"It wouldn't be any fun if some of those loose rocks came down on afellow's head, or on his horse, " mused our hero, as he moved along. "Iwonder where this way leads to?"

At a distance he could hear the others talking, so he knew they were notfar off. They, too, were now among the big rocks, and each hidden fromthe others. Then the talking gradually ceased, giving way to anoccasional call or whistle. 

"Oh, if only I could just stumble into the entrance to that mine!"thought Dave. "What a fine thing it would be for Roger and his family! Iknow they need the money!"

He kept his eyes on the alert, but none of the signs for which he wassearching appeared, nor did anything that looked like a mine entranceshow itself. 

It was growing towards sunset when Dave, who had just met Phil andseparated from him, came to another rocky defile, this time leading tosomething of a hollow. Here the air was damp and cool and our heropaused for a moment, for he felt tired and hot after the hard riding ofthe day. 

"Wonder where we will camp for to-night, " he mused, as he gazed aroundhim. "I hope we find some nicer spot than this. This looks so lonely andspookish. Well, I suppose I've got to go on, or they'll get ahead ofme, and it would be no fun to get lost. A fellow----"

Dave came to a stop in his musings and also drew up his horse. He hadtaken but a few steps farther, and now saw, to one side of the rockydefile, a small opening, leading into a sort of hill. 

"Looks as if it might be a kind of cave, " he told himself. "I guess I'dbetter dismount and take a look inside. It might be the entrance to thelost mine!"

Suiting the action to the word, Dave leaped from his horse, and lettingthe steed stand, approached the cave. The entrance was comparativelysmall and he had to stoop down to peer inside. 

As he did this there came a sudden ominous growl from the interior ofthe cave. It was the growl of a wild beast and caused the youth to leapback in alarm. Then a slinking body came into view and a full-sizedmountain lion showed himself!

Dave ran toward his horse. But as the mountain lion gave another growl, the horse snorted and plunged, in sudden fright. Then the steed took tohis heels and went clattering along the rocky defile. 

"Stop!" yelled the youth. "Stop!" And then he set up a call forassistance. 

At the sound of his voice, the mountain lion paused, just outside theentrance of the cave. Evidently he did not wish to become trapped insuch narrow quarters. He eyed Dave with glaring eyeballs, and showed hisgleaming teeth. His tail began to switch from side to side, and hecrouched low, as if contemplating a spring at the boy. 

CHAPTER XXIII

IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE

Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned theimportant lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost. Themountain lion was large and powerful and evidently in full fightinghumor. 

The youth was armed, carrying a pistol by Tom Dillon's orders. Now, ashe backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it atthe beast. 

The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creaturemoved from side to side with greater swiftness. Dave felt that inanother second or two the beast would make a leap for him. 

In the semi-darkness of the rocky defile he could see the lion butindistinctly. But the two eyes were glaring at him and on one of thesehe centered his aim as best he could. 

As he pulled the trigger of the pistol the mountain lion jumped at him. Crack! went the weapon, echoing loudly in that confined space. Thebullet missed the beast's head and buried itself in the shoulder. AsDave fired he leaped to one side. 

It was well that our hero made that move, otherwise the mountain lionmust have come down directly on top of him. As it was the beast fell athis side, snarling and snapping fiercely, and turning in an effort toascertain what that thing was which was burning him in the shoulder. 

Crack! the pistol sounded out again, and this time the mountain lion washit in the neck. Over and over he rolled, but got quickly to his feet, and, wounded as he was, prepared for another spring at our hero. 

Again Dave fired, but this time his aim was not so true, and the bullet, grazing the lion's tail, struck a rock with a sharp click. Then thesavage creature hurled himself straight for Dave's breast. 

Bang! bang! It was the double report from a huge, old-fashionedhorse-pistol that Tom Dillon carried. The old miner had come clatteringto the spot on horseback and with a single glance had taken in thesituation. The leap of the mountain lion was stayed, and with a finalsnarl the beast rolled over and over, disappearing of a sudden into theopening of the cave Dave had discovered. 

"Are you hurt, lad?" asked the old miner, after he had waited anxiouslyfor several seconds for the mountain lion to reappear. 

"Not in the--the least, " was our hero's panting answer. "But it--it wasa close call!" and he shuddered. "Do you think he's dead?"

"I shouldn't wonder. You hit him, didn't you?"

"Yes, twice. But they couldn't have been very good shots, or he wouldn'thave come for me again. "

"Mountain lions is mighty tough, lad. I've seen one with six bullets inhim still show fight. Load up, as quick as you can. His mate may bearound. "

This advice was, however, unnecessary for Dave was already rechargingthe empty chambers of the pistol. From his Uncle Dunston he had learnedyears before the advisability of keeping one's weapon ready for use atall times. 

The sound of the shots had called the others of the party to the scene, and numerous were the questions asked. 

"Wow! a mountain lion!" cried Phil. "And did you kill him, Dave?"

"I don't know whether he is dead. Mr. Dillon and I both hit him, and heflopped around here until he slid down into that hole yonder. "

"Maybe he isn't dead yet, " suggested Roger. 

"Even so, being badly wounded, he'll stick to his shelter, " said AbeBlower. "Say, " he went on, "thet looks like a putty good sized cave!"

"Just what I was thinking, " returned Dave. "I was going to have a lookinside, when that mountain lion growled and sprang out at me. "

"We'll light some torches, and take a look at the place, " suggested oldTom Dillon. 

"Oh, supposing it's an entrance to that lost mine!" cried Phil. 

"It would be great!" added the senator's son, enthusiastically. 

"I hardly think it could be thet, " put in Abe Blower. "But if the caveis long enough, it might lead to one o' the shafts as was sunk fer themine; eh, Tom?"

"That's true, " responded the old miner. 

"I've got my electric torch with me, " said Roger, bringing that usefularticle from his pocket. "We can use that in the cave. "

"The light wouldn't be strong enough, an' steady enough, " answered AbeBlower. "We'll have to have regular torches, and plenty of 'em, too. Caves like thet are often full o' holes, an' ye might step into one an'fall down to Chiny, or somewhere else, " and he smiled, grimly. 

The old miners had picked up some sticks for torches on the way, thinking they might come in useful for firewood if for nothing else, andseveral of these were now lit and swung into a lively blaze. 

"No use of all of us goin' in there, " said Abe Blower. 

"No, somebody has got to stay here an' watch the hosses, " answered TomDillon. 

A brief discussion followed, and it was agreed that Abe Blower and Rogerand Dave should go down into the opening, leaving Tom Dillon and Phil toguard the animals and the camping outfit. Possibly the shipowner's sonwas disappointed by this arrangement, but if so he did not show it. 

"It might not take more'n a few minutes to look into the cave, " said AbeBlower. "An' then ag'in, it might take some hours. But, no matter howbig the hole is, we won't be gone more'n two hours, Tom;" and so it wasdecided. 

As they entered the cave--for such it really proved to be--they heldtheir torches over their heads and looked anxiously for the mountainlion. 

"I don't see anything of his majesty, " said Roger, in almost a whisper, for the strange adventure had set his nerves on an edge. 

"Oh, I suppose he had life enough left to crawl quite a distance, "answered Dave. 

The cave was irregular in shape, forming something of an undergroundsplit in the rocks. The flooring led steadily downward, with here andthere an opening of unknown depth. 

"A good place to prospect, " said Abe Blower, as he flashed his torchover the rocky walls. 

"Do you imagine there is gold in those rocks?" asked Dave. 

"Might be, lad, an' silver, too. But there might not be enough to makeit pay to git it out. "

"I see the mountain lion!" cried Roger, a minute later. "There he is, inyonder corner, in his den. And look, it's his mate!"

All gazed and not far distant beheld a scene that touched their hearts. On the rocks lay the dead lion and over him stood his mate, licking hisface with her rough tongue. 

"Look out!" cried Abe Blower, and drew his horse-pistol--a companionweapon to that carried by Tom Dillon. "She'll come fer us, sure!"

The old miner was right. Swiftly the lioness turned, and set up a savageroar that echoed and reechoed throughout the cavern. Then, in spite ofthe torches--for all savage beasts are afraid of fire--she prepared tofight those she felt had slain the one she loved. 

It was Abe Blower who fired first, and scarcely had the sound of theshot died away when Roger and Dave pulled trigger. Over and over whirledthe lioness, and then of a sudden struck one of the wide cracks in theflooring of the cave and disappeared from view. They heard the bodystrike on some rocks far below; and then all became silent. 

"Oh, wasn't that awful!" gasped Roger, and felt of his forehead, wherethe cold perspiration had gathered. 

"I--I kind of hated to do it, " answered Dave. "She was mourning over hermate!"

"Shall we send the other body down, too?" went on the senator's son. 

"Might as well, " was the quick answer, and soon the other lion wasdragged to the opening and dropped down. Abe Blower looked on at thework and smiled grimly. 

"I suppose ye are sorry for thet lioness, but I ain't, " he said. "Theyare wicked critters, I can tell ye, an' they do a whole lot o' damage. "

"I suppose they live according to their nature, " replied Dave, softly. In his mind's eye he could still see the tawny lioness licking the faceof her dead mate. 

On they went again. The cave was narrow here but presently broadenedout. The roof was, for the most part, less than ten feet high, so theboys felt just as if they were "walking between big pie crusts, " asRoger quaintly expressed it. The cave seemed to be dry, although whenthey stopped once more to look around, they heard the distant gurgle ofa stream of water. 

"Wall, I can't see as it looks anythin' like a mine, " announced AbeBlower, presently. "Nothin' like a shaft around here. "

"I wonder how long the cave is?" came from Dave. "It must endsomewhere. "

"Say, wouldn't this make a good place to camp out in?" asked Roger, ofthe old miner. 

"Not much!" was the quick answer. 

"Why not? It would be cool in the daytime and warm at night, with alittle campfire. "

"Maybe, lad. But wot if some o' these rocks should shift? They'd squashye as flat as a flapjack!"

"I didn't think of that. "

"I don't believe it is very safe in here, " said Dave. "This cave musthave been formed by that landslide, and, if so, perhaps the dirt androcks haven't finished settling yet. I don't want any rocks to come downon my head!"

"Nor on any of us!" added the senator's son. 

"I've got an idee thet we are a-comin' to another openin', " remarked AbeBlower, a few minutes later, after they had made a sharp turn to theright. 

"Why so?" asked Roger. 

"I kin feel some fresh air from somewhere. "

"I feel it too, " returned Dave. "Doesn't it come from overhead?"

"Mebbe, lad; although I thought it was ahead. "

"Here is that stream of water!" cried Roger, as they made another turn. "But we can't get at it, " he added, somewhat disappointedly. 

"Why?"

"It's down below the split in the rocks. Look!"

He held up his torch so they could look down into something of asharp-edged basin of rocks. A dozen feet below they could see the waterpouring from one hole in the rocks and disappearing farther on. 

Nearly an hour had been spent in walking and crawling around the bigcave. They had had several narrow escapes from pitfalls and were movingwith caution. 

"Maybe we had better go back, " suggested Roger. 

"I was thinkin' thet myself, " answered Abe Blower. "Nothin' much inhere, so far as I kin see. We might come back later an' have anotherlook--if we don't discover thet lost mine elsewhere, " he added. 

"You are sure this is the right district?" asked Dave. 

"Oh, yes, the lost Landslide Mine can't be very far away, " was the oldminer's reply. 

They turned back, heading, as they thought, for the opening by whichthey had entered. On and on they walked, occasionally slipping andsliding where the rocks sloped. Then they came to a spot where there wasa wide crevice to cross. 

"My gracious, did we jump over that when we came this way?" queried thesenator's son, as all gazed at the wide opening, which was of unknowndepth. 

"We certainly did not!" declared Abe Blower. 

"Then we have come the wrong way!" put in Dave, quickly. 

"It sure looks like it, lad. "

"If that's the case, we'll have to go back!" came from Roger. He lookedaround them and his face paled a trifle. "Oh, do you think we are lost?"

"If we are not, we are next door to it, " was Abe Blower's seriousanswer. 

CHAPTER XXIV

SEARCHING FOR THE LANDSLIDE MINE

Lost underground!

It was a terrible condition of affairs to contemplate, and for aninstant Dave's heart almost stopped beating and something like a chillswept down his backbone. What if they should be unable to find their wayout of the rocky cave?

"We'll have to go back, " said Abe Blower, in a low voice, after a pause, in which the three of the party had gazed around at the walls of thecavern and at each other. "An' we don't want to lose no time nuther, "added the old miner. 

"No, for the others will be wondering what has become of us, " put inRoger. 

"It ain't thet so much, lad, it's the torches--they won't last forever. "

All gazed at the lights and saw that the old miner was right. The firstones they had lit had burnt out and the remaining lot were more thanhalf consumed. 

Without further words they turned around, in an endeavor to retracetheir steps to the point where they had made a false turn. Abe Blowerled the way and the boys followed, all keeping their eyes wide open, tomake certain that nothing of importance might escape them. 

On and on they went, seeing one spot after another that looked familiar. They even passed the spot where Dave had thrown away the end of hisfirst torch. The bit of wood was still smoking. 

"Here's the split in the cave, I think, " said the old miner, at last. 

They had reached a spot where the cavern widened out into a large, circular opening. From this point could be seen several other openings. Evidently they had taken the wrong passageway. 

"But which is the right one?" questioned Roger. "They all look alike tome. "

"Look putty much alike to me, too, " returned Abe Blower. "If only I hadthought to put down a few chalk marks!" he sighed. 

Dave said nothing but went around to the various openings, examining allwith care by the light of his torch. 

"I believe this is the one we came in by, " he announced, a few minuteslater. 

"What makes you think so?" asked his chum. 

"Do you see that curiously-shaped rock over there? Well, I rememberseeing that as we came along--it reminded me of a giant's face. Now, you can't see that rock that way only from here. "

"Perhaps you are right, Dave. I must confess I am all mixed up, " andRoger sighed. 

"We can try it for a little distance, " said Abe Blower. "Then, if wewon't see anything we remember seem' before, we can come back to thisplace. "

"But our torches----" began the senator's son. 

"We'll use one at a time--that will make 'em last, " said Dave. 

This was considered a good suggestion, and all but one of the flaminglights were extinguished. Then they walked down the passageway asquickly as safety permitted. 

"I--I don't see anything that looks like what I saw before, " said Roger, after a bit. "The rocks look all alike to me. "

"An' to me, " returned the old miner, and there was something ofhopelessness in his tones. 

But they kept on. Dave had the torch and was ahead, with the othersclose at his heels. The single torch gave but an uncertain light andcast grotesque shadows on all sides. 

"Look!" cried our hero, a little later. 

He pointed to a series of small stones resting on the floor of thecavern. They were somewhat in the form of a circle, with a large stonein the center. 

"Oh, I remember those stones!" cried Roger, joyfully. 

"So do I!" put in Abe Blower. "I reckon as how we are in the rightpassageway now, lads!" he continued, in a more hopeful tone. 

"I am sure we are!" came from our hero. "But we have a pretty gooddistance to go yet. "

"Yes, an' be careful thet ye don't go down in none o' them pesky holes, "cautioned the old miner. 

Quarter of an hour later they reached the spot where they had shot thelioness. Looking ahead, they saw a torch waving in the air. 

"Hullo! hullo!" came in the voice of Phil. "Where are you?"

"Here we are!" answered Dave and Roger. 

"You've been a long time in here, " went on the shipowner's son. 

"We got lost, " announced Roger. 

"And we shot the mate of that mountain lion, " added Dave. 

They soon reached Phil, and then the whole party quickly made their wayout of the cave. Those who had been left outside listened with interestto what Dave and the others had to relate. 

"Well, that sure must be some cave!" exclaimed Tom Dillon. "An' as Abesays, we must come back and examine it more closely some time. Theremay be a lot of gold an' silver in it, an' maybe other metals. "

"Perhaps radium!" cried Phil. "Say, wouldn't it be great to find aradium mine!"

"I don't think ye'll find any o' thet new-fangled stuff here, " answeredTom Dillon. "An' anyway, gold an' silver is good enough for me, " and hesmiled broadly. 

Nightfall found the party still among the loose rocks that overspreadthe mountainside where the great landslide had taken place. Looking atthe forsaken and desolate region, the boys could well understand why thesearch for the lost mine had been given up. There was nothing to be seenthat looked in the least promising. Rocks and dirt rested on all sides, and that was all. 

"We looked over the rocks and the dirt putty well, too, " explained TomDillon. "But there wasn't nary a sight o' gold; eh, Abe?"

"Not enough fer to buy a plug o' tobaccer with, " answered the otherminer. 

As one spot was no better than another apparently, they did not spendmuch time in looking for a place to camp. In one place was a littlerough brush and here the horses were tethered. Then a tiny fire waskindled in a hollow of the rocks, and over this they prepared theirsupper, --a rather slim affair, considering that every one wastremendously hungry. 

"Not a seven-course dinner, " said Phil, with a sickly grin. 

"Never mind, " returned Dave, cheerfully. "Just wait till after we havefound that lost mine and get into Yellowstone Park. I'm sure the hotelsthere serve the best of meals. "

"O dear! now I am here, it doesn't look so easy--I mean to locate thatmine, " sighed Roger. 

"What, you're not going to give up so soon, are you, lad!" cried TomDillon. 

"Why, we ain't begun no search yit, " added Abe Blower. "Time to git kindo' tired arfter ye have been here a week or two an' nuthin' doin'. "

To this none of the boys replied. But they could not help but think whata dreary time it would be, searching among those rocks and that loosedirt day after day, if the lost mine were not brought to light. 

The day's exertions had tired all hands, and they slept soundlythroughout the night, with nothing coming to disturb them. When the boysgot up they found Abe Blower already at the campfire, preparing abreakfast of his favorite flapjacks and bacon. He fried his bigflapjacks one at a time in a pan, and it was simply wonderful to theboys how he would throw a cake in the air and catch it in the pan bottomside up. 

"It's the knack on't, " said Tom Dillon, as he saw the lads watching thefeat performed. "I know some old miners kin keep two pans a-goin' thatway, and never miss a cake. "

"I'd like to try it, " said Phil. 

"Not now--we ain't got no batter to waste, " replied Abe Blower, with achuckle. 

The morning meal at an end, the hunt for traces of the lost LandslideMine commenced in earnest. Dave and his chums had come dressed for thework, and the whole party were provided with picks, shovels, crowbars, axes, and a couple of gold-pans. 

The whole of that day was spent on the mountainside, the various membersof the party separating from time to time and then coming together, torelate their various experiences. The old miners had told the boys howto search and what landmarks to look for, so that they did not seekaltogether blindly. 

It was hard, hot work, for the sun poured down all the long day. Andadded to that, water was scarce, for the nearest spring was well downthe mountainside, and even this had a bitter taste which rendered it farfrom palatable. 

"Well, nothing doing so far, " said Roger, as they came together in theevening. 

"Never mind, we may have better luck to-morrow, " returned Dave, ascheerfully as he could. 

Several days went by, including Sunday, and still they found nothingthat looked like a trace of the lost Landslide Mine. They had covered atract of rocks and dirt several hundred feet in width and all of half amile long. The only spot they had avoided was one where some loose rockslooked to be positively dangerous. 

"We might tackle that, but we'd be taking a big risk, " said Dave. 

"Right you are, " said Phil. "If those rocks tumbled on us, it would begood-by to this world!"

"But the entrance to the lost mine may be under those very rocks!"sighed Roger. "And if so, just see what we'd miss by not searchingthere. "

"I've got an idee fer tacklin' thet place, " said Abe Blower. "It will behard work, but putty safe--if we are careful. "

"You mean to get above the rocks and roll 'em down the mountainside, oneafter another?" questioned Tom Dillon. 

"Exactly, Tom. We could do it with the wust o' the rocks that areloose--an' the rest wouldn't matter so much. "

"But we'd have to take care that we didn't roll the rocks on somebody'shead, " remarked Dave. 

"To be sure. "

The task of getting at the dangerous rocks was begun the next day. Stoneafter stone was sent crashing down the mountainside, into a desolatewaste below. It was hard work, and the boys were exhausted by the timenight fell around them. They had found a number of openings under therocks, but none of these had proved to be the entrance to the lost mine. 

"And yet, somehow, I'm almost certain this is the spot where the minewas located, " said Abe Blower, after another look around. "The sceneryyonder looks jest like it. "

"So it does, " answered Tom Dillon. "I feel that the Landslide Mine wasjust about here, an' my claim was over there, " and he pointed to somerocks in the distance. 

Twice during the time that they were sending the big stones down themountainside they had caught sight of another party among the rocks, once on horseback and again on foot. But the party had been too far awayfor any one to be recognized, even with the field-glass. 

"Maybe it's the Sol Blugg crowd, " said Dave. 

