The Go Ahead Boys and Simon's Mine by Ross Kay

R >> Ross Kay >> The Go Ahead Boys and Simon\'s Mine

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

Fred promised to carry out the suggestion although he had expected to tell
John at least of the discovery he had made.

It was long before the excited boy was able to sleep, but when at last his
eyelids closed they did not open until the party was already astir.

When breakfast had been eaten Zeke approached the place where Fred was
working on his pack and said in a low voice, "I want you to come with me."

"Where?" inquired Fred.

The guide did not reply to the query, but without any delay Fred arose and
followed him as he led the way to a place below the rim. There to his
surprise Fred saw Thomas Jefferson, evidently awaiting their coming.

As soon as the guide and the Go Ahead boy arrived, Zeke said to the
Indian, "Now then, Thomas Jefferson, I want you to tell us what you were
doing last night. I don't want any nonsense about it either. You answer my
questions straight or there'll be trouble for both of you Navajoes."

Fred was certain there was a sharp gleam in the eyes of the Indian but he
did not respond to the suggestion of the guide. Quietly seating himself he
faced them both and evidently was waiting for Zeke to begin his cross
examination.

"Thomas Jefferson," said Zeke sternly, "weren't you sent east to be
educated in the schools?"

"Yes," replied the Indian simply.

"And weren't all your expenses paid?"

"Yes."

"Didn't they treat you white?"

"They thought they did."

"Don't you _know_ they did? They paid all your traveling expenses. They
paid for your board and your clothes. There wasn't anything that cost you
a cent. What do you mean then by saying 'they thought they did'?"

"It was hard for me when I come back to the Navajo people. They laugh at
my clothes. They think what I have learned is no good and pretty soon I
am ready to give up all I have learned so that the Navajo shan't laugh at
me some more."

"That isn't it, Thomas Jefferson," said Zeke tartly. "You're expected to
come back to your tribe and show them how to live. That's the way a good
many do. I never saw an Indian who had been educated and then came back to
his tribe and give up because he was afraid some silly girl was going to
laugh at him for his clothes or his new education, that, if he let go, he
did not swing twice as far in the other direction. There's no Indian like
a bad Indian. And no bad Indian is as bad as the one I'm telling you
about."

The Navajo did not respond though his manner betrayed that his anger was
steadily rising.

"Now, then, I want to know, Thomas Jefferson, what you were doing with
those men down on the side of the Gulch last night," continued Zeke.

"I did not see men."

"Well, _man_, then. Have it your own way. Perhaps there was only one of
them. Was it that fellow with the scar on his face?"

"I did not say."

"Well, that's what you must do. You've got to tell us who he was."

"If I do not tell what will you do?"

"Drive you out of camp the same as I would drive a rat out of his hole."

The Indian laughed but made no other response.

"Now, then, Thomas Jefferson," said Zeke, angered by the apparent
indifference of the young Indian, "did you see that white man or didn't
you?"

"I did not see him."

"Are you talking straight?"

"I am."

"It is 'good talk' you're giving me, is it?"

"I did not see the man."

"Well, then, who was there?"

"I did not see any one."

"But Fred here says you were talking to somebody."

"Let him say."

"All right, T.J.," said Zeke abruptly. "We'll stop here for a while. I'm
not done with you yet. Now, what I want you to do is to take Kitoni with
you and go along the side of the Gulch keeping your eyes open for any sign
of a vein. If you find it you let me know right away."

"What you do?" inquired the Navajo.

"We shall keep up above the rim and try to find out what is there. Now
mark you, T.J., don't try any of your tricks on us. If you do, the first
thing you know you'll be thrown out and there'll be no cure for it."

The guide now rejoined the other members of the party and plans were soon
made for the day.

It finally was decided that while the two Indians were making their way
along the side of the Gulch, all the others should be divided into two
parties. Each of these two parties was to spread out in such a manner that
at least ten feet intervened between any two men.

It was decided also that the Indians should precede the others by at least
an hour.

Meanwhile it was agreed that the center of the rock should be made the
starting place for the new expedition. Slow progress was certain, but all
were more eager now to avoid mistakes than they were to make haste.

