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

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When they had gone fifty feet, the smaller man stopped and turned about so
that he once more faced the camp, as he shouted, "You think the game is in
your hands, don't you? Well, you'll have another think. All I can say to
you is that you've got a big surprise coming."

As no one responded to his threat the stranger quickly turned about and
soon overtook his companion.

Silently the Go Ahead Boys watched the departing men until they had
disappeared below the rim of the great Gulch. Then Fred said, "Zeke, what
do you suppose that fellow meant?"

"There's no tellin'," replied Zeke in his most non-committal manner.

"But what do you think?"

"I'm not thinkin' very much. I'm watchin' this stuff to see that it
doesn't burn."

"That's all right, Zeke," said Fred impatiently. "But what I want to know
is whether or not you think those two men are going to be waiting for us
when we find the claim which Simon Moultrie staked."

"I'll have to tell you later about that."

"Look there! They are coming back!" abruptly exclaimed Fred.

The Go Ahead Boy's words were true for the two men were seen clambering
upon the rim and once more approaching the camp.

"Will you give me my pistol?" demanded the man with the scar. "There's no
knowing what we may run up against and I don't like to go down into the
Gulch without anything to protect me."

"No, sir, I won't," said Zeke. "That pistol is as dangerous in your hands
as it would be in the hands of an Apache. There's just one thing we'll do
for you."

"What's that?"

"I'll take back what I said and we'll give you something to eat if you'll
agree to leave and never come back."

"In course we'll do it," laughed the man. "I didn't believe that you'd
turn us away without giving us even a spoonful of that stuff you're
cooking."

Other articles of food had been prepared by Zeke, who was desirous of
economizing in the fire. Wood was scarce and so difficult to obtain that
the guide was unwilling to waste a fire just for the sake of their
uninvited guests.

As soon as he was convinced that the men were busy in their repast Zeke
solemnly winked at Grant and in a manner which was seen by all who were in
the camp motioned for him to follow.

Grant at once obeyed the suggestion and as soon as they had withdrawn to
one side Zeke in a low voice said, "Did those two fellows come across the
Gulch?"

"Yes," replied Grant.

"Then it looks likely to me that they have been looking for that claim."

"What makes you think so?"

"They have been gone 'bout long enough to cover the distance."

"Do you think they have found it?"

"I can't say."

"But do you think they have?"

"It looks a bit like it, judging from the fact that they have come back
here so soon. Now I want you to see which way they go when they leave."

"Are you sure they're going to leave?"

"Perfectly sure," remarked Zeke as a slight grin appeared for a moment
upon his face, "and they're goin' to be in a hurry when they go, too. Have
you got plenty of soap in the camp?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Well, then I want you to take some of it and go down there at the head of
the path they follow when they leave us and grease those rocks. Don't
cover them all, but put enough on them so that the rocks will be
slippery."

"But you don't want to hurt them, do you?" protested Grant.

"Don't you worry none about hurtin'. All I'm goin' to do is to 'accelerate
their departure,' as the poet says."

"What poet says that?" inquired Grant laughingly.

"I don't just remember his name," said the guide demurely. "He said it
though and that's enough."

"I'll do what you say," said Grant, as they both turned back to rejoin
their companions.

Beckoning to Fred, after he had secured a bar of soap and taking with him
a small pan of water, Grant led the way to the spot which the guide had
indicated.

There, unseen by the others they thoroughly carried out the directions
which Zeke had given them and in a brief time turned back to the camp.

"I guess we'll be goin' on, as we agreed," said the man with the scar when
their simple repast had been eaten.

No one interposed any objections, and the two men, after Zeke had once
more refused to restore the pistol which he had taken from them, arose and
started toward the path which before they had followed when they had
returned to the camp.

CHAPTER XXII

SPLIT ROCK

"Well, boys," said Zeke when the men had departed, "my advice to you is to
watch out for those two fellows. I told 'em they would go in a hurry when
they left camp. You watch 'em! There they are now!"

As he spoke the feet of each of their recent visitors suddenly flew out
from under him and both men slid rapidly forward on their backs.

"Haw! Haw!" roared Zeke, who was seldom heard to laugh. "That's a good
'un! Come back here," he shouted, "and I'll pick you up!"

The Go Ahead Boys, however, did not wait for the men to rise. Running
swiftly to the place where they had disappeared from sight they peered
down the sloping side of the Gulch and saw both men still moving rapidly
in their descent.