"Yes, and maybe Merwell and Haskers are with them, " added Phil. 

The wind had begun to blow strongly and the sun went down in a heavymass of angry-looking clouds. 

"Up against a storm, I reckon, " said Tom Dillon, after a careful surveyof the sky. 

"Yes, an' when she comes like as not she'll be a rip-snorter, " returnedAbe Blower. 

Supper was hurried, because of the wind and the heavy clouds, and thenthe whole party withdrew to the shelter of some rocks, taking theirhorses with them. 

"Do you think it will be very bad?" asked Dave, of old Tom Dillon. 

"Perhaps, lad; some storms up here on the mountain are about as bad asthey make 'em, " was the grave reply. 

CHAPTER XXV

CAUGHT IN A STORM

"Say, but this is sure going to be a corker!"

Dave shouted out the words--to make himself heard above the whistling ofthe wind as it blew across the little plateau on the mountainside, wherethe party had gone into camp. 

It was half an hour later, and during that time the oncoming storm hadapproached steadily. At first the wind had come in fitful gusts, bendingthe scant brushwood among the rocks first in one direction and thenanother. This had been followed by a sudden dash of rain, and for a fewminutes they had hoped that the worst of the downpour would pass to thesouth of them. But then had come a sudden turn, and now the rain wasdescending on them in torrents, driven in a slanting direction by thewind, which showed no signs of abating. 

"I should say it was a corker!" returned Roger, as he brushed the waterfrom his face and peered beyond the rocks. To get out of that drivingdownfall was impossible. 

"I wish we were in that cave, " cried Phil. "We'd be as dry as a bone inthere. "

"Not if the roof leaked, " returned the senator's son, grimly. "Besides, somehow I don't think it would be safe. "

"Why not?"

"The rain might wash down some of the rocks forming the roof. "

"Pooh! they have stayed up so long, I guess they would stay up a littlelonger, " grumbled Phil. 

"No sech cave for me, " broke in Abe Blower. "The rain makes 'em toodangerous. I was in a mine onct when it rained like this, an', fustthing we knew, about a hundred tons o' rocks slid down, almost buryin'us alive!"

"We'll stay where we are, " said Tom Dillon. "The storm won't lastforever. "

As the night came on, and the storm continued, the boys felt anythingbut comfortable. Building a campfire was out of the question, for therain made a dense smoke which the wind swirled all around them, settingthem to coughing and the horses to snorting. The animals were as muchalarmed as their masters. 

"Might as well save your firewood, boys, " said Abe Blower. "You'll needit, to dry out by, arfter the rain stops. "

"If it ever does stop, " grumbled Phil. Rain was Phil's great bugbearwhen he was on any kind of an outing. 

At midnight the rain was coming down as steadily as ever. But the strongwind had died down somewhat, so by remaining close to some overhangingrocks they were more or less protected from the elements. But they couldnot lie down, and sleep was out of the question. 

"Dave, do you think Merwell and Haskers went back to Butte?" asked thesenator's son, as the three boys sat close together under a big rock. 

"I am sure I don't know, Roger. They'd have to go back unless they fellin with somebody who knew something of this district. "

"What do you think of that other party we saw at a distance?"

"They might be the Sol Blugg gang, or they might be almost anybody, Roger. Anybody can come here and try to locate a paying claim. "

"Somehow I feel it in my bones that that is the Blugg gang and that Linkand old Haskers are with 'em, " said Phil. "To my mind, all those fellowsare tarred with the same brush, and they would like nothing better thanto relocate the lost Landslide Mine first. "

"Perhaps you are right, " returned Dave. "Well, I don't see how we aregoing to stop them from going ahead--I mean Blugg and Haskers. Ofcourse we can have Merwell arrested on sight, and Mr. Dillon can havethat Staver locked up for trying to steal the horses. "

A rush of wind made further conversation just then impossible. So farthere had been little thunder and lightning, but now came a flash and acrack that caused the boys to leap to their feet, while the horsesplunged and acted as if they wanted to bolt. 

"Some stroke, eh?" cried Abe Blower, when the alarm was over. "It musthave struck near here. "

"It was a little too close for comfort, " returned Dave, grimly. "I don'tthink a spot like this is particularly safe in a storm. "

"Oh, ye might git struck down in the valley jest as quick, " answered theold miner. 

"The rivers will be pretty high after this flood, " said Roger. 

"Might be as how it will start another landslide, although I hope not, "said Tom Dillon, musingly. 

"It wouldn't be so bad if the landslide opened up the lost mine, " saidDave. 

"Oh, thet would be all right, lad, --if we wasn't caught in the fallin'rocks. "

Slowly the night wore away, and when daylight came it was still raining. But the wind had gone down and the sky looked as if the rainfall mightcease at any moment. 

"Wall, we'll try fer breakfast, " observed Abe Blower. "Nothin' like ahot cup o' coffee an' some flapjacks to cheer a man up. "

The driest of the wood was selected, and they built a new fire withcare, in the shelter of the largest of the overhanging rocks. Soon theappetizing odor of freshly made coffee filled the air and all drewclose, to have a cup, and to partake of some fried bacon and some of AbeBlower's famous flapjacks. 

"Them flapjacks made Abe a good friend, " observed Tom Dillon, whileeating. "They was the means o' introducing Maurice Harrison to him. Ain't that so, Abe?" And the old miner grinned broadly. 

"Right you are!" was the ready reply. "We was in the mountains together, and Maurice didn't have nuthin' to eat. I made him some o' my flapjacksan' then we became pardners fer nigh on to a year. Thet was up at tudderend o' the State, " explained Abe Blower. 

By the time breakfast was over and the horses had been cared for, therain had stopped and the sun was breaking through the eastern sky. Allin the camp lost no time in changing their wet garments for dry. Thesoaked clothing was then hung up around the fire and on the rocks inthe sun. 

"You want to be careful how you climb around this mornin', " warned TomDillon. "Some o' the places is mighty slippery. You don't want to slideover no rocks into a hollow an' git killed!"

"No, indeed!" replied Roger, earnestly. 

It was not until the middle of the afternoon that they took up the huntfor the lost mine once more. This time the three boys went off together, Abe Blower advising them not to separate while the rocky slopes were sowet. 

"You keep together an' me an' Tom will do the same thing, " he said. "Then, if anything happens to anybody, the others can help. "

For over two hours the boys hunted around, making their way along aledge of rocks below the point where they had hunted before. 

"From the description left by Uncle Maurice, that mine was pretty deep, "said Roger. "And if it was, maybe we'll be more apt to find an openingto it from below rather than from above. "

"Well, it won't do any harm to look around here, anyway, " returned Dave. 

They had to proceed with great care, for in spots the water was stillrunning over the rocks and the footing was very slippery. They had arope with them and all took hold of this, Dave being in front, Philcoming next, and Roger bringing up the rear. 

"It's not such an easy job as I thought it would be, " panted Phil, afterthey had made an unusually difficult turn of the ledge. "It kind oftakes the wind out of a fellow!"

"Let us rest a bit, " suggested Dave. "We can't go much further along theledge anyway, " he added, looking ahead. 

They had reached a point where the outcropping of rocks had split intwain, forming the ledge they were on and another ledge twenty or thirtyfeet away. Between the two ledges was a hollow with jagged rocks farbelow. The other ledge wound around another hill, leading to thenorthwest. 

"This certainly is a wild country, " said Roger, as the boys seatedthemselves on the inner side of the ledge. "Hunting for gold and silverin a place like this is certainly not easy. Think of spending monthafter month among rocks like these, looking for 'pay dirt' or 'payrock, ' as they call it!"

"And yet it just suited your uncle, " returned Dave, "and it suits AbeBlower and Mr. Dillon. "

The boys relapsed into silence, glad of the rest. Dave was thinking ofhis father, and of the folks who had gone into Yellowstone Park, whensuddenly he felt his sleeve pulled by Roger. 

"Look!" whispered the senator's son. "Don't make any noise, either ofyou!"

He had pulled Phil's sleeve also, and now he motioned for his chums tocrouch down behind the rocks on which they had been sitting, stones thatlay loosely on the ledge, close to the towering cliff. 

As the three lads slipped down behind the loose stones on which they hadbeen resting, all gazed in the direction Roger pointed out. On the otherledge several persons had appeared. 

"Link Merwell!" gasped Phil. "And see, that Sol Blugg is with him!"

"And here comes Job Haskers and the man called Larry Jaley!" said Dave, in reply. 

"Wonder where that other fellow, Staver, is?" murmured Roger. 

"Maybe he was too badly hurt to come with them and had to go back, "returned Dave. 

"Say, I don't see much use of coming along this trail, " called out LinkMerwell, to those with him. 

"It certainly is beastly walking here, " said Job Haskers. "I've nearlysprained my ankle several times. "

"Well, if we want to find that lost mine we got to hunt fer it, " growledSol Blugg. "It ain't comin' to you, you know. "

"I agree thet this trail ain't none too safe, " came from Larry Jaley. "If a feller slipped off he'd have some fall, so he would!" he added, looking down into the hollow with its jagged rocks. 

Roger nudged Dave in the side. 

"They are after the Landslide Mine, just as I supposed!" he murmured. 

"Well, they seem to be no nearer finding it than we are, " was our hero'sreply. 

"But they haven't any right to the mine!" burst out Phil. "It belongs toRoger's mother!"

"Listen to what they have to say, " warned the senator's son. 

The party on the opposite ledge were now so close, and the air was soclear, that all which was said could be heard distinctly. 

"I thought sure we'd be able to locate some landmarks before this, "growled Link Merwell. "Are you sure this is the right district, Blugg?"

"This is where the Landslide Mine was supposed to be located. You hadthe description of those landmarks, I didn't, " added the Westerner. 

Just then Larry Jaley let out a quick cry. 

"Look over yonder!" he called. "Sumbuddy behind the rocks!"

He pointed at Dave and the others, and a second later the three youthsknew that they had been discovered. 

"Come out o' thet, whoever you are!" cried Sol Blugg. 

"We might as well get up, " said Dave, and arose to his feet. His chumsdid likewise and then those on one ledge of rocks faced those on theother. 

CHAPTER XXVI

PROWLERS IN CAMP

"Huh! so it's you, is it!" cried Link Merwell, in surly tones. 

"So you are after my mine!" cried Roger, sharply. "Well, I'll tell youright now, if you locate it, it won't do you any good. "

"Bah! We know what we are doing, " retorted the youth who in the past hadcaused Dave and his chums so much trouble. "You can't scare us. "

"Link, you ought to be in jail!" burst out Phil. 

