y from Pine Tree. But him save half-day riding."

Mr. Brewster silently considered this possibility for a few moments,
then turned to his wife, and said: "Mary, it seems most important just
now for us to get to the cave before others reach it, as we must stake
out additional claims adjoining the mine, in order to protect the rights
of the girls. Of course, we must have Mike show us his secret trail, and
I will go to escort the girls, but you and Jeb might ride on to Pine
Tree to meet Simms' party. Then ride with them up along Top Notch Trail.
We will all meet at Four Mile Blaze."

"I was about to suggest the same plan, Sam; but I won't need Jeb with
me. I'm so used to this road that I am perfectly safe. It is the Trail
that will be hazardous to a lone rider, when once the outlaws hear of
this strike. But I will have Mr. Simms and the other men with me, so
everything will be safe and all right," replied Mrs. Brewster.

After a hasty good-by, Mrs. Brewster rode away, and the others in the
party followed after Mike who led up a hitherto unknown trail to Grizzly
Slide. It was so over-grown that no one but an Indian could ever find a
way through; however, Mike was an adept in this line.

"I have been wondering if this could have been the trail Mr. Montresor
discovered the day he approached his gold mine from the valley," said
Polly, as she followed close at Mike's heels.

"You may have hit the nail on the head, Poll. It always has been a
question whether Montresor was quite sane, because he insisted that he
rode up a strange trail that was over-grown with jungle before he came
upon the ravine that held his gold mine," added Mr. Brewster.

"Humph! Him good old scout," came from Mike.

"I'm glad to hear you say so, Mike, because I liked him so much!" sighed
Polly, and tears filled her eyes at the memory of her old friend.

"Patsy good scout, too. Solly dem dead," Mike added.

Conversation now became impossible, as Mike rode far in advance for some
reason best known to himself, and the trail was so steep and rough that
it took each rider all his attention to keep in the saddle. However, the
flora and fauