Edward Stratemeyer

“ As they passed through the main street of Crumville—now built up a great deal more than when Dave had first known it—many persons bowed and 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 poorhouse was almost forgotten.
To the youth himself the ride was full of interest. As he sat back in the comfortable seat of the automobile he could not help but think of the many changes that had taken place since he had been found wandering along the railroad tracks, alone and hungry. ”

“ As he pulled the trigger of the pistol the mountain lion jumped at him. Crack! went the weapon, echoing loudly in that confined space. The bullet missed the beast's head and buried itself in the shoulder. As Dave fired he leaped to one side.
It was well that our hero made that move, otherwise the mountain lion must have come down directly on top of him. As it was the beast fell at his side, snarling and snapping fiercely, and turning in an effort to ascertain what that thing was which was burning him in the shoulder. ”

“ Dave turned swiftly and so did the others, and for the moment there was quite a mix-up on the narrow trail, and all were in danger of losing their footing. Then they crowded to Phil's side, and while Dave caught hold of the halter, Tom Dillon and Roger caught the falling horse with the 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 a firmer footing. The loose stones went clattering over the cliff in a shower, and more than one horse snorted in fright. ”

“ 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 his voice grew suddenly stern. "This ain't Roger Morr at all. The real fellow 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 the shadow of a near-by rock.
The senator's son faced Link Merwell and Job Haskers, and both stared at him as if they were looking at a ghost, and backed away. ”

“ Landslides have not only buried mines, they have buried cities as well."
"Oh, Dave, supposing you went to look for that mine and there was another landslide!" gasped Jessie, and turned pale.
"That's a risk we'd have to run," was his answer. "But I'd be very careful as to where I went, Jessie."
"I don't know about this," put in Mr. David Porter, with a grave shake of his head. "Better take the trip through Yellowstone Park, Dave, and let the Landslide Mine slide," and he smiled, faintly. ”

“ The discharge of the weapon echoed and reëchoed throughout the cave and brought down several small stones. Then, to Dave's intense surprise and joy, 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 that appeared to be over his head. "Where—are—you?"
And then, as Dave's torch gave a final flicker and went out, our hero saw a shaft of light move over the rocks above his head.
"It's Roger's flashlight!" he told himself, and then he set up another cry. ”

“ To get out of that driving downfall was impossible.
"I wish we were in that cave," cried Phil. "We'd be as dry as a bone in there."
"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 little longer," grumbled Phil.
"No sech cave for me," broke in Abe Blower. "The rain makes 'em too dangerous. ”

“ He has spent a lot of money while in politics—it costs a good deal to live in Washington. I heard him tell mother about it. 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. ”

“ THE NEW CLAIM—CONCLUSION
"Poor fellow, he is scared stiff!" said Dave, as he bent over the shrinking man.
"I reckon the landslide made him about loony—thet an' seein' them others carried off to death," murmured Abe Blower.
"I wonder if they really were killed?" said Roger. "If it's true, what an awful death to die!"
"Men before now have been killed by landslides," said Tom Dillon. "And just remember, we ain't out of it ourselves, yet," he added, gravely. ”

“ A single man seemed to be in charge of them, on a steed of his own.
"Halt!" yelled Tom Dillon. "Halt, or I'll fire on you!" And he raised his pistol.
At this sharp command the man with the horses turned slightly to look back. He crouched low, and wore a sombrero pulled down well over his face. On the instant he rode to the front of the galloping steeds, thus getting out of range of the old miner's weapon.
"Come on, we must get our hosses!" sang out Tom Dillon, and started forward on the run. Then he let out a shrill whistle, one he knew was used for calling the animal he had been riding. ”

“ He looked at the boys and then at Abe Blower.
"I was, but I—I guess I fell asleep," faltered Phil, sheepishly, and grew red in the face.
"Fell asleep!" cried Abe Blower. "I guess you did!" And his tone of voice showed his disgust. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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." ”

“ 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 not at first make out.
He waited behind a spur of rocks and the cry—it was more a whine of fright than anything else—came closer. Then, on a shelf of rocks but a short distance away, Dave caught sight of the beast. ”

“ He sat bolt upright, and at the same moment the old miner, who was beside him, did the same.
"What's up?" asked Tom Dillon, instinctively feeling for the pistol he carried.
"Our horses!" cried Dave. "They are running back on the trail!"
"Somebody is stealin' 'em!" roared Tom Dillon, and was on his feet on the instant.
By this time the noise had awakened Phil and Roger, and all three boys followed the old miner in arising. In the gray light of the morning they could see that their four horses were moving along the back trail on a gallop. ”

“ The accident was such a comical one that Dave and his chums laughed outright, and Tom Dillon and Abe Blower grinned broadly. Link Merwell reached down and assisted the former teacher to his feet. Job Haskers's face 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. ”

“ IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE
Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost. The mountain lion was large and powerful and evidently in full fighting humor.
The youth was armed, carrying a pistol by Tom Dillon's orders. Now, as he backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it at the beast.
The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness. Dave felt that in another second or two the beast would make a leap for him. ”

“ 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!" ”

“ 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. ”

“ An hour before the time for parting came Dunston Porter called Dave, Roger, and Phil to him, in a car that was practically vacated at the time.
"Now, I want to caution all of you to be careful," said the old hunter and traveler. "This isn't the East, remember. It's the West, and in some places it is as wild and woolly as can be. But I don't think you'll have any trouble if you mind your own business and keep your eyes open. Don't rely too much on strangers, and I think it will be wise for all of you to keep together as much as possible. Don't show any more cash than you have to. ”

“ That night the three boys climbed several tall rocks in the vicinity of their camp and looked around with care. But the only lights that they could make out were miles away, and those Abe Blower stated were on the distant 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." ”

“ 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!" ”

“ They had reached a point where the outcropping of rocks had split in twain, forming the ledge they were on and another ledge twenty or thirty feet away. Between the two ledges was a hollow with jagged rocks far below. The other ledge wound around another hill, leading to the northwest.
"This certainly is a wild country," said Roger, as the boys seated themselves on the inner side of the ledge. "Hunting for gold and silver in a place like this is certainly not easy. Think of spending month after month among rocks like these, looking for 'pay dirt' or 'pay rock,' as they call it!" ”

“ In feverish haste he set his torch up in a crack of the rocks and commenced to scoop the sand from the pocket with his hands. Out came an other nugget and then another, and then half a dozen, all about the size of hickory nuts. Then the pocket grew so deep and narrow he could not reach down into it. He took up the crowbar, and with it ascertained that the opening with the sand and nuggets was of unknown depth.
"It's the lost Landslide Mine!" said Dave to himself. "The lost mine beyond a doubt, and all this gold belongs to Mrs. Morr! Oh, won't Roger be glad when I tell him the glorious news!" ”

“ 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 idea for a club."
"A club? What do you mean?" asked Roger. "Do you mean for us to get up a club?"
"Yes, the Oak Hall Club, to be composed of fellows who attended Oak Hall for 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 me tell a story?" ”