"You'll never put me there, " was the quick retort. 

"We have as much right to look for a mine up here as you have, " put inSol Blugg. "If you own a mine, where are your stakes or otherlandmarks?"

"You know very well that they were carried away by that landslide, "answered the senator's son. 

"We don't know nuthin' of the kind, " came from Larry Jaley. "Your uncleclaimed to have a mine up here, but I never seen no proof of it--nordid anybuddy else see any proof. Any of us kin locate a claim, an' youcan't stop us. "

"This is free land, so far as locatin' a claim is concerned, " added SolBlugg. 

"Well, if you locate that mine before we do, don't you dare to removeany of my uncle's landmarks, " returned Roger. 

[Illustration: "IF YOU LOCATE THAT MINE BEFORE WE DO, DON'T YOU DARE TOREMOVE ANY OF MY UNCLE'S LANDMARKS. "]

"Ha! wot kind o' talk is thet!" burst out Larry Jaley. 

"Oh, we know you, " put in Dave. "We know just what sort of a bunch youare. "

"Porter, do you include me in that remark?" demanded Job Haskers, drawing himself up as had been his fashion when an instructor at OakHall. 

"I certainly do, " replied Dave. 

"You are impertinent!"

"It won't do you any good to act in that way, Job Haskers, " returned ourhero. "We know you for the rascal that you are. You committed a crime atOak Hall, and you did what you could to swindle Mr. Fordham. It'suseless for you to deny it. Now, let me say this: If you and those withyou try to do the Morrs out of their property here, we'll do all we canto put you and Link Merwell in prison for your crimes. And more thanthat, we'll do what we can to have those men arrested, for that landswindle they tried to pull off when Abe Blower blocked them, and forstealing our horses. "

"You--you----" stammered the former teacher, and for the moment knew notwhat to say. 

"Don't you call us hoss-thieves!" burst out Sol Blugg, savagely. 

"I can and I will, " replied Dave, firmly. "Your crowd tried to take ourhorses, and the fellow called Staver got shot doing it. I guess that iswhy he isn't with you now. "

"Bah! I won't talk with you, " growled Sol Blugg. He knew not what elseto say. 

"I--I will--will settle with you for this another time, " came tartlyfrom Job Haskers. 

"Oh, come on, what's the use of talking to them?" growled Link Merwell. "Some day I'll show them what I can do!" And he moved on along theledge. 

"Some day I shall square up for this gross insult!" stormed Job Haskers, and then he followed Merwell, and Blugg and Jaley came behind them. Soona turn in the ledge hid them from view of our friends. 

"What nerve!" burst out Phil. 

"That proves they are after the mine, " came from Dave. 

"Yes, and if they locate it they will try to prove that it wasn't myuncle's mine at all!" burst out Roger, bitterly. "I suppose they'lldestroy all the landmarks--that is, if the landslide left any of themstanding--and then what will I be able to do?"

"I think we had better go back and tell the others of this, " said Dave. "After this, it may pay us to keep an eye on that other crowd. "

"That's so, " returned the senator's son. 

With care the three chums retraced their steps, and half an hour laterfound them with Tom Dillon and Abe Blower. The two old miners listenedwith close attention to the tale of their encounter with the otherparty. 

"You are right; we must watch 'em, " said Tom Dillon. "They are a bad lotand will do what they can to make trouble for us, and keep us fromlocating the lost mine. "

"I wonder where they are camping?" said Phil. 

"It can't be very far from here, " replied Dave. "We can look for theircampfire to-night, if you wish. "

"If they don't hide it, " remarked Abe Blower. "And by that same token, wouldn't it be a good idee to hide our own fire?" he continued, turningto Tom Dillon. 

"Sure!" was the prompt answer. 

That night the three boys climbed several tall rocks in the vicinity oftheir camp and looked around with care. But the only lights that theycould make out were miles away, and those Abe Blower stated were on thedistant railroad. Nothing like a campfire came to view. 

"They are foxy and have put it in a hollow, " said the old miner. "Wall, we've done the same thing, " he added, chuckling. 

"Oh, if only we could locate that lost mine and put up our stakes!"sighed Roger. "But it looks like next to a hopeless task, doesn't it, Dave. "

"Oh, I don't know, Roger, " answered our hero, as cheerfully as possible, for he saw that his chum was much downcast. "We haven't covered thewhole of the ground yet. I wouldn't give up hope, if I were you. "

"I didn't think it was going to be such a job when we started, " went onthe senator's son. "My, what rocks we have climbed over!" And he rubbeda shin from which some skin had been scraped that afternoon. 

"I knew it would be a hard hunt, " answered our hero. "And why not? If itwas an easy matter to locate that lost mine, Abe Blower or some of thoseold prospectors would have done it long ago. If we do the trick I thinkit will be a great feather in our cap--in fact, I think it will be moreof a lucky accident than anything else. "

"Just my way of looking at it, " agreed Phil. "It's a regularhide-and-seek game, this locating a mine among these rocks. "

For a long time the three boys sat by themselves, talking about days atOak Hall, and about the folks left at home and about those now travelingthrough Yellowstone Park. It seemed a long time since they had receivedletters. 

"I suppose there are letters at the hotel in Butte, " said Dave, with alittle sigh. 

"I'd give something to have them here, " added Phil. 

"If only I knew how dad was making out, " murmured the senator's son. "Isuppose he is waiting every day to hear from me!"

"I hope the folks in the Park are having a good time, " said Dave, aftera pause. "I suppose the main body of tourists have started for home bynow. "

"Yes, they went yesterday, according to the advertised plan, " answeredPhil. 

"I've got an idea, " said our hero, after another pause. "Do you see thathollow just below here? Well, we haven't looked around that much. Whynot try it to-morrow?"

"Abe Blower and Mr. Dillon both seem to think the opening to the minewas above that, Dave, " said Roger. 

"True, but the landslide changed things, remember. We may now find anopening down there, --not the opening your uncle made, but another, madeby the slide. "

"It won't do any harm to look down there. While we are here I am goingto look in every spot I can reach. "

"Sure thing!" cried Phil. "But say, if we are going to climb aroundthese rocks all day to-morrow I am going to bed and get a good night'srest. "

"I guess we all need a rest, so we'll turn in at once, " answered Roger. 

Their camp was located between the rocks and not far from the trail bywhich they had come to the vicinity. The horses were tethered at a pointwhere a patch of coarse undergrowth gave them something to nibble at. The animals were of no use to them, now they were in the district wherethe lost mine was supposed to be located. 

It was a little after nine o'clock when the boys turned in, and a fewminutes later the two old miners followed them. So far they had notdeemed it necessary to have a guard, for none of their enemies nor wildbeasts had come to annoy them. 

Roger and Phil were soon sound asleep, and it was not long before theirsnoring told that Abe Blower and Tom Dillon were likewise in the land ofdreams. But Dave, for some reason he could not explain, was restless, and he turned over several times, sighing heavily. 

"If I were at home I should say I had eaten too much supper, " he toldhimself. "But here rations are too scarce. I don't know what keeps meawake, unless it is that I'm too tired to go to sleep. "

The campfire had burned so low that the spot was almost in totaldarkness. There was no moon and only a few stars shone in the sky, whichwas partly obscured by clouds. A gentle breeze was stirring, butotherwise all was quiet. 

At last Dave thought that if he had a drink he might go to sleep withmore ease, and he turned over to sit up and get to his feet. A bucket ofwater was close at hand, so he would not have to go far for what hewanted. 

Just as Dave sat up he saw something that startled him. A dark figurewas moving at a distance from the camp, coming closer slowly. 

At first the youth could not make out if the figure was a man or ananimal. He strained his eyes and then made out the form of a person. 

At once our hero thought of Link Merwell and those with him. It must beone of their enemies, and if so, what had brought him to this spot atsuch an hour of the night?

"Maybe he is after our horses, " reasoned the youth, and then he droppeddown again and rolled over to where Roger was lying. He shook his chumand at the same time placed a hand over the other's mouth. 

"Roger! Don't make any noise!" he whispered. "Somebody is coming here inthe dark. "

The senator's son awoke and heard what was said. Then, as Dave took awayhis hand, he whispered:

"Where is he? Who is it?"

"There he is, " and Dave pointed with his hand. "I don't know who it is, but I guess it is one of Link's crowd. "

"I'll wake up Phil, and we can watch the rascal, " said Roger, and thiswas done, although not without difficulty, for the shipowner's son wasinclined to give a yell when aroused from such a sound slumber. 

"Who--who is it?" he stammered. "Say, maybe we had better get ourpistols ready!" And he felt for his weapon. 

"I've got mine all ready, " answered Dave. 

"And here is mine, " whispered Roger. "If that fellow thinks he is cominghere unseen, won't he be surprised!"

"Hush!" came softly from Dave. "Look behind him! There is a secondfellow coming!"

Our hero was right, a second figure had emerged from the shadow of somerocks. The two persons were coming along slowly, as if to make certainthat they were not being observed. 

"I know that second fellow!" whispered Dave, a moment later. "See howtall and thin he is. It's old Haskers!"

"Yes, and the other fellow is Link Merwell, " replied Roger, a secondlater. 

CHAPTER XXVII

THE TWO PRISONERS

The three chums were right; the two persons who were approaching thecamp on the mountainside so stealthily were Link Merwell and JobHaskers. 

They came on step by step, looking ahead and to either side, as if onthe alert to flee at the first sign of danger. 

"What do you suppose they are after?" asked Phil, in a low voice. 

"Hush! We'll watch them and see, " returned Dave. 

"Let us pretend to be asleep, " advised Roger. "But lie so you can keepan eye on them. "

The boys had been crouching low, but now all followed the advice of thesenator's son and fell back, as if in slumber. Then they rolled overand, with their hands on their weapons, watched the approach of theothers. 

At last Merwell and Haskers were within fifty feet of those around thedying campfire. They had been talking in a low voice, but now both weresilent, as if this had been agreed upon. Merwell was slightly in advanceand he pointed to the outfit of the Morr crowd. This lay between somerocks and covered with a rubber cloth, so that the eatables might not bespoiled by the weather. 

Job Haskers nodded, to show that he understood, and both of theintruders tiptoed their way towards the stores. Noiselessly they raisedthe rubber cover and placed it on the ground. Then both commenced topack the stores in the cloth. 

