Part 41 (1/2)

The task of getting at the dangerous rocks was begun the next day. Stone after stone was sent cras.h.i.+ng down the mountainside, into a desolate waste below. It was hard work, and the boys were exhausted by the time night fell around them. They had found a number of openings under the rocks, but none of these had proved to be the entrance to the lost mine.

”And yet, somehow, I'm almost certain this is the spot where the mine was located,” said Abe Blower, after another look around. ”The scenery yonder looks jest like it.”

”So it does,” answered Tom Dillon. ”I feel that the Landslide Mine was just about here, an' my claim was over there,” and he pointed to some rocks in the distance.

Twice during the time that they were sending the big stones down the mountainside they had caught sight of another party among the rocks, once on horseback and again on foot. But the party had been too far away for any one to be recognized, even with the field-gla.s.s.

”Maybe it's the Sol Blugg crowd,” said Dave.

”Yes, and maybe Merwell and Haskers are with them,” added Phil.

The wind had begun to blow strongly and the sun went down in a heavy ma.s.s of angry-looking clouds.

”Up against a storm, I reckon,” said Tom Dillon, after a careful survey of the sky.

”Yes, an' when she comes like as not she'll be a rip-snorter,” returned Abe Blower.

Supper was hurried, because of the wind and the heavy clouds, and then the whole party withdrew to the shelter of some rocks, taking their horses with them.

”Do you think it will be very bad?” asked Dave, of old Tom Dillon.

”Perhaps, lad; some storms up here on the mountain are about as bad as they make 'em,” was the grave reply.

CHAPTER XXV

CAUGHT IN A STORM

”Say, but this is sure going to be a corker!”

Dave shouted out the words--to make himself heard above the whistling of the wind as it blew across the little plateau on the mountainside, where the party had gone into camp.

It was half an hour later, and during that time the oncoming storm had approached steadily. At first the wind had come in fitful gusts, bending the scant brushwood among the rocks first in one direction and then another. This had been followed by a sudden dash of rain, and for a few minutes they had hoped that the worst of the downpour would pa.s.s to the south of them. But then had come a sudden turn, and now the rain was descending on them in torrents, driven in a slanting direction by the wind, which showed no signs of abating.

”I should say it was a corker!” returned Roger, as he brushed the water from his face and peered beyond the rocks. 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. I was in a mine onct when it rained like this, an', fust thing we knew, about a hundred tons o' rocks slid down, almost buryin'

us alive!”

”We'll stay where we are,” said Tom Dillon. ”The storm won't last forever.”