Apparently neither was in any special difficulty, although both were
moving swiftly in their descent. They had gone down the shelving and soft
side of the Gulch a hundred feet or more before either of them regained
his footing. The man with the scar, who was in advance of his companion,
first attempted to rise, but his effort was intercepted by his larger
companion who slid against him with full force, again sending both men
rolling down the cliff side.

Inasmuch as there was no special danger connected with their descent, for
the ground was soft, the amusement of the Go Ahead Boys became keen. They
laughed and shouted their words of approval, and Zeke's words were the
loudest of all.

The two men, when at last they succeeded in regaining an upright position,
turned and savagely shook their fists at the laughing party on the rim of
the Gulch and then resuming their descent, continued on their way until
both disappeared from sight.

"I'm thinkin'," said Zeke as the party returned to the camp, "that those
fellows won't come back here again, at least in the daytime."

"If they come at night," suggested Fred, "it won't do us any good, I'm
afraid."

"No more it won't," acknowledged the guide, "but if my plans work out,
when they come back here we shall be gone."

"Did you find Tom's Thumb?" asked Grant

"We did," answered the guide quietly.

"You did?" exclaimed Grant. "If you had never seen it before how did you
know it was the place for which you were looking?"

"You couldn't miss it," explained Zeke. "There's a stretch of rock there
almost as big as a house that is shaped exac'ly like a man's fist, only
the thumb stands straight up."

"Did it really look like a thumb?" inquired Fred excitedly.

"It did. We both saw it about the same time and there wasn't any mistaking
it either."

"That's all right then," said Grant. "If we've found Two Crow Tree and
Tom's Thumb then it ought not to be very hard for us to find Split Rock.
We know just about where it is placed, according to the map that Simon
Moultrie drew."

"It's on the other side of the Gulch though," suggested George.

"You don't mean it?" exclaimed Fred laughingly. "What a wise chap you
are." As Fred spoke Grant drew from his pocket the paper on which he had
retraced the outlines of the map drawn by Simon Moultrie.

"In course we're not sure," said Zeke, "but we can get an idea about where
to look."

"When shall we start?" asked Grant.

"First thing in the morning" replied the guide. "We wouldn't take any
chances starting by night, though now that I've got that chap's revolver
I'm thinkin' we wouldn't have anything very much to fear from him."

"But the other man may have a pistol," suggested George.

"That's right," acknowledged Zeke. "All the more reason for waitin' until
mornin' afore we start."

"Well, there's one thing," laughed Grant, "and that is that we shan't try
to go down the Gulch the same way those two men started."

"They did sit down hard, didn't they?" chuckled Zeke.

Again the Go Ahead Boys laughed at the recollection of the ludicrous sight
presented by the two white men when they had unexpectedly started swiftly
on their descent of the Gulch.

When the following morning dawned, the guides and the two Navajos were the
first to be stirring in the camp. Before breakfast had been prepared,
however, the Go Ahead Boys were awake and preparing for their expedition.

The packs were to be restrapped and all their various belongings secured.
This task was completed by the time breakfast was ready and when the boys
seated themselves on the ground they were thoroughly ready to receive the
food which Zeke and Pete now served them.

"Zeke," inquired Grant, "do you really think those two men found the claim
which Simon Moultrie staked?"

"I don't really think so," answered the guide slowly, "but I shouldn't be
surprised if they did."

"If they have got it," said Grant, "what can we do?"

"Nothin'."

"Do you mean to say that we can't claim it?"

"That's just what I mean. You can take up some other claims right close by
if you want to, but first come first served."

"But that isn't their claim. It belonged to Simon Moultrie."

"Well, if it did," said Zeke dryly, "then I reckon they have as much right
to it as we have."

"I hadn't thought of that," said Grant blankly. "However, I haven't much
idea that old Sime ever filed his claim. If he didn't, why we stand as
good a chance as any one. I do say," he added, "that the sooner we get
started and the faster we go the less trouble we're likely to have."

"Then why don't we start right away?" demanded Fred as he leaped to his
feet.

In a brief time the party with their packs on their backs started toward
the Gulch. As has been said, the sides of the canyon at this place were
not unduly steep, and, though the descent in places was difficult, none of
the Go Ahead Boys had met with any mishap when at last they all safely
arrived in the valley below.