It was plainly to be seen now what the rascals meant to do. They weregoing to make off with our friends' stores, thereby perhaps making itnecessary for them to give up the hunt for the mine and go back to thenearest place where more stores could be procured. For among thosebarren rocks but little could be found for the mine-hunters to eat. Theymight get a shot at some wild beast, but that was all. 

"What shall we do?" whispered Phil, who was growing impatient watchingproceedings. 

"When I give the signal, jump up and cover them with your pistols, "replied Roger. 

"Oh, I wouldn't shoot them, " urged Dave, who dreaded to think ofbloodshed under any circumstances. 

"Well, we'll scare 'em, " returned the senator's son. "We'll teach 'emthat they can't come near this camp. "

He waited until Merwell and Haskers were on the point of lifting therubber cloth with the stores tied within it. Then he leaped up, and Daveand Phil did the same. 

"Hands up, you rascals!" cried Roger. "Hands up, or we'll fire at you!"

"Oh!" cried Link Merwell, in consternation, and up went his hands. 

"Don't shoot me! I beg of you, don't shoot!" screamed Job Haskers, andhe, too, dropped his hold of the bundle and sent his hands in the air. Then, catching sight of the pistols, he dropped on his knees. "Oh, Morr, please don't shoot! Porter, I beg of you, have mercy! And you, Lawrence, please point that weapon away! It--it might go off!"

"This is a fine piece of business to be engaged in, " said Roger, sternly. "Trying to steal our stores. "

"It--is--was--er--all a mistake, " whined the former teacher of Oak Hall. 

"You won't dare to shoot, " put in Link Merwell. "You won't dare!" Hetried to be brave but his voice was shaky. 

"What's the row here?" burst in another voice, and Abe Blower sprang up, followed by Tom Dillon. 

"Hello, them two skunks!" cried Tom Dillon. "What do they want?"

"They wanted to make off with our stores, " answered Dave, and pointed tothe goods tied up in the rubber cloth. 

"So that's the trick, eh?" bellowed Abe Blower. 

"First the hosses an' now the stores!" roared Tom Dillon. "Humph! Yedeserve to be shot full o' holes!" he went on, for he had lived in thetimes when the stealing of a horse, or of a miner's food, was consideredby everybody a capital offense. 

"I--I beg of you, have mercy!" cried Job Haskers, as he got unsteadilyto his feet. "I--I--this was not my plan at all--Merwell suggested it. We--we were not going to--er--to steal anything. "

"No? Then wot was ye goin' ter do?" demanded Abe Blower, sarcastically. 

"We were--er--only going to hide the stuff, " stammered Link Merwell, andhe glared at Job Haskers savagely for having tried to place theresponsibility of the raid on his shoulders. 

"I don't believe a word of it!" came sternly from Tom Dillon. "Youwanted to leave us to starve here, or compel us to go back to town--soyou could hunt for that lost mine alone. I see through the trick. Weought to shoot you down like dogs!"

"It's jest wot they deserve, consarn 'em, " muttered Abe Blower. 

"We don't want anybody shot!" said Dave, to his chums. He saw that thetwo old miners were angry enough to do almost anything. 

"Let us--er--go this time and we'll never bother you again, " pleaded JobHaskers. He was so scared he could scarcely speak. 

"Step over here, by this rock, and keep your hands up, " said Tom Dillon. "We'll talk this over a bit further. "

There was no help for it, for Merwell and Haskers were now virtuallyprisoners. They stepped to the position mentioned, with their handsstill upraised. 

"Go through 'em, Abe, " went on Tom Dillon. "Take their shootin' ironsaway from 'em. "

"See here----" commenced Merwell, when a stern look from the old minerstopped him. Haskers said nothing, for he was still fearful of beingshot. 

In a few minutes the two intruders were disarmed by Abe Blower. Whilethis was being done Roger whispered to Dave. 

"Don't you think we ought to search 'em thoroughly?" he asked. "They mayhave something belonging to me--some map of the lost mine, or somethinglike that? I don't exactly remember what I had in that suit-case Merwellgot from the porter on the train. "

"Certainly, we'll have them well searched, " declared Dave, and spoke toTom Dillon about it. As a consequence, despite their protests, AbeBlower turned out every pocket of the prisoners. 

"There is one of my letters!" cried Roger. "It tells about the LandslideMine. I had forgotten it, " and he put the communication in his pocket. 

But little else of value belonging to Roger was found, and their ownthings the prisoners were allowed to retain, all but their weapons. Those, even to their pocket-knives, Tom Dillon confiscated. 

"What are you going to do with us?" asked Link Merwell, surlily, afterthe search was at an end. 

"We'll tie 'em up for the night, " said Tom Dillon. "Boys, get a coupleof ropes. "

"Tie us up!" exclaimed Job Haskers, in new alarm. 

"Exactly. "

"And in the--er--morning----?" faltered the former teacher of Oak Hall. 

"We'll see what we'll do with you after breakfast, " answered the oldminer, briefly. 

"Say, wot did ye do with them other fellers?" demanded Abe Blower, whileDave and Phil were getting the ropes. 

"We left them in camp. "

"Is Staver with 'em?" asked Tom Dillon. 

"No, his hand hurt him so he went back to town to have a doctor lookafter it, " replied Merwell. 

"Is he coming back here?"

"He said he thought not--at least, not for the present. "

"Do you think those others will come here to-night?" asked Dave, as hecame with a rope, followed by Phil with another rope. 

"We'll stand guard, lad, and see, " answered Tom Dillon. 

Much against their will, Link Merwell and Job Haskers were bound, handsand feet. Then each was made fast to a rock not far from the campfire. 

"We'll take turns at guarding the camp, " said Tom Dillon. "Two hourseach every night after this;" and so it was arranged. 

Now that he was sure he was not to be shot, Job Haskers was veryindignant over being bound. 

"It isn't a bit gentlemanly, " he said, to Dave. 

"We won't argue the point, " returned our hero, briefly. He was disgustedwith both Merwell and Haskers, and he wished they might both go away andthat he would never see them again. 

As he was so restless, Dave said he would be the first one of the partyto stand guard, and, accordingly, the others turned in as before, dropping off to sleep one after another. Merwell was inclined to talkand argue, but Dave would not listen. 

"I am done with you, Link, " he said. "And I am done with Haskers, too. All I want you to do is to leave me alone in the future. "

"You let us go, or it will be the worse for you, " growled Link Merwell. 

When his two hours' guard duty came to an end, Dave called Roger, who inturn called Phil. The shipowner's son was still very sleepy, and heyawned deeply as he arose. 

"As soon as two hours are up you call Abe Blower, " said Roger. 

"I sure will!" declared Phil. "I'm not half slept out yet!"

Roger was tired himself and was soon in the land of dreams. Phil walkedaround the camp several times, to keep himself awake, and then sat downon a rock to rest. 

Alas! that rest was an ill-advised one for the son of the richshipowner. As he sat there, Phil's chin sank lower and lower on hisbreast and presently his eyes closed and he fell asleep! And thus overtwo hours passed. 

"Hello!"

The cry came from Abe Blower, as he turned and sat up. It was growinglight in the east and the old miner thought it was time to get up. 

He directed his cry at Phil, who was huddled up on the rock. Phil didnot budge, and the old miner leaped up and shook him. 

"I say----" commenced the youth, and then stared around him inastonishment. "Why I--I must have dropped asleep!" he faltered. 

"You sure did!" cried Abe Blower. He gazed around swiftly. "Was you onguard?"

"Yes, and the prisoners----"

"Are gone!"

"Oh!"

Phil's cry awoke all the others in the camp. One after another looked atthe youth and then at the spot where Merwell and Haskers had been tiedto the rocks. The ropes lay there, but the two former prisoners hadvanished!

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE LOST LANDSLIDE MINE

"They cut the ropes! See, here is where it was done, on this jaggedrock!"

As Dave spoke he pointed to a sharp edge of stone. Beneath it were bitsof rope, showing how the fetters had been sawed in twain. 

"One of 'em must have got loose and then freed the other, " remarkedRoger. 

"But who was on guard?" demanded Tom Dillon, sharply. He looked at theboys and then at Abe Blower. 

"I was, but I--I guess I fell asleep, " faltered Phil, sheepishly, andgrew red in the face. 

"Fell asleep!" cried Abe Blower. "I guess you did!" And his tone ofvoice showed his disgust. 

"I--I am awfully sorry, " continued the shipowner's son. "I--I reallydon't know how it happened. It wasn't the thing to do. "

"Never mind, it's done and that's the end of it, " put in Roger, quickly, for he could see how badly his chum felt over the occurrence. "I guessyou were pretty tired. "

"I was, Roger. Just the same, I had no business to fall asleep. I'm madenough to kick myself full of holes, " went on Phil, grimly. 

"Let us see if they took anything with 'em, " came from Tom Dillon, as heturned to where their things and the animals were, but they had not beendisturbed. 

"I guess they were too scared to touch anything, " declared Dave. "Theywere glad enough to save themselves. I imagine they ran away as soon asthey were free. " And in this surmise our hero was correct. Link had beenthe one to sever his bonds and he had untied Job Haskers, and then bothof them had lost not an instant in quitting the locality, being afraidthat some of the others might awaken before they could make good theirescape. 

"Well, I am just as well satisfied, " whispered Roger to Dave and Phil. "I didn't want to hold them, anyway. All I want them to do is to leaveus alone. "

"But you don't want them to discover the lost mine, Roger, " returned ourhero. 

"Oh, certainly not! We'll have to keep on the watch for them as well aslook for the mine, " answered the senator's son. 

A search was made, and it was soon ascertained that their enemies werenowhere in that vicinity. Then breakfast was had, and a little laterthe search for the lost Landslide Mine was continued. 

As before, the different members of the party separated, and thus theday went by. Several times one or another of the boys or the men thoughthe had found some landmark, but each time the clew proved a false one. 

"It looks as if we were going to be stumped, --just as those othersearching parties were stumped, " remarked Roger, dismally. "Maybe thelost mine will remain lost forever!" and he sighed deeply. 

"Oh, I wouldn't give up yet!" cried Dave, cheerfully. "We have stillsome more ground to cover. "

"Of course, we have, " said Phil. "Oh, we are going to find that mine, notwo ways about it!"

"I hope so, " and Roger sighed again. He felt that if the mine was notfound, matters would look pretty blue at home for all concerned. 

The following morning dawned bright and clear, with no warning at all ofwhat was in store. An early breakfast was had, and once more all handsseparated in the hunt for landmarks which might guide them to the lostmine. 