John, who declared he had now acquired an accurate stride which covered
exactly a yard, led the way. Directly behind him was Zeke, while the boys
were scattered on either side. Pete again formed the rear guard, although
no danger now was feared unless the actions of Thomas Jefferson implied
that they were being watched by others. Zeke had declared positively to
Fred that he thought the Indian was not telling him the truth. "There's
all the more reason," he explained, "why we must keep our eyes open. I'm
sure that the Navajo is being paid for his work and I shouldn't be
surprised if that man with the scar was the treasurer of the fund."

Even Fred now ignored any peril that might arise from the supposed
interview of Thomas Jefferson with other enemies, for the excitement of
the last part of their investigations was strong upon him.

Slowly the little band advanced over the broken surface. There were
gullies so deep that at first it seemed impossible to gain the opposite
side. Most of these, however, were narrow and consequently the
difficulties of John in measuring the distance were not greatly increased.

Grant had explained that if they did start from the wrong place they would
steadily swing more and more away from the spot they were seeking.
However, there was nothing to be done except to try and the eagerness of
the boys clearly showed how willing they were to make the attempt.

As the distance covered by John steadily increased, the boys became more
silent though they were steadily watching for some object that might
indicate the end of the first part of their search. No object, however,
was seen and when at last John halted, declaring that he had covered
exactly the distance required, he was standing on an elevation so slight
that no one believed it was a landmark.

"Now, from here," said Grant, "we turn and go southeast a quarter of a
mile."

"From where?" demanded Zeke.

"From where String is standing."

"Might as well start from there as anywhere," growled Zeke. "It's a kind
of fool's journey anyway."

The sun was now pouring its beams directly upon the heads of the young
explorers and there was no relief to be had. Across the desert stretch not
a place of refuge was within sight.

"There's nothing else to be done," said Grant resolutely. "Jack will have
to keep on and follow the compass just as closely as he did on the way
here."

The declaration of the Go Ahead Boy was so evidently true that without a
protest from any one the entire party resumed its march.

They were now at least a half-mile from the rim of the great Gulch. In
changing the direction in which they were moving they still were following
the line made by the huge chasm.

They had gone only half the distance of the second stage of their journey,
when they all halted abruptly as Zeke said in a low voice, pointing as he
spoke toward the canyon, "Is that smoke off there?"

For a moment all in the party were silent, but Pete and Grant were strong
in their opinion that a thin line of smoke was visible just above the
border of Thorn's Gulch.

"Huh," muttered Zeke, "that's more or less what I expected."

"What was it you were expecting?" demanded Fred.

"Just what I see."

"Yes, but what do you see?"

"The same as you do," said the guide sharply.

"I don't see anything but a little smoke. It may not be anything but a
cloud," said Fred.

"Well, you see the same thing that I do and you're as free as I am to
explain what it means. I'm very free to say that I don't like it."

"Here I am," exclaimed John, who had closely been following the compass.

"Where is that?" laughed George.

"Right here where I am is the end of that quarter-mile that we were to
follow to the southeast."

"Stay where you are then," said Grant quickly. "We've got to measure from
that spot to find anything like the stake we're looking for. We're now
going a quarter-mile north northeast from here."

Again at the second halt John was standing on another small elevation,
although it too was so slight that it would not have called attention to
itself from any chance passer-by.

"We're on our last lap, now," said Fred gleefully. "In a few minutes we'll
know whether we've struck oil or gold. Come on, fellows!" he shouted in
his excitement.

The little band at once renewed their journey and their excitement
steadily increased as John's pace led them, as they believed, in the
direction which had been indicated in the diary of Simon Moultrie.

CHAPTER XXV

CIRCLES

The determination of the Go Ahead Boys now was more manifest than at any
time since they had left the Grand Canyon. The different ways in, which
this feeling expressed itself was marked, for Fred's face was flushed and
John's was eager as they pressed steadily forward. George was sometimes
hopeful and sometimes in despair, while Grant was the only one whose
countenance was unmoved.

Conversation did not thrive now for several reasons. The face of every one
was turned toward the distance and as they pressed forward John's pace
unconsciously became swifter. Indeed, the tall Go Ahead Boy was so
interested now in arriving at the end of his journey that unconsciously he
was giving less heed to the paces he was making.

Abruptly John stopped, declaring that he had come to the end. He had
carefully followed the direction of the compass and had covered the last
quarter-mile.