There they halted for a rest and before they resumed their journey Zeke
said, "It's so warm here in the middle of the day that I feel as if I was
suffocated. I guess we'd better stay here where we be 'till we've cooked
our dinner."

The descent had required so much effort on the part of every one of the Go
Ahead Boys that they were all willing to accede to the guide's suggestion.

"Zeke, how far do you think we'll have to go before we begin our search?"
inquired Fred.

"We'll have to go until we come to the claim," replied the guide dryly.

"But when shall we begin to look?"

"Keep lookin' all the while. I'm thinkin', though," Zeke added, "that we
shan't have to go more than three or four miles from the rim."

"You don't suppose he has staked his claim right on the top of the ground,
do you?" inquired George.

"What put that notion into your head?" laughed the guide.

"Why it looks so on Simon's map."

"That's all right," acknowledged Zeke. "That map doesn't show many
gulches, does it? But I'm not lookin' for a claim right on the flat part
of the rim."

"You'll tell us when to begin to look for the stakes, won't you?" asked
Fred who was deeply interested in the project which now was distinctly
before him.

"Don't you worry none about that," replied Zeke. "When you boys are ready
to start you say the word and we'll leave."

"I guess we're all ready to go now," suggested Grant.

"Off we go then," said Zeke, as he promptly arose and swung his pack to
his back.

The party by this time was moving in single file, Zeke still leading the
way and Pete following as the rear guard.

The two young Navajos had not remained in the line for any continued
length of time. They were moving back and forth, the expression of their
shining eyes betraying their keen interest. Indeed, the possibility of
discovering a mine had so aroused every member of the party that even the
guide who was leading could not entirely conceal his excitement by his
manner.

For nearly three hours the little expedition continued on its way.
Climbing proved to be more difficult than the descent had been, but at
last the party was near the rim.

There they halted once more while Zeke directed the Navajoes to move along
the side of the gulch beneath the rim while the others continued on their
way across the plateau.

"Yonder is Split Rock, I'm thinkin'," abruptly said Zeke as he stopped and
pointed to a huge rock unlike any others which the boys had seen in the
region. The stone had been cut almost as if by some huge knife. Several
inches of the space between the halves had been filled in by the dust
which the winds had deposited.

In the midst of the soil thus obtained a tree was growing which now had
shot up at least twenty feet above the top of the great rock.

"What do you suppose that is?" inquired George lightly. "Is the tree
trying to keep those rocks apart or are the rocks trying to keep the tree
in between them?"

No one replied to the query of the Go Ahead Boy, for all were keenly
aroused, now that they had found the third object which Simon Moultrie had
indicated on his map.

So eager were all the members of the party that in spite of their recent
exertions and the loads they were carrying they all began to run. In a
brief time they arrived at the destination they were seeking and as they
swung their packs from their shoulders Grant hastily drew again from his
pocket the map which he had made in his attempt to recall the one which
Simon Moultrie had drawn in the diary that the Go Ahead Boys had found.

CHAPTER XXIII

ON THE RIM

The little assembly crowded closely about Grant and looked with eager
interest at the drawings he had made.

"What does it mean?" inquired Fred, "when it says you have to go a
half-mile northeast?"

"I'm not sure that it says that," replied Grant. "There's simply a mark
here, 1/2 m. N.E."

"Well, any lubber knows that that means a half-mile northeast."

"Not being a 'lubber,'" retorted Grant, "of course I'm not sure. I'm not
very much impressed by a 'lubber's' knowledge anyway."

The Go Ahead Boys laughed at the retort, but their interest in their
immediate problem was too keen to permit other matters to enter their
thoughts.

"Now how do we know that those letters don't refer to the stake itself?"
asked George.

"A brilliant remark," said Grant scornfully. "All you have to do is to
locate the claim that Simon Moultrie staked and then prove that it is a
half-mile northeast, a quarter-mile southeast, and a quarter of a mile
north northeast from some place that you don't care anything about."

"That's not it," said Zeke, shaking his head as he spoke. "It's the claim
itself. My opinion is that you go a half-mile northeast from Split Rock.
Then turn and go one-quarter of a mile southeast and then a quarter of a
mile north northeast."

Both the Navajos were present, standing on the border of the assembly and
their shining eyes betrayed their keen interest in the discussion.

"If I recollect aright," said John, "in that diary of Simon Moultrie's he
wrote that he was in the middle of Thorn's Gulch when he struck the vein
just right."