Dave was working his way along a small ridge of outcropping rocks, whenhe came to one rock that stood out much higher than the rest. From thispoint he gazed around, to see if he could locate any of the others ofthe party. 

As a distance he made out Roger and Phil, who had just come together. Then, turning around, he glanced below him and made out several otherpersons on a lower ridge of the mountainside. 

"Link Merwell and Job Haskers, and that Sol Blugg is with them, " hemurmured. "Evidently they are not going to give up the hunt. "

Dave watched the party of three for several minutes and then continuedhis own hunt. Roger and Phil had now disappeared from view, and AbeBlower and Tom Dillon were far away, --almost to the top of the mountain. 

A quarter of an hour passed and Dave discovered something which heconsidered worth investigating. Just above his head was an openingbetween the rocks, --an irregular slit fifteen or twenty feet high andtwo to four feet wide. 

He had seen many openings before, but this was peculiar for the reasonthat one edge of the rocks looked as if it had been drilled and blastedaway. More than this, within the split lay the broken-off handle of ashovel. 

"Oh, what if I have found the lost mine!" he thought. "Thatshovel-handle proves that somebody has been here, and, yes, that iswhere somebody bored into the rocks and set off a blast! I mustinvestigate this, and if it looks promising I'll call the others. No usein exciting Roger unless it's worth while. "

Dave climbed up to the split and peered within. All was so dark that hecould see but little. Yet he made out what looked to be a fairly levelbit of flooring and he swung himself to this, first, however, placinghis handkerchief on a rock outside, for it had been agreed that ifanybody went into any sort of opening he should leave something behind, so that the others, coming that way, might know where he was. 

Each of the party had provided himself with a dry stick of wood, to usefor a torch if one was required, and Dave now lit the stick he carriedand swung it into a blaze. With this in hand he commenced an inspectionof the opening he had discovered. 

The cave, if such it can be called, proved to be long andnarrow, --little more than a split in the rocks. At some points theroofing was out of sight. The flooring, too, was irregular, and our herohad to proceed with care, for pitfalls were numerous and he had nodesire to tumble into one of these. 

"This mountainside is a good deal like Cave Island, " he muttered, as headvanced. "That was honeycombed with caves and so is this. No wonderthey have landslides here. The ground and rocks are bound to settle, with so many openings to fill up. "

He had gone forward about a hundred and fifty feet when he found theopening leading upward. Then of a sudden he gave a cry of wonder anddelight. 

Just ahead of him were a number of heavy timbers, such as are used forshoring in mines. And among the timbers lay a pick and a crowbar and theremains of a smashed lantern. 

At that instant Dave remembered one thing that Roger had told him, whichwas that Maurice Harrison had always branded all of his tools with hisinitials. Eagerly, our hero caught up the pick and held the handle inthe light of his torch. There, on the broad part of the pick's handle, were the initials:

_M. H. _

"It's the lost mine!" shouted the youth. "The lost mine as sure as fate!Oh, I must get out and tell Roger and the others of this!"

But then he hesitated. What if this should prove to be only someabandoned "prospect" and not the real mine at all?

"I'd better look around a little first and make sure, " he reasoned. "IfI can only find some of the gold Mr. Harrison spoke about, I'd besure. "

He looked at the lantern and the crowbar and saw that both contained theinitials found on the pick. He placed the three articles in a heap, andthen climbed over the broken timbers to the opening beyond. As he didthis a current of pure, cold air struck him. 

"There must be other openings to this cave or mine, " he reasoned. "Otherwise it wouldn't be so well ventilated. Well, I'm glad to have thefresh air. Where is that gold? If this is really the mine I ought to seesome of it in the rocks. "

He walked along, throwing the light of his torch on the rocks as he didso. For several minutes he saw nothing that looked like gold, and hisheart sank. But suddenly he gave a low whistle and in his excitementalmost dropped his torch. 

For in a crack of the rocks he had come across a small "pocket, " as itis termed by miners. In the pocket lay a quantity of sand, and on top ofthis an irregular object about as large as a small hen's egg. 

"A nugget! A nugget of gold!" cried Dave, as he rubbed it off andinspected it by the light of the torch. "A nugget of gold just as sureas sure can be! Oh, this must be the lost mine!"

In feverish haste he set his torch up in a crack of the rocks andcommenced to scoop the sand from the pocket with his hands. Out cameanother nugget and then another, and then half a dozen, all about thesize of hickory nuts. Then the pocket grew so deep and narrow he couldnot reach down into it. He took up the crowbar, and with it ascertainedthat the opening with the sand and nuggets was of unknown depth. 

"It's the lost Landslide Mine!" said Dave to himself. "The lost minebeyond a doubt, and all this gold belongs to Mrs. Morr! Oh, won't Rogerbe glad when I tell him the glorious news!"

Gathering up the nuggets he had found, Dave placed them in his pocket toshow to the others, and then started to leave the place. 

As he did this, he heard a peculiar rumbling sound, coming from adistance. He stopped to listen, and the rumble grew louder and louder. 

"What in the world can that be?" he asked himself. "Sounds like a trainof cars rushing through a tunnel. I wonder----Oh!"

Dave stopped short, and it is no wonder that a sudden chill passed overhim. The very rocks on which he was standing had begun to quake. Thenfrom overhead several stones fell, one so close that it brushed hisshoulder. 

"It's an earthquake, or another landslide!" he gasped. "I must get outof this, or I'll be buried alive!"

And then, torch in hand, he started for the opening to the mine. 

He had hardly covered half the distance to the outer air when there cameanother quaking, and more rocks fell, one hitting him on the arm. Thetorch was knocked from his hand and he tripped and fell. Then came acrash and a roar, and to Dave it seemed as if the end of the world hadcome. He was more than half-stunned, and he fell against a wall ofrocks, wondering what would happen next. 

CHAPTER XXIX

ANOTHER LANDSLIDE

It was another landslide, crashing and roaring down the side of themountain, carrying rocks, dirt, and brushwood before it. The earthroared and shook, and it was said afterwards that the slide could beheard many miles away. 

Down in the mine that he had but just discovered, Dave remainedcrouching against a wall of rock, murmuring a prayer for his safedeliverance from the peril that encompassed him. Every moment heexpected would be his last--that those rocky walls would crash in on himand become his tomb. Roar followed roar, as the landslide continued andmore rocks fell. Then the air around him seemed to be compressed, untilhe could scarcely breathe. 

"Oh, if I were only out of this!" he thought, and at that moment hewould have gladly given all he was worth to have been in the outer aironce more. 

Gradually the roaring and the quaking ceased, and Dave breathed a littlemore freely. He groped around in the darkness and managed to locate thefallen torch, which still glowed faintly. He swung it into a blaze withnervous energy. 

Was the landslide at an end? Fervidly he prayed that it was. Torch inhand, he tried to make his way to the spot where he had entered themine. 

He soon found this impossible, for the reason that the passageway hadshifted, and huge rocks blocked his way. Several times he tried to climbover the rocks, only to fall back helplessly. He cut his hands and brokehis finger-nails, but this availed him nothing. 

"But I've got to get out! I've got to!" he told himself, over and overagain. "I can't stay here!" And then he tried to climb the rocks infront of him once more. 

It was hard work, especially with the torch in hand. Once Dave tried tocarry the torch between his teeth, but it was too short, and his facewas scorched, while the smoke almost strangled him. 

Suddenly he slipped on some wet rocks and went down and down, he knewnot whither. He was stunned by the fall, and the precious light slidfrom his grasp and rolled several yards away. 

"Oh!" he murmured as he gathered his scattered senses and arose slowlyto his feet. Then he saw that the torch was on the point of going outand he made a dash for it, and swung it once again into a faint blaze. 

As he stepped around he noticed something else that added to his dismay. In his fall he had twisted his left ankle, which gave a twitch that madehim shut his teeth hard, to keep from crying out with pain. 

"Oh, I hope I haven't broken it!" he muttered. "However am I going towalk on it, even if it is broken?"

In sheer desperation he commenced to climb up the wet rocks down whichhe had tumbled. The ankle hurt not a little, yet in his excitement theyouth scarcely noticed the pain. His one thought was to get out of thecave before another landslide or earthquake occurred. 

A few minutes later found Dave on the level from which he had fallen. Ashe scrambled over the rocks something caught the glare of thetorchlight. The youth picked up the object. 

"Another nugget!" he told himself. "The place must be full of them!"

But what good would these nuggets be to him or his friends if he couldnot get out of the mine-cave? He was deep underground and this newlandslide or earthquake might bury him and the contents of the mineforever!

"I've got to get out!" he repeated over and over again. "I've got to getout somehow!"

Trying to pierce the gloom ahead, Dave swung his torch behind him. Washe mistaken, or was that a glimmer of daylight in the distance? Hestumbled forward, over some loose stones, and presently came to a splitin the narrow passageway. 

From overhead came a faint ray of daylight! He almost felt like giving ashout of joy, so welcome was the sight. But then his heart sank oncemore as he realized that the thin shaft of light came from a split insome rocks which were fifty or sixty feet above his head. The walls wereso steep and slippery that to scale them was utterly out of thequestion. 

In front of Dave was now a solid wall of rock, so the youth knew that hecould not get out in that direction. With a heavy heart he retraced hissteps, trying to locate the opening by which he had entered the cave. But the landslide, or earthquake, had changed the surroundings to suchan extent that he hardly knew how to turn to make the next move. 

A youth less stout of heart than Dave might have sat down and given upthe case as hopeless. But our hero was not made of such stuff. He movedon slowly, in one direction and then another, trying out what looked asif they might be passages to the outer air. 

And then came another distant rumble, showing that the earthquake, orlandslide, was not yet at an end. The boy held his breath, wondering ifit would come closer and annihilate him. But the rumble remained at adistance, and in less than a minute passed away completely. 

"Thank fortune, that didn't come here!" he murmured, and passed his handover his forehead, upon which the thick beads of cold perspiration hadgathered. He strained his ears for several seconds longer, but allaround him was now as silent as a tomb. 

"Oh, I must get out!" he muttered, despairingly. "I must! There must besome kind of an opening somewhere!"

Again he stumbled onward, into one passageway after another. Once theplace was so narrow that he became fairly wedged fast and had all hecould do to draw back. Then a sudden chill swept through his body, making his teeth chatter. 

Must he give up? Was that cave to become his tomb?

The thought forced itself upon Dave in spite of his effort to take amore cheerful view of the situation. He was hemmed in--not an avenue ofescape seemed open. 

