Edward Stratemeyer

“ But the wind had gone down and the sky looked as if the rainfall might cease at any moment.
"Wall, we'll try fer breakfast," observed Abe Blower. "Nothin' like a hot cup o' coffee an' some flapjacks to cheer a man up."
The driest of the wood was selected, and they built a new fire with care, in the shelter of the largest of the overhanging rocks. Soon the appetizing odor of freshly made coffee filled the air and all drew close, to have a cup, and to partake of some fried bacon and some of Abe Blower's famous flapjacks.
"Them flapjacks made Abe a good friend," observed Tom Dillon, while eating. ”

“ For Phil, Laura had some good news, which was to the effect that Belle Endicott, the daughter of the owner of Star Ranch, where the young folks had spent such an enjoyable summer, had written that she would join the party at Livingston, for the trip through Yellowstone Park. Phil had always admired Belle, she was so dashing and so full of fun, and the news was just to his liking.
"We'll have the best times ever!" he cried. "That is, after Dave and Roger and Shadow and I get back from locating that lost mine!" ”

“ We stepped behind the rocks to find out what sort of men you were. And I guess you are just our kind," added Merwell, with a sickly grin.
"How so?" demanded Sol Blugg, sharply. "No game, now."
"I'll give it to you straight," answered Link Merwell. "Can I put down my 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 Tom Dillon party," pursued Merwell. "We were with Abe Blower, but the other crowd came up and made it hot for us, and we got out. ”

“ The cave was irregular in shape, forming something of an underground split in the rocks. The flooring led steadily downward, with here and there an opening of unknown depth.
"A good place to prospect," said Abe Blower, as he flashed his torch over 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 make it pay to git it out."
"I see the mountain lion!" cried Roger, a minute later. "There he is, in yonder corner, in his den. And look, it's his mate!" ”

“ The horse with the outfit had struck against a projecting rock and been thrown sideways, to where the trail crumbled away in some loose stones close to the edge of the dangerous cliff. The animal and the outfit were in danger of going down to the depths below. Phil, on his own horse, had caught hold of the other horse's halter and was trying to haul him to a safer footing. But the youth and his steed were losing ground instead of gaining it.
"Let go, or you'll go over!" screamed Roger, in increasing alarm. "Let the outfit go, Phil!"
The shipowner's son tried to do as bidden. ”

“ Roger and Phil were soon sound asleep, and it was not long before their snoring told that Abe Blower and Tom Dillon were likewise in the land of dreams. 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 told himself. "But here rations are too scarce. I don't know what keeps me awake, unless it is that I'm too tired to go to sleep." ”

“ But the landslide, or earthquake, had changed the surroundings to such an 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 up the case as hopeless. But our hero was not made of such stuff. He moved on slowly, in one direction and then another, trying out what looked as if they might be passages to the outer air.
And then came another distant rumble, showing that the earthquake, or landslide, was not yet at an end. The boy held his breath, wondering if it would come closer and annihilate him. ”

“ 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 his head out of a window to look. "It's that big heap the gardener put there yesterday."
"He shouldn't have placed it so close," said Luke. "Why didn't he rake it 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, who slept in a room of the barn next to the garage.
"Oh, Roger!" gasped Phil. "That big cannon cracker!" ”

“ If he goes out, it will go hard with him. Now, if we had that mine, and it was as 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 he pleased. But if we haven't got the mine to fall back on, and dad gets out 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!" cried Dave, quickly. "I am sure my father, and my Uncle Dunston, would be only too glad to help you out." ”

“ Roger gave a deep sigh. "I wish we could locate that mine!" he murmured.
"So you were thinking about that? Well, we may have luck. Let us hope so," and Dave smiled.
"I might as well tell you how it is," continued Roger, as he drove up to the little railroad station. He looked around, to make sure that no outsiders were listening. "You know father comes up for re-election this fall."
"Oh, does his term as senator run out?"
"Yes. Well, there is a movement on foot to put somebody else in his place. If they do that—well, he'll be out, that's all." ”

“ Bang! bang! It was the double report from a huge, old-fashioned horse-pistol that Tom Dillon carried. The old miner had come clattering to the spot on horseback and with a single glance had taken in the situation. The leap of the mountain lion was stayed, and with a final snarl the beast rolled over and over, disappearing of a sudden into the opening of the cave Dave had discovered.
"Are you hurt, lad?" asked the old miner, after he had waited anxiously for several seconds for the mountain lion to reappear.
"Not in the—the least," was our hero's panting answer. ”

“ Phil is with me."
"Were you hurt?"
"Shaken up a bit, that's all," replied Phil, and now Dave saw his chums standing in an opening that was about eight feet above his head.
"We had better get out of here," went on Roger, quickly. "Another landslide may bury us alive!"
"I've found the mine!" cried Dave. "I've got some nuggets from it—and a pick, a crowbar, and a broken lantern, all with your uncle's initials on them!"
"Good for you!" cried the senator's son. "Phil and I found some evidences of the mine up here—an old coat of my uncle's and some of his stakes. ”

“ Scarcely had the senator's son spoken when there came a loud report from the front end of the car.
"A blowout!" gasped Phil.
"The front tire on this side has gone to pieces!" announced Bert. "Will you have to stop?"
"Can't—not here!" announced Roger, grimly. And then he shut his teeth hard and turned on more gasoline. Up and up they bumped, the burst tire cutting deeply into the rough stones. But the power was there, and in less than thirty seconds more the car came to a standstill on the level top of Sugar Hill.
"Phew; that was a narrow shave!" remarked Bert, as the boys got out of the car. ”

