Part 15 (1/2)
”How far is Dottery's?”
”Only about twenty-five miles. We ought to reach it by dark, if we start shortly.”
”We can start at once, as far as I am concerned,” laughed Noel.
So it was decided to lose no time, and Chet at once set to work to prepare dinner and also some food to be carried along.
CHAPTER XIII.
Caught in a Cyclone
Less than an hour later Jasper was brought out and Noel Urner sprang into the saddle, with Allen behind him on the blanket.
”Keep a close watch for more thieves while I am gone!” cried Allen.
”We will!” shouted Paul. ”And you take care for more doctored bridges!”
A parting wave of the hand and the ranch was left behind, and Allen was off on a journey that was to be filled with adventures and excitement from start to finish.
Chet and Paul watched the horse and his two riders out of sight, and then with rather heavy hearts returned to the house. The place seemed more lonely than ever with both Allen and Noel Urner gone.
”It's going to be a long time waiting for Allen's return,” sighed Paul.
”Perhaps not,” returned Chet. ”He left me with a secret to tell you, Paul.”
And Chet lost no time in relating Allen's story of the hidden mine of great wealth.
”And perhaps we can explore the place during his absence,” Paul said, after he had expressed his astonishment and asked half a dozen questions.
”I don't know about that, Paul. We may not be able to find the opening Allen mentioned, and then, again, he may not wish us to do so.”
”Why should he object?”
”I don't know.”
”We'll have ten days or two weeks on our hands, at the very least. We might as well take a look at that wealth as not.”
”Supposing somebody followed us and found out the secret? They would locate a claim before we could turn a hand.”
”We will make sure that we are not followed,” said Paul, who was anxious to see if all Allen had told could really be true.
Chet continued to demur, but after Allen and Noel had been gone the whole of the next day he gave in, and seemed as anxious as Paul to do something which would make it less lonely. Apparently the horse thieves had left the vicinity, so there was nothing to be feared in that direction during an absence that they meant should not last more than one whole day.
Sunday came between, and on Monday morning they arose early and had breakfast ere it was yet daylight. They decided to take Rush, both to ride when on a level and each to take a turn at walking when on the uphill trails.
Allen had left Chet minute directions as to how the opening to the hidden mine could be located, he having fixed the locality well in his mind before leaving it.
It was rather a gloomy day, but this the two boys did not mind.