Blankly the Go Ahead Boys looked all about them. They now found themselves
on the side of a low hill which itself seemed to be part of a mountain. At
their left were ledges and great rocks that had been worn away by storms
or the action of the air and sun. In whichever direction they looked,
however, they were unable to discover anything that seemed to indicate a
claim.

"I tell you we've come to the wrong place," said George, easily the most
discouraged of the band. "There isn't anything here and I knew there
wasn't all the while."

"Why did you come then?" demanded John irritably.

"I didn't want to break up the party," responded George.

"What shall we do now?" asked Fred, whose distress of mind was manifest in
the tones of his voice.

"There's nothing to do but quit," said George. "It's a wise man that knows
when he has had enough and I've had all I want."

"Q.E.D.," said Grant dryly.

"What do you mean by that?" demanded George.

"You know what it stands for," answered Grant. "All I meant was that you
proved what you started out to prove."

"What is that?" demanded George.

"Why that you're a wise man and know when to quit."

"But honestly, Soc, isn't that the way you feel about it, too?" demanded
Fred disconsolately.

"'Honestly,' Fred," retorted Grant mockingly, "it's _not_ the way I feel
about it. I'm not going to give up. Did you ever hear the story of Bruce
and the spider?"

"Only a few times," laughed John. "I think you have told us about how he
was hiding in a cave and how he watched a spider that kept on trying to
swing himself across a corner. I believe that he failed a good many times
but finally succeeded."

"Good for you, String," laughed Grant. "I wasn't quite sure that you got
the point."

"I get the point, all right," retorted John, "when you're able to make it
plain. All the same," he added, "what are we going to do next?"

"I'm not so sure," said Grant slowly. "Probably we'll have to stay here a
few weeks and keep on trying to find the right spot."

"What are you talking about?" demanded Fred blankly. "I wouldn't stay here
a few weeks for all the money there is in every mine in Arizona!"

"This is the time and this is the place when the majority have got to
rule," said Grant quietly.

"If the majority want to stay here and look a little longer for Simon
Moultrie's claim then I guess the others will have to stay too. There's
going to be no journeying across the desert or back up the gulch and the
canyon by any party of one or two. We've had enough Go Ahead Boys get
lost."

"Don't be so proud," retorted Fred. "_You_ haven't been lost, but it
wasn't any fault of yours. It was simply your good luck."

"I'm not denying that," said Grant. "I am quite sure I should have been
lost if I had been where you were. All I'm saying is that we aren't going
to lose any more."

"Well, what _are_ we going to do?" asked George.

"We've got to decide what we'll do first," said Grant. "What do you
think?" he added, turning to the guide as he spoke.

Zeke had been silent throughout the conversation. It was plain that he was
perplexed and perhaps downcast at the outcome of their first attempt.
However, the expression of his face was unchanged when he said, "I've
decided one thing and that is that you boys are going to stay right here
and watch a little while."

"'Watch'?" repeated Grant. "What do you mean? What are we going to watch?"

"You're going to be on the lookout," was all that Zeke was willing to
explain. "There's going to be some things goin' on around here worth
seein', in my opinion," he added, "but I don't know just what and I'm not
sure just where. I do know though the first thing that's going to be
done."

"What's that?" inquired Grant.

"I'm going to get under the shadow of that big rock yonder and then I'm
going to cook some dinner."

"But it isn't more than eleven o'clock," protested Fred.

"I don't care what time it is. I'm going to cook the dinner if it's
seventeen o'clock to-morrow mornin'."

"And after dinner what?" asked Grant.

"What I told you," said Zeke. "I'm going to leave you boys here on the
lookout while I go down over the rim."

"What are you going for?" asked Fred.

"Two things," replied Zeke. "I'm going to look first for those two pesky
Navajos and then I'm going to have an eye on that ledge that Simon
Moultrie referred to in his diary."

"If you have one eye in one direction and the other in another, Zeke,"
laughed Fred, "you'll be getting cross-eyed the first thing you know."

Fred's laugh relieved the tension somewhat and when dinner had been
prepared by the guides the spirits of all had risen once more.

"I'm suggesting," said Grant before the boys arose from their seats, "that
we form five big circles here, about twenty-five feet apart. We'll have a
common center and then from there we will start out, every one covering
the part that has been given him. In this way we'll be able to cover a
good deal of this ground and find out whether there's anything here to
show that Simon Moultrie ever struck a claim."