"That's so," spoke up Grant quickly, "I do remember that."

"Yea!" continued John, elated by the response which had greeted his words,
"and that isn't all. He says he followed it up and found the place he was
looking for. Didn't he say too that he had already had an assay made and
that it was great?"

"Wonderful, String!" said Fred. "You have proved yourself to be a great
man. That's exactly what was in the diary as I recall it. The only thing
then for us to do is to follow along the middle of Thorn's Gulch until we
strike the vein."

"Huh!" retorted Zeke, "you had better make arrangements to have breakfast
with the man in the moon than try any such plan as that."

"What shall we do then?" demanded John.

"We've got to decide first of all," explained Zeke, "about this claim that
old Sime staked."

"That's what we're trying to do," interrupted Fred glibly.

"Be patient with the child, Zeke," said Grant dryly. "He rides on a
half-fare ticket yet."

"Quit your fooling," spoke up John. "We want to find out about this."

"Well," said Zeke, "I've got a compass here, of course, but I haven't any
chain. How are we going to tell when we have covered the distance!"

"The only way," responded Grant, "will be for us to pace the distance
until we come to what we think is about the spot which Simon found."

"That will take a month of Sundays," spoke up George.

"It will take some time," acknowledged Grant, "but I don't know any other
way. Do you, Zeke?" he inquired, turning to the guide.

"Where are you going to start with your measurements?" demanded Zeke.

"Why, at Split Rock, of course," said Grant promptly.

"From the middle of the Rock, or the edge? From the near side or the far
side? From the top of it or--"

"I say," broke in Fred, "that we start from the edge of the Rock where it
touches the sand. Then we can follow the compass and we know just how many
paces there will be in a half-mile."

"It will depend on who does the pacing, I guess," said John drolly. "My
legs are longer than Fred's and I guess my steps wouldn't be more than
half as many as his."

"The best thing for us to do," said Grant confidently, "is to measure off
as nearly as we can do it just what a yard is. Then John, who can cover
any distance from two inches to two yards, can try to take steps just the
required length."

"We can try that," assented Zeke dubiously, "though I'm inclined to think
the better plan will be for us to get a stick that will measure a yard as
nearly as we can make it. Then we had better measure it off. We can follow
the compass all the way and needn't go very far aside even if we don't
come to the exact spot."

"It's a long job," remarked Fred dolefully. "You see we've got to turn.
We've got to make the half-mile, then stop and change our directions and
go a quarter-mile southeast and then stop again and go a quarter of a mile
north northeast. I wonder why old Sime didn't make it a straight line
anyway."

"We may find out," said Grant, "that he had to go this way. What shall we
do, Zeke?" he added, turning to the guide.

"Whichever you say," replied Zeke.

"Then, I say we try first to let John pace a half-mile. We'll all go along
with him and when he comes to the end of his eight hundred and eighty
yards why all there is for us to do is to stop and change the direction
according to the compass and start out again."

"We haven't anything to measure with," said John dolefully.

"We can strike it pretty close," said Zeke.

"I'll tell you what we can do, boys," said Fred. "The first joint in my
thumb is just three-quarters of an inch. We can measure it with that."

Securing a piece of string Grant carefully measured according to the rule
suggested by the diminutive Go Ahead Boy and soon he held up his string
saying, as he did so, "If Fred is right that is exactly a yard."

"Let me see it," said Zeke, taking the string. Making his own measurements
he soon declared that Grant was almost correct in his statement. "We can't
get within a half-inch of it anyway," he said.

"A half-inch on a yard would mean four hundred and forty-four inches for a
half-mile," said Grant. "Now four hundred and forty inches is thirty-six
and three-quarter feet. If we get as far as that out of our way it will
take us from now until Christmas to find old Simon Moultrie's lost mine."

"It doesn't make any difference," said John, "that's the best we can do
and that's all we've got to work on."

The elongated Go Ahead Boy already had measured twenty yards of the ground
and after every yard had been indicated he was walking over the distance
trying to see how closely he could adjust his footsteps to the
measurements which had been made.

"We'll try it anyway," said Grant. "There's nothing else to be done, but
it won't be safe to start until to-morrow morning, will it, Zeke?"

"That's what it won't," said the guide quietly. "We'll stay here at Split
Rock until sunrise to-morrow morning."

