"Signs aplenty around here," he remarked. "Wish old Hank was along to
read 'em. I reckon I can tell what they stand for, though."
"Then they went on up that canyon, you believe?" asked Bob.
"Reckon there isn't any doubt about that part of it," chuckled Frank;
"though just where that same canyon leads I can't say. P'raps it may
be a short-cut across the big range here, leading to the prairie on the
other side. P'raps it doesn't go anywhere, but just leads to a blind
hole that I've heard prospectors call a _cul de sac_. Anyhow, we ought
to find out, Bob."
"_They_ knew all right," remarked the other, positively. "Wouldn't get
any riders going up there in the dark, unless they were mighty familiar
with every foot of the way. That's my idea, Frank."
"And I reckon it's the true one," asserted the other. "They know this
place as well as I do all around old Circle Ranch."
"There's the sun coming up; and perhaps we'd better be getting a move
on about now?" suggested Bob.
"Wait!"
Something in the tone which his saddle chum used caused Bob to turn his
head, and look out toward the plain.
"Huh! what does that mean?" he ejaculated. "A single rider heading
this way; and he seems to be leading a burro loaded with supplies.
Must be a bold prospector, bound to look into the secrets of Thunder
Mountain as we're bent on doing; only he hunts for gold, while we're
just bent on finding things out."
"But look now," Frank said a little later, as the other came closer.
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