"Better not try that until I come back," suggested Zeke. "I will be back
along about supper time and I may have somethin' to report when I come. If
I do, it may change all your plans."

"What do you expect to report, Zeke?" asked George.

"Just exactly what I find," answered the guide solemnly, whereat the Go
Ahead Boys all laughed loudly.

"Now, you mind what I say," said Zeke a few minutes later. "Don't none of
you go more'n a hundred yards from this spot. It may be I shall need the
help of every one of you and need it in a hurry too. If I do, I want you
on hand. Besides, there isn't any use in any more of you wanderin' off
into the gullies trying to lose yourselves."

Zeke arose and after he had carefully looked to his person to assure
himself that his revolver was in his hip pocket and that the pole he had
taken would stand a severe test, quickly started toward the rim. Not once
did he glance behind him and in a brief time he stepped lightly over the
rim of the Gulch and disappeared from the sight of the Go Ahead Boys.

For a few minutes after the departure of the guide the boys remained in
the camp, obedient to the suggestion of Zeke, and perhaps all alike
fearful of being lost if they ventured far from the locality. Their
restlessness, however, returned in a brief time and Grant said to his
companions, "Boys, why don't we try out my plan?"

"What plan is that?" asked Fred.

"Why, that we use this place where we have camped as a center and that
every one of us, as I told you, a few feet from the others try to make a
big circle about it."

"I think that's a good scheme," said John excitedly. "It will give us
something to do and it will help us in finding what we're after."

"That's right," joined in George.

As a consequence the boys speedily began their new task.

Fred was stationed about twenty-five feet from the camp, George was
fifteen feet beyond him, John was stationed an equal distance beyond
George, while Grant, who was about sixty feet from the camp, made the
outer circle.

At a given signal the boys began their search. They did their utmost to
retain the same relative positions, although such action required greater
exertion on the part of Grant than of the other Go Ahead Boys.

When at last the circles had been completed the Go Ahead Boys decided to
repeat the experiment, following a similar plan and at equal distances
beyond the circles already made.

"We must look out," suggested Fred as the boys lined up the second time,
"not to go too far away. You know Zeke told us not to leave this place."

"I guess we shan't have any trouble," declared John. "We shan't be beyond
hailing distance from one another anyway."

The second attempt when it was completed had met with no better success
than had crowned their former efforts. No one had found a trace or
indication of any spot that had been staked out as a claim.

The third time the strange wheels revolved about the camping place,
although by this time the distance that had to be covered was greatly
increased.

When the boys at last assembled once more and the reports were made they
were all plainly disheartened. Perhaps the fact that they were tired also
had much to do with their feeling. Even Fred, however, did not suggest
that they should abandon their main purpose, for the excitement of the
search in spite of his disappointment was still strong upon him.

"I'm not just sure," said George when the boys stretched themselves upon
the ground, "that I'm looking for the right thing anyway."

"What do you expect?" demanded Fred.

"I'm looking for Simon Moultrie's claim, that's all," remarked George
simply.

"Yes, and probably you expected to stumble over a mine with the men all at
work. You expected to find a shaft and mules and men on every side. How
about it, Pop?"

"I'm not quite as bad as that," replied George, joining in the laugh that
greeted Fred's words, "but I'll have to own up I don't know exactly what I
was looking for."

"You're hopeless," laughed his friend, but for some reason silence soon
rested over the little group.

The afternoon was waning and the night would soon be at hand. Already
shadows were creeping over the gulches and canyons and the reflections
were weird and in places fantastic. In the fading light the vivid colors
of the sides of the canyons became softer. The coming of the night seemed
to cast its spell over all.

The Go Ahead Boys had become quiet. Even the stories of Pete, who a few
minutes before had joined the band, seemed to be as unreal as the empty
shells. Few questions were asked and it was not plain that all the boys
were listening.

Suddenly John arose and exclaimed, "There comes Zeke! I wonder what he has
to report."

In a moment John's companions had joined him and all four were advancing
to meet the guide who was returning from the rim of the Gulch.

CHAPTER XXVI

CONCLUSION

"Where have you been, Zeke?" called John.

"Down, 'n the Gulch," replied the guide gruffly.

"What did you find? Did you see any one?"

"Nothing to speak of," retorted Zeke, who plainly was not disposed to
recount the story of his recent adventures.