"I won't give up! I won't! I won't!" he muttered, half savagely, and gotup from the rock on which he had sunk down to rest. Climbing around inthat place where the footing was so uncertain had taken both his windand his strength, and he was panting, and his knees shook beneath him. Only a short time had elapsed since that dreadful first shock had come, yet to the youth it seemed an age. 

He looked at the torch. It had burned well down and would not last muchlonger. And when it was gone he would be left in total darkness!

This was a new cause for fear, and it made Dave move around faster thanever. 

Suddenly he stopped short. A new sound had reached his ears--a strange, weird sound that made his flesh creep and his hair stand on end. 

It was the cry of a wildcat--shrill and uncanny in that pent-up space. Slowly it came nearer, although from what direction our hero could notat first make out. 

He waited behind a spur of rocks and the cry--it was more a whine offright than anything else--came closer. Then, on a shelf of rocks but ashort distance away, Dave caught sight of the beast. 

It was limping along on three feet, dragging a bleeding hind leg and ableeding tail behind it. Evidently it had been caught between thefalling stones as in a trap and had pulled itself loose in a mad effortto save its life. 

For the moment Dave forgot his other perils as he faced the beast. Evidently the wildcat had scented the youth, for it gave a savage cryas of defiance. Perhaps it thought that Dave was responsible in some wayfor the pain it was suffering. 

The youth's hand was on the rocks and almost unconsciously it closed ona sharp stone about as big as his fist. Raising the stone, he took quickaim and threw it at the wildcat. 

As my old readers know, Dave was a good baseball player and, at OakHall, had often filled the pitcher's box with credit. He threw the stonewith accuracy and vigor, and it landed fairly and squarely on the headof the wildcat. 

There was a weird screech, and the beast whirled around and around onthe rocks, coming closer and closer to our hero. Once it clawed savagelyat Dave, but he shoved the creature off before any damage was done. Thenit fell down in a cleft of some rocks, where it snapped and snarleduntil Dave sent down a heavy boulder on top of it, thus ending itsmisery. 

"Phew!" gasped the youth, after the excitement was over. "That wasalmost as bad as when we shot the mountain lioness!"

He had dropped the end of his torch, but now picked it up once more andcommenced to move around as before. He proceeded blindly, not knowing inwhat direction to turn to reach the outer air. 

"Where can the others be?" was a question he asked himself more thanonce. Were they, too, caught underground, or had the awful landslidecarried them down into the valley and buried them?

In the course of his climbings Dave presently came to a new turn, onewhich had before escaped his attention. This turn led upward and gavehim fresh hope. But, just as he fancied that he was getting close to theouter air, he reached a flat wall, and further progress in thatdirection was out of the question. 

His heart sank like lead in his bosom, and he walked slowly back to thepoint from which he had started. How to turn next he did not know. 

Half an hour passed, and Dave was almost in despair. His torch hadreached its end and was on the point of going out. Then, not knowingwhat else to do, he set up a cry for help. 

There came no reply, and he cried again. Then he pulled out his pistoland fired a shot. 

The discharge of the weapon echoed and reechoed throughout the cave andbrought down several small stones. Then, to Dave's intense surprise andjoy, an answering shot came back. 

"Who is it?" he yelled. "I am here! This way! _This way!_"

"Hello!" was the long-drawn-out answer, coming from some point thatappeared to be over his head. "Where--are--you?"

And then, as Dave's torch gave a final flicker and went out, our herosaw a shaft of light move over the rocks above his head. 

"It's Roger's flashlight!" he told himself, and then he set up anothercry. 

The rays of the flashlight became stronger and of a sudden they shotdownward, directly in Dave's face. 

"It's Dave!" came in Roger's voice. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, " was the ready reply. "That you, Roger?"

"Yes. Phil is with me. "

"Were you hurt?"

"Shaken up a bit, that's all, " replied Phil, and now Dave saw his chumsstanding in an opening that was about eight feet above his head. 

"We had better get out of here, " went on Roger, quickly. "Anotherlandslide may bury us alive!"

"I've found the mine!" cried Dave. "I've got some nuggets from it--and apick, a crowbar, and a broken lantern, all with your uncle's initials onthem!"

"Good for you!" cried the senator's son. "Phil and I found someevidences of the mine up here--an old coat of my uncle's and some of hisstakes. But we had better get out now--we can talk this thing overlater. "

"I can't get out down here--the passageway is blocked with rocks. "

"Did you get in from below?" cried Phil. "We got in from up here. "

A few words more passed, and the two boys on the upper ledge of rockspassed down a length of rope they carried, and by that means Dave wassoon enabled to climb up and join them. There were no more quakes, soall began to breathe more freely. Yet they felt that it would beadvisable to leave the cave-mine without delay. 

"It certainly is the lost Landslide Mine!" exclaimed Roger. "Oh, howglad I am that it has been found! And how glad my folks will be to getthe welcome news!" Even the peril of the present situation could not robhim of his joy over the discovery that had been made. 

He and Phil had picked up several small nuggets, so that all were surethey had really discovered the lost mine. 

"But they will have to be careful how they work this mine, " said Dave, as he walked along with his chums. "They can't work it from below--itwill be too dangerous. "

"Oh, they'll find some way, don't fear, " answered Roger. "As long asthey know the gold is there, they'll find a way to get it. "

"Where are the others?" went on Dave, as he saw daylight ahead, much tohis satisfaction. 

"That we don't know, " answered Phil. "But we are hoping they are safe. "

"By the way, did you see Merwell and Haskers?" cried Dave, suddenly. 

"Why, no--not since they ran away from our camp, " returned Roger. 

"I saw them--just before I found this opening. They were below me, thetwo of them and Sol Blugg. "

"Maybe they got caught, " muttered Phil. 

No more was said just then, for the boys had to do some climbing overseveral big rocks, and needed their breath. Then they made a turn, and amoment later came out into the sunlight. 

"Oh, how good it seems to be out in the air once more!" murmured Dave. 

"Thank heaven, none of us were killed, " added Roger. 

"No more underground exploring for me, " avowed Phil. "More than once Ithought we would be buried alive!"

"That is what I was afraid would happen to me, " said Dave, seriously. "Yes, we can all thank heaven we are out of it. "

"And now to hunt up Blower and Mr. Dillon, " came from the senator's son. 

"If only they are safe!" murmured Dave. For the time being those who hadbeen on the mountainside below them were forgotten. 

It was hard work to make their way from rock to rock. All the trailswere gone, and they had to proceed with extreme care, for fear ofdislodging some rock and rolling down into the valley with it. 

"There they are!"

It was Dave who gave utterance to the cry, about half an hour later. Hepointed to a distant spur, and there, sure enough, they beheld AbeBlower and Tom Dillon. The old miners had the horses with them. 

"I wonder if they were hurt?" queried Phil. 

"They seem to be all right, " returned Roger. "I wish they would lookthis way. "

"We'll have to signal to them, " said Dave. 

"How are you going to do it?" asked the shipowner's son. "You can't callto them at such a distance. They wouldn't hear you. "

"We can give 'em a pistol shot, Phil. "

"Why, to be sure! How foolish I was, not to think of it!"

"I'll fire a shot, " said Roger, and brought out his weapon. 

To the first shot there was no reply, but when a second was dischargedboth Abe Blower and Tom Dillon were seen to turn around. Then the boyscommenced to wave their hands vigorously. 

"They see us!" exclaimed Dave, half a minute later. They saw the two oldminers wave their hands in return, and Abe Blower discharged hispistol. 

"See, they are doing some kind of signalling!" cried Phil, a littlelater. 

All watched with interest. They saw that Abe Blower had taken up a longbit of brushwood and was waving it in a circle to the northwestward. 

"They want us to come around in that direction!" said Roger. "Don't youthink so, Dave?"

"That's the way it strikes me, " was our hero's reply. "See, what is leftof the trail is in that direction. But, my! how the whole face of themountain is changed!"

"Not much trail left!" grumbled Phil. "If we are not careful we'll breakour necks reaching them!"

"We'll have to take it slowly, " answered Dave. 

The three youths set out, and they were glad to see the two miners dothe same. The men were on horseback, and the other steeds came behindthem. 

As the boys had surmised, progress was difficult, and often they had tohalt, not knowing how to proceed. Here and there they could see a smallportion of a trail, but for the most part the way was new andexceedingly rough. 

"If they ever do any mining here they'll have to spend a lot of timefirst building a roadway, " was Phil's comment. 

"If the mining pays it won't take long to get a roadway--and bridges, too, " answered Roger. "Money can do almost anything, you know. "

"Oh, I know that. "

"The main thing will be to guard against the landslides, " said Dave, grimly. "But I guess they'll know how to do that, too. "

On went the boys, over the rough rocks and across patches of freshlyturned up dirt. All were utterly worn out, yet not one of themcomplained. 

"There they are!" cried Dave, some time after noon, as they made a turnaround some rocks; and in a few minutes the friends were together oncemore. 

"All safe?" asked Abe Blower, anxiously, and then, when assured that noharm had come to the boys, he added: "Mighty glad to know it!"

"So am I glad!" put in Tom Dillon, heartily. "It was sure somelandslide! Almost as bad as the one that wiped out the mine!"

"We've got good news!" cried Roger. "We have relocated the lost mine!Dave did it!"

"You and Phil did it, too, " said our hero, modestly. 

"Wot! Have ye located the Landslide Mine?" roared Abe Blower. 

"We sure have, " returned Phil. "Look here!" And he brought out some ofthe nuggets he carried. And then Roger and Dave did the same. 

"This is grand!" exclaimed Tom Dillon. "Nuggets, an' pretty big ones, too. But how do you know it's the mine?"

"We found some landmarks, " answered Roger. "And my uncle's coat and anote-book----"

"And his pick, crowbar, and lantern, " added Dave. And then the threeboys told their story in detail. 

"It must be the lost mine, " said Abe Blower. "An' if it is, Icongratulate ye!" And he shook hands all around. "Tom, they got ahead o'us, " he added, with a grin. 

"So they did, " was the answer. "Well, I'd rather have it that way thanhave those other fellers locate the mine. By the way, I wonder how theyfared in the landslide?" the old miner continued. 

"Three of them, Merwell, Haskers, and Blugg, were below me, " answeredDave. "They were over yonder, " and he pointed with his hand. 

"Wot! Down on thet ledge?" cried Abe Blower. 

"Yes. "

"Humph! Then I reckon it's all up with 'em, " went on the old miner. 

"What do you mean?" asked Roger. 

