Men cannot mine a lode of
precious ore without leaving many traces behind to tell of their
presence. And the stream of clear water that passed across the place
seemed to offer a splendid chance for panning any golden treasure that
might be found in the shape of soft quartz.
Now and again Frank would place the torch behind him. Bob wondered
what he did this for until he saw his chum bending his head forward as
though endeavoring to discover what lay ahead. Then he realized that
the light blinded him while it was before his eyes, and he sought to
avoid the trouble in this way.
"There's another bend ahead, Bob," Frank remarked, presently.
"Yes?" said the Kentucky lad, eagerly, suspecting what was coming.
"And I can see signs of light at the curve," Frank went on.
"Hurrah! Everything seems to be coming out just as you figured, Frank.
When I get back to the ranch I'm going to write to the president,
proposing that he put you in charge of the weather bureau. Every old
farmer will know then when to look out for storms."
"Well, we may be in for one now," observed Frank, dryly.
"Look here, you mean something by that remark," Bob cried. "Do you
expect we're going to have a peck of trouble with these miners?"
"I don't know. It all depends on what sort of men they are," Frank
replied.
"But we wont let 'em drive us out of here until we know all about that
geyser, if there is such a thing; will we, Frank?"
"Well, I reckon it won't take a great deal of driving to get both of us
out; but of course I do hope we'll learn something about the real cause
of all this awful racket.
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