“ Much disturbed, the three lads walked all over the place, and even down the back road in the direction the intruder had fled.
"If it was Merwell he must have heard all that was said," remarked the senator's son, gravely.
"If he did, it won't do him any good," answered Phil. "I don't think he'll hunt for that mine."
"He may follow us and try to make trouble," returned Dave. "He is very bitter—and so is Job Haskers. They'd put themselves out a whole lot to give us a black eye, so to speak." ”

“ 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 almost anywhere if I am tired enough."
"And you can't beat Dave riding," broke in Roger. "When he was at Star Ranch he busted the wildest bronco you ever saw."
"Is that so! Well, I don't like no wild broncos. I like a good, steady hoss, one as can climb the mountain trails and is sure-footed on the edge o' a cliff. That's the kind we'll git," concluded Tom Dillon. ”

“ The trail was wide, in fact often used by wagons and carts, so that our friends could ride two abreast.
"Not much of a farming country around here," remarked Dave, as he looked at the general barrenness of the aspect. Here and there were clumps of trees and patches of rough grass, and that was all.
"The farming country is further down, in the valleys," answered Tom Dillon. "Some pretty good soil, too. But up this way it's only good for mining. But that's good enough—if you've got a paying mine," and his kindly eyes twinkled. ”

“ 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 and letters. Then they took a good wash and changed their rough mining clothing 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 we join the folks in the Park."
"Huh! you're thinking of Jessie!" cried the shipowner's son, slyly, and at this "knock" Dave blushed deeply. ”

“ They saw that Abe Blower had taken up a long bit 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 you think so, Dave?"
"That's the way it strikes me," was our hero's reply. "See, what is left of the trail is in that direction. But, my! how the whole face of the mountain is changed!"
"Not much trail left!" grumbled Phil. "If we are not careful we'll break our necks reaching them!" ”

“ Fact is, when I spoke to my dad about going out there, he shook his head and said I had better keep away—that the search ought to be conducted by experienced men who understood the lay of the land and all that."
"Oh, we could be careful," returned Dave, impulsively. The idea of going in search of the lost mine appealed to him strongly.
"Sure, we'd be careful," added Phil. "Aren't we always careful? All aboard for the Landslide Mine, say I! Come on, if you are going!" And he grinned broadly.
"Better wait until after lunch," returned the senator's son, dryly. ”

“ 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 over the highway that ran around Lake Sargola.
"I wish we had a car," said Bert. "But dad won't get one, because, last summer, a friend of his was killed in an automobile accident."
"Well, that's enough to take the nerve out of any one," was Dave's answer.
The car rolled on, and Bert asked about the doings of the boys at Oak Hall, and told of life at the technical training school which he attended. They had almost circled the lake when Roger slowed down. ”

“ And the former teacher plainly showed his nervousness.
"I'm willing," returned Link Merwell. "I've changed my mind about doing something here," he went on. "We can do something somewhere else—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's the 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 we are getting away from this place. We must go West just as fast as we can make it!" ”

“ We know you for the rascal that you are. You committed a crime at Oak Hall, and you did what you could to swindle Mr. Fordham. It's useless for you to deny it. Now, let me say this: If you and those with you try to do the Morrs out of their property here, we'll do all we can to put you and Link Merwell in prison for your crimes. And more than that, we'll do what we can to have those men arrested, for that land swindle they tried to pull off when Abe Blower blocked them, and for stealing our horses. ”

“ He and Phil had picked up several small nuggets, so that all were sure they 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—it will be too dangerous."
"Oh, they'll find some way, don't fear," answered Roger. "As long as they know the gold is there, they'll find a way to get it." ”

“ The animals were as much alarmed as their masters.
"Might as well save your firewood, boys," said Abe Blower. "You'll need it, to dry out by, arfter the rain stops."
"If it ever does stop," grumbled Phil. Rain was Phil's great bugbear when he was on any kind of an outing.
At midnight the rain was coming down as steadily as ever. But the strong wind had died down somewhat, so by remaining close to some overhanging rocks they were more or less protected from the elements. But they could not lie down, and sleep was out of the question.
"Dave, do you think Merwell and Haskers went back to Butte?" ”

“ 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 former teacher of Oak Hall. "Oh, you needn't try to disguise it! I know all of you!"
"We have no plot against you, Mr. Haskers," replied Dave, calmly. "If your business is perfectly legitimate——"
"Never mind about that!" interposed Job Haskers, hastily. He jammed the paper and his fountain pen in his pocket. "You can't make a fool of me! ”

“ Slowly following the man, they saw Job Haskers enter the hotel and walk in the direction of the reading-room. Roger stopped the car and turned to 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," he continued, turning to Bert.
"Oh, yes, I know several young fellows and girls," answered the lad who was spending the summer at the lake.
"Then we can pretend to be calling on them," put in Roger. ”

“ Job Haskers," said Dave, after a pause, during which the visitors seated themselves. "Perhaps it is none of our business, Mr. Fordham, but my chums 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 honest living," put in Roger, "but we want you to be on your guard in any dealings you may have with him."
"Why, what do you young men know of Mr. Haskers?" demanded the old gentleman, in increasing wonder.
"We know a great deal about him, and very little to his credit," burst out Phil. ”