the cairn, for such it
seemed to be, than he gave a yell of exultation.

"I see it, boys. There's the sign as big as life."

We were upon top of the cairn in a moment, that is to say, Tom and I
were, but Juarez would not come up.

"No, no," he said, shaking his head. "I take your word, Jim, but I will
not step up there."

"All right, my boy. I won't urge you," said Jim good naturedly. He
seemed to understand Juarez.

We followed the pointing of Jim's hand and saw the ancient symbol
[Symbol -O] about seventy feet below the old woman, upon the surface of
a rock that curved out.

"That must be twelve feet across," said Jim, "in both directions."

"How do you suppose it was done?" I asked.

"By water possibly, and it may have been carved too," Jim replied.

"And the white coloring?" I inquired.

"It comes from some wash above, or it may sweat out of the rock itself."

"Well," said Tom, "let's begin our search."

"I'm willing," responded Jim.

By cutting a few steps in the sandstone we were able to reach the sign.
As Jim was busily engaged with the pick upon the rock, making the red
chips fly, he turned to us who were waiting our turn below.

"What does this remind you of, boys?" he asked.

"Of the moonlight night in our first canyon in Colorado," I said, "when
we had to dig steps for you to get down from the cliff and an Indian
took a snap shot at us with an arrow."

"Right you are," responded Jim.

"I hope we will get something really valuable this time," remarked Tom
coolly.

"Why, don't you value your dear brother?" grinned Jim. "He's your guide,
philosopher and friend."

"Never mind about that," said Tom. "Let's get to work."

Jim took the hammer and sounded all over the surface of the rock, but
found no hollow place.

"I'm going to put a blast right in the center of that letter," declared
Jim.

Juarez shook his head dubiously. It was evident that he was in dread of
something. But Jim went ahead and drilled a hole in the center of the
sign, and put a fuse to it. We drew back a ways down the rock but not
far.

We saw the smoke, a mere thread, and an occasional spark. Then an
explosion that sent pieces of red rock flying up and around us. A big
hole was torn in the center of the letter.

Jim was the first to reach the place.

"This is it," he cried.

He took the pick and began digging, and we saw that there was a round
opening into a natural hollow in the rock. Jim was able to crawl
par