In accordance with the directions of the guide preparations were at once
made for passing the night at the place where they had halted. Thoroughly
tired by their exertions the Go Ahead Boys were ready for bed soon after
their supper had been prepared and eaten. Indeed, it was not long after
dark before silence rested over the entire camp and apparently every
member of the party was sleeping soundly.

Some time later Fred suddenly sat erect and looked keenly all about him.
He was unable to decide what had awakened him so abruptly for the silence
which rested over the place was unbroken.

Uneasy over his sudden awakening, Fred, after delaying a few minutes,
silently arose and doing his utmost not to disturb his other comrades
moved cautiously toward the rim of the Gulch.

The stars in the sky above him were shining so brightly and appeared to be
so near that to the boy it seemed almost possible that they might be
plucked from their setting. Not a cloud was visible in the sky. The
silence that rested over the entire region was so tense that Fred's nerves
were tingling as he stopped for a moment to look about him and listen.
What a marvelous experience it was. Alone with a few of his friends on the
limitless plains, thoughts of the busy scenes in the great city in which
he had his home were almost impossible under such conditions. The whole
world seemed to be barren, while over all were the shining stars whose
lights were visible thousands of miles away.

Suddenly Fred's thoughts were diverted from the sublimity of the sight
which had claimed his attention. At that moment he saw the form of some
one peering just above the rim of the great Gulch.

Startled by the sight Fred dropped upon the ground and excitedly waited
for events to develop.

The man before him turned for a moment and apparently was speaking to some
one who was hidden from Fred's sight. The boy was confident that he
overheard several words although he was not able to distinguish anything
that was said.

Fred saw the man whose approach he had discovered now turn again and
silently approach the camp.

Greatly surprised Fred speedily was aware that the approaching man was
Thomas Jefferson. It was not possible to deny that he had left the camp
and in all probability had been talking to some one in the Gulch. Who or
what the man was, it was impossible for Fred to conjecture. Troubled and
perplexed by the strange occurrence he started swiftly toward the camp. As
he drew near, abruptly the Indian arose and advanced.

"Is that you, Thomas Jefferson?" whispered Fred.

"What you do?" replied the Indian. The Navajo spoke in low tones, but his
excitement was revealed in the trembling of his voice.

"Me? I haven't done anything. What have you been doing?"

"What you see?" inquired the Indian.

Ignoring the question, Fred said, "Who was talking to you?"

"Where? What you see? What you hear?" demanded the Navajo now plainly
aroused by the question of the Go Ahead Boy.

"I have told you," replied Fred. "What were you doing out there with that
fellow below the rim of the canyon?"

Before Thomas Jefferson could reply a thought flashed into Fred's mind
which nearly staggered him. Was it possible that the Navajo had been
meeting the two white men who had made so much trouble? And if he had met
them what had he told them? Was he revealing what every one in the camp
now was expected to keep secret? And why were the two white men still
following the party if they had already discovered the location of Simon
Moultrie's claim?

The questions were so troublesome that Fred decided that it was necessary
for him to consult Zeke at once and tell him about the exciting experience
through which he had just passed.

CHAPTER XXIV

A SMALL CLOUD

Fred was relieved when he discovered that Thomas Jefferson was eager to go
back to the camp and avoid all further questioning.

The actions of the Navajo, however, increased Fred's feeling of anxiety.
He watched the Indian until he was convinced that he was trying to avoid
any further interview. Then the Go Ahead Boy moved silently around the
camp to the place where the guide was sleeping.

Fred's hand placed lightly upon the face of Zeke at once aroused the guide
who quickly sat erect. Fred meanwhile had dropped on the ground by his
side and as he did so he said, "Don't move, Zeke. Don't get up. I've got
something I want to tell you."

"What is it, lad?" whispered Zeke, at once complying with the suggestion.

Thus bidden Fred related his discovery of Thomas Jefferson returning from
the rim of the Gulch. He also gave his reasons for believing that the
Navajo had been having an interview with some one on the sloping side of
the Gulch. He expressed fully his suspicions that the unseen man was one
of the two unwelcome white men who had visited the camp several times.

In low voices Fred and the guide conversed for several minutes. When the
conversation at last was ended and all of Zeke's questions had been
answered the guide said to Fred, "Now see that you keep this to yourself.
I'm hopin' that we shan't have any serious trouble, but I don't like the
way it looks. Don't tell any of your pals about it."

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