Without halting, the guide said, "The Navajos will be coming soon."

"What do you mean?" demanded John excitedly.

"Just what I say," said Zeke.

"Do you mean the whole Navajo tribe or just the two that we've seen?"

"You certainly be the most innocent chap I've ever seen," remarked Zeke
irritably, as for a moment he halted and looked sternly at the two boys.
"Of course I mean Thomas Jefferson and Kitoni."

"What are they coming up for?" demanded Fred.

"Children should be seen and not heard," retorted Zeke.

John laughed, but the face of his diminutive friend flushed angrily though
he did not reply to the statement of the leader.

Plainly Zeke was not inclined to talk. In silence he led the way back to
the camp without referring again to his visit or explaining what his
future plans were to be.

Neither would he talk after he had arrived, except to remark that it would
be time enough to talk when the Navajos came.

Two hours later Thomas Jefferson arrived in camp. The time had been
hanging heavily upon the hands of the Go Ahead Boys and the coming of the
Indian provided a sharp relief.

"Where's Kitoni?" demanded George as Thomas Jefferson alone entered the
camp.

"I cannot say."

"Are you expecting him pretty soon?"

"I expect him to be here when he shall come."

"That's quite a remarkable statement, isn't it?" said John lightly, as the
Indian turned away and approached the place where Zeke was lying on his
back.

An extensive conversation between the Navajo and the guide followed but
the Go Ahead Boys were unable to hear anything that was said.

At last, however, Zeke arose and approaching the place where the Go Ahead
Boys were standing, he said, "I hear you boys didn't do what I told you?"

"What was that?" inquired Grant.

"I told you not to leave this camp."

"We didn't go very far away," laughed Grant. "Every one of us got busy and
we made some circles around the place here where we're stopping. We tried
it three times, but we didn't find any signs of the claim which Simon
Moultrie had staked."

"What did you expect to find?" demanded Zeke, a broad grin appearing on
his face for a moment.

"The claim," reported Grant sharply.

"Did you think there was a big sign up there stating that this was old
Simon Moultrie's property and warning everybody to keep off?"

Without waiting for a reply Zeke turned away, nor were the Go Ahead Boys
able to induce him to renew his conversation. No reference was made to the
plans for the following day and all four boys were greatly mystified when
at last they retired for the night.

The failure of the guide to be interested in the attempts the boys had
made to discover the claim for which they were searching was somewhat
mortifying. Indeed, Fred was inclined to break out in open rebellion. It
was Grant, however, who soothed his feelings and prevailed upon his friend
not to speak again to Zeke concerning the efforts they had made.

Early the following morning the missing Navajo and the white man whose
face was scarred, who had been an occasional unwelcome visitor in the
camp, together approached the place where the boys were awaiting their
coming.

"Do you see who that is?" demanded Fred in a low voice.

"Not being aged and infirm and my memory not having failed me as yet,"
said Grant solemnly, "I do recollect our distinguished visitor."

No more was said although with deep interest the boys watched the approach
of the two men, wondering all the time what the coming of the white man
implied.

Their curiosity was still further increased when Zeke without waiting for
the men to enter the camp met them thirty feet away and at once entered
into a low and earnest conversation.

"What's the meaning of all this?" demanded Fred again. "I don't see what
that fellow is doing back here and I don't understand why Zeke appears to
be so friendly with him. You don't suppose," he added cautiously, "that
the guide has decided to go in with the other fellows, do you?"

"Don't you remember what Zeke told you a good many times?" spoke up Grant
sharply. "He said that children should be seen and not heard."

Fred's face was expressive of his anger, but he wisely did not respond to
the suggestion of his friend.

It was not long before Zeke and the two newcomers entered the camp where
breakfast was hastily prepared for the Indian and his companion.

"Zeke," spoke up John, "we don't understand what's going on. What does all
this mean?"

"What does all what mean?" retorted Zeke blankly.

"You know just as well as I do. What is this man doing here in our camp
again?"

"You'll have to ask him."

"Well, I don't want to ask him. I don't want anything to do with him. He
stole Simon Moultrie's diary, he smashed one of our boats, he took one of
our packs and no one knows how much more damage he has done. I don't think
he ought to be here."

"You might tell him so," suggested Zeke, smiling slightly as he spoke.

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11