Part 35 (1/2)
”Too much to drag home--if that is why you asked!” laughed Polly, looking up at Eleanor, with a wise shake of the head.
”To tell the truth, that is exactly what I planned to do until I saw how big he was!” laughed Eleanor.
”He must weigh at least two hundred pounds, Nolla,” said Anne, who had come nearer during the examination.
”Yes, nearer two hundred and fifty pounds, I reckon,” said Polly.
”I wanted to s.h.i.+p him to Chicago and show all of my society friends what _we_ killed during my mountain visit!” explained Eleanor.
”Your motive killed the project before you saw him,” said Anne, wagging her head at Eleanor as a rebuke.
Eleanor laughed merrily. ”Well, I intend having a regular exhibit when I get back! All kinds of wild things will be shown my friends. I propose having Polly and Noddy sitting upon a pedestal in the drawing-room as a sample of the wildest things on the Rockies!” laughed Eleanor, giving Polly an affectionate glance.
”Oh, Nolla, don't talk so foolishly! As if Polly would come to Chicago!
What would she do with herself while we had to entertain?” said Barbara, pettishly, but no one hearkened.
”Maybe we can blaze a trail from here to the nearest ranch on our way home, and send some one from there to come and cart the brute home for us. I'd pay him well!” said Eleanor, not willing to forego the pleasure of showing the lion at home.
”Oh, but then, you will make these ranchers curious. Once this far, they will look about the place where we spent the night, and that will lead them to discover the mine!” said Polly.
”I forgot that! Of course it would be foolish to give any one the slightest clew to our ever being here, and of what we did while here! I see I shall have to say good-by to the lion I hoped to be lionized for!” said Eleanor, laughingly.
”With a gold mine as rich as yours, you'll be lionized without the lion!” laughed Anne.
”By the way, did you bring your nugget, Polly?” asked Eleanor.
”Reckon I did!”
”Then before we leave, don't you think we ought to make some sort of a plan, or mark the spot so we can find it again? We don't want to make the same mistake old Montresor did, you know!” said Eleanor, anxiously.
”I have a plan all made. I did it while sitting by the fire this morning, before you girls were awake,” said Polly, taking off her hat and removing a folded paper.
The girls were surprised at the accuracy of the sketch, and Anne said, ”Any one can find it from these directions!”
”Thank you, but you see, it would be hazardous to risk any one else coming here. The importance of keeping the whole adventure a profound secret until we have duly filed papers and can claim right of owners.h.i.+p to the claim, can be seen now. I hardly think it wise to speak of the crevice or danger of a land-slide until after we get some inside information about taking hold of the mine,” said Polly, seriously.
An hour more was used by Polly in staking a legal claim and marking the corners with heaps of stone. She also left a very deep blaze in each of the four trees that cornered the large square area she thought would cover the cavern.
Noddy soon found the Top Notch Trail when they were again on the way homeward. By riding steadily all morning, they reached the spot where the rattle-snake was waiting for transportation. Anne and the others had experienced so many greater shocks since the killing of the reptile that they felt no qualms about carrying the snake now.
When the four riders finally turned in on the Pebbly Pit Trail, it was past four o'clock. They had been going steadily since morning, without food or rest, excepting the hour they had to stop at the falls to give the animals gra.s.s and water, and the girls were the sorriest-looking lot as they dragged up the road to the house and stopped at the porch.
CHAPTER XVI
A YOUNG STRANGER IN OAK CREEK
”Glory be! You-all war givin' Mis' Brewster fits wid no sign of hide nor hair sence yistermorn!” cried Sary, rus.h.i.+ng out of the kitchen door, the moment she heard the horses' hoof-beats.