Part 22 (1/2)

Bruin scrambled out of a hole, some distance in advance of the boys, but they could still hear the creature, and followed, lighting their way with the torches. In a few minutes they were outside of the cave, on a sort of rocky plateau, while, running as fast as it could, the bear could be seen disappearing down the side of the mountain.

”Take a shot at him,” suggested Will.

”No, it's too far. Besides, he did us a good turn. But for him we'd be in the cave yet. Now to look about and see where we are.”

The place was unfamiliar to the boys. They might have pa.s.sed it before, in their wanderings, but they did not recognize it.

”We're not much better off,” murmured Will, despondently.

”Yes, we are,” said Jed. ”We're out of the cave, and it's only a question of time before we'll be back at camp where Gabe is probably waiting for us.”

”If he isn't dead.”

”Oh, quit it!” advised Jed, a trifle impatiently.

”Well, I'm hungry.”

”So am I, but finding fault isn't going to do any good. Come on, let's walk in some direction. Let's go down. That looks like the place where we camped,” and Jed pointed off to the left.

”Say, I believe you're right,” admitted Will, after a moment's inspection. ”It does seem to be the spot. No, it isn't, either,” he added, after looking again. ”There's a stream near that place, and there wasn't any so close to our camp.”

”You're right,” agreed Jed. ”But say, Will, am I mistaken, or are those horses down there?” and he pointed toward the other side. ”They look just like two horses, with packs on their backs. I wonder if they can be our nags, or from some other camp? Anyhow, we can get something to eat now, for there must be persons near there.”

Will, who had a little better eyesight than his brother, looked long and earnestly in the direction indicated. Then he gave a great shout.

”They're our horses!” he cried. ”I'm sure of it. I can tell old Pete two miles off! Hurrah, Jed! We're all right. Probably Gabe has come up to meet us.”

The boys, their hearts beating high with hope, hurried down the mountain side. As they came nearer to the horses they could see that there was no one with the steeds. Gabe was not in sight, and when they reached the animals, they saw that they had broken their tether ropes, and had evidently strayed from the camp.

”Then Gabe isn't here,” said Will, quickly.

”Looks that way,” agreed Jed.

”Something must have happened to him.”

”I'm afraid so. Still, the horses are all right. So are the packs on their backs. They may have broken loose right after we went to look for Gabe, and he may be hunting around for us. Anyhow, we can get something to eat. I'm nearly starved.”

There was food in the packs, and the boys made a hasty meal. They held a brief consultation, and decided they would walk along, leading the horses, as the trail was rough, and try to reach the camp, though they had no idea in which direction it lay.

As they were about to start off, Jed, who picked up from the ground the end of the broken tether rope, uttered a cry of surprise.

”What's the matter?” asked Will.

”Look here. See what I've found!”

He held out in his hand something of a dull yellow color. There was no need to say what it was. The boys knew the color of gold by this time.

”It's a nugget! A big nugget!” whispered Will, for the discovery seemed to awe him.