"I mean it's likely they was wiped out, " was the reply. "When the fustquake an' slide came I was lookin' down towards thet ledge. I saw someheavy rocks go down, and a big mass o' dirt, too, an' the ledge wasburied out o' sight. If they was down thar, it's more'n likely they wasburied alive!"

"Oh, I'd hate to think that!" cried Dave, with a shudder. 

"Do you think the landslide is at an end?" asked Phil, anxiously. 

"There is no tellin' about that, lad. We'll go up on the mountain, andto the safest place we can find, and then wait, " said Tom Dillon. 

This was done, and an hour later, worn out completely, all sat down torest and to partake of lunch. They could look far along the mountainsideand see just where the avalanche of rocks and dirt had swept downward, aportion halting here and there, and the remainder going clear to thevalley far below. 

They had been resting about an hour when they saw a figure approachingon foot. It was a man, hatless, and with half his clothes torn from hisback. As he came closer they recognized Larry Jaley. 

"Jaley, where are you going?" demanded Tom Dillon. 

At the sound of the miner's voice the man halted and then threw up hishands. Then he staggered forward once more. 

"Save me!" he yelled, wildly. "Save me! Don't shoot me! Save me from thelandslide!" And then stumbling, he fell at the feet of Dave and hisfriends. 

"Are you alone?" asked Abe Blower. 

"Ye--yes! Save me! Oh, save me!" whined Jaley, and he turned a face fullof fear on those before him. 

"Where are Merwell and Haskers and Blugg?" asked Dave. 

"All gone--swept away by the landslide!" was the whining reply. "Oh, itwas awful! It smashed them all up--and smashed up the horses, too! Oh, save me! Save me!" And then Larry Jaley gave a gasp and fell in a heap, unable to say another word. 

CHAPTER XXX

THE NEW CLAIM--CONCLUSION

"Poor fellow, he is scared stiff!" said Dave, as he bent over theshrinking man. 

"I reckon the landslide made him about loony--thet an' seein' themothers carried off to death, " murmured Abe Blower. 

"I wonder if they really were killed?" said Roger. "If it's true, whatan awful death to die!"

"Men before now have been killed by landslides, " said Tom Dillon. "Andjust remember, we ain't out of it ourselves, yet, " he added, gravely. 

Larry Jaley was cared for and given something to eat and to drink, andthen he told his story. The landslide had come upon his whole crowdwithout warning and he had escaped by what was little short of amiracle. The sight had so weakened and sickened him that he had rushedaway, not knowing in what direction, until he had come to our friends'camp. 

"Jest help me to git off o' this mountain an' I won't never follow yeag'in, " he whined, to the miners and the boys. "Jest help me to gitaway, thet's all!"

"You can take your chances with the rest of us, Jaley, " answered TomDillon, somewhat sternly. "And you mind how you behave yourself, too!"he added, by way of a warning. 

By the following morning the scare was over, and the boys took AbeBlower and Tom Dillon into the upper entrance to the mine. Just a briefexamination was made, but it was sufficient to prove to the oldprospectors that the lads had really rediscovered the lost LandslideMine. Then the old miners put up the proper stakes, as a new claim forMrs. Morr. 

In the meantime, Larry Jaley had been given some stores and told to goabout his business. Abe Blower had directed him to a trail to thesouthward. This was a long way around, but the trail seemed to beperfectly safe, and Jaley was only too glad to take to it. It was thelast the boys saw of the man. 

"And now to get back to town and establish this claim, " said Roger, sometime later. "Won't my folks be pleased!" And his face showed hissatisfaction. 

"And then to get to Yellowstone Park for a good time!" returned Dave. "We'll have to wire the folks that we are coming. "

The journey down the mountainside was by no means easy, and it took theparty two days to get to a point where traveling on horseback was safe. When they came down they kept their eyes open for some sign of Merwell, Haskers, and Blugg, but all they found was a portion of the latter'scamping outfit and the body of one of their horses. 

"Poor chaps! They must be buried under tons and tons of earth androcks!" murmured Dave. 

"It certainly looks like it, " answered Phil. 

"What a fearful end!" said Roger, with a shudder. 

The coming of our friends into Black Cat Camp created quite a stir, andmany wanted to learn the particulars of the landslide. These were toldin detail, but not a word was said about relocating the lost mine. 

"The news will leak out soon enough, " said Tom Dillon. "We want thecream of the chanct up there. " It may be as well to state that he hadlocated a claim for himself on one side of the Morr claim, and AbeBlower had located a claim on the other side. 

As soon as the boys got back to Butte the claims were properly filed, and the lads lost no time in sending off half a dozen telegrams andletters. Then they took a good wash and changed their rough miningclothing for more presentable suits. 

"And now for a first-class, six-course dinner!" cried Phil. "I say, doesn't it feel good to get back to civilization again!"

"It certainly does, " answered Dave. "But I'll feel more at home when wejoin the folks in the Park. "

"Huh! you're thinking of Jessie!" cried the shipowner's son, slyly, andat this "knock" Dave blushed deeply. 

The boys had hardly eaten their dinner when there came a telegram fromSenator Morr. 

"Listen to this, boys!" cried Roger, and read the following:

 "Good news received and we are much delighted. You boys are certainly wonders. Will await letter with interest. "

"I wish I could have seen mother's face when dad read my message toher, " went on the senator's son, wistfully. Later on he received aletter written by both his parents in which they told of the joy thenews had brought. Later still, the newly-located mine was opened, underthe directions of Abe Blower and Tom Dillon, and the three claims werethrown into one, a stock-company being formed for that purpose, withSenator Morr as president. Both Dave and Phil were given stock in themining company, and it paid very well. 

"Now, if only your father can hold his position, " said Dave, to Roger, one day, "your folks will be well fixed. "

"He is going to try to hold it, in spite of his political enemies, "answered Roger. And this Senator Morr eventually did, being elected toanother term at Washington. 

It was a happy day for the three boys when they bade good-by to AbeBlower and Tom Dillon and left Butte to go to Yellowstone Park. The oldminers were sorry to part with the lads. 

"Never mind, we'll be back here some day!" cried Roger. 

"Surest thing you know!" added Dave. 

They had already sent word ahead as to what train they were taking, andwhen they arrived at Livingston they found Dunston Porter on hand togreet them. Then a quick run was made to Gardiner, and there all took astage into the Park to the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. 

"There they are! I see them!" cried Laura. 

"Oh, look how sunburnt they are!" exclaimed Jessie, and then both girlsmade a wild dash from the hotel veranda to where the stage was stopping. In the meantime, Dave had jumped from the seat and soon he was shakinghands with Jessie and had kissed his sister. Then the others came up, and there was general rejoicing. 

"We have been around the Park once, on a stage, " said Laura. 

"But we are going again, on horseback and to camp out!" declared Jessie. 

"Fine!" cried Dave. "Couldn't be better!"

"And to think you found that mine!" cried Laura, to Roger. "Oh, how gladI was to hear it!"

"We were all glad!" put in Mrs. Wadsworth. 

"And you shot a mountain lion!" cried Jessie. "Oh, Dave!" And she fairlybeamed on the youth. 

"I suppose you'll be after fresh adventures before long, " said DunstonPorter, with a twinkle in his eyes. 

"Maybe, " answered Dave. "But I think I'll be content to stay here for abit and take it easy, " and he smiled openly at Jessie, who had to turnaway to hide her blushes. 

What next befell our hero will be related in another volume, to beentitled "Dave Porter at Bear Camp; or, The Wild Man of Mirror Lake. " Inthat we shall learn the particulars of a queer mystery and what Dave didtowards solving it. 

It was certainly a happy gathering, and the boys were sorry that Ben andShadow and some of the others were not there to enjoy it. But they haddeparted for the East with the others on the personally-conducted tour. 

"You'll have to tell us the whole story from beginning to end, " saidLaura to her brother. "Jessie and Belle and I are just dying to hearevery word of it. "

"Poor Link Merwell!" sighed Belle Endicott. "I feel sorry for hisfolks!"

"Yes, what a fearful ending for Merwell and for Haskers, too!" murmuredLaura. 

"And so you will be rich after all, Roger!" cried Laura. 

"Yes, and I am very thankful, " returned the senator's son, and then hetook a long walk with Laura, while Dave paired off with Jessie, and Philwent with Belle. The young friends had a great deal to tell each other, and nobody thought of disturbing them. 

"Well, it certainly was some trip, " said Phil, to Dunston Porter, Mrs. Wadsworth, and Belle. "And that landslide! Excuse me from falling inwith one of those again!" And he shook his head gravely. 

"You can be thankful you were not buried alive, " said Mrs. Wadsworth. Belle said nothing, but she looked at Phil in a manner that warmed hisheart. 

That evening all of the party had a grand celebration at the hotel. Every one was in the best of spirits, and the boys fairly outdidthemselves telling jokes and funny stories. 

"I can tell you, it was a trip well worth taking, " said Roger, whenabout to retire. 

"So it was, " declared our hero. And here we will leave Dave Porter andsay good-by. 

THE END

DAVE PORTER SERIES

By EDWARD STRATEMEYER

 "Mr. Stratemeyer has seldom introduced a more popular hero than Dave Porter. He is a typical boy, manly, brave, always ready for a good time if it can be obtained in an honorable way. "--_Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis. _

 "Edward Stratemeyer's 'Dave Porter' has become exceedingly popular. "--_Boston Globe. _

 "Dave and his friends are nice, manly chaps. "--_Times-Democrat, New Orleans. _

 DAVE PORTER AT OAK HALL Or The School Days of an American Boy

 DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS Or The Strange Cruise of the _Stormy Petrel_

 DAVE PORTER'S RETURN TO SCHOOL Or Winning the Medal of Honor

 DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH Or The Pluck of an American Schoolboy

 DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES Or For the Honor of Oak Hall

 DAVE PORTER AT STAR RANCH Or The Cowboy's Secret

 DAVE PORTER AND HIS RIVALS Or The Chums and Foes of Oak Hall

 DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND Or A Schoolboy's Mysterious Mission

 DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS Or Last Days at Oak Hall

 DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS Or The Search for the Landslide Mine

 DAVE PORTER AT BEAR CAMP Or The Wild Man of Mirror Lake

 DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE Or The Disappearance of the Basswood Fortune

 DAVE PORTER'S GREAT SEARCH Or The Perils of a Young Civil Engineer

 DAVE PORTER UNDER FIRE Or A Young Army Engineer in France

 DAVE PORTER'S WAR HONORS Or At the Front with the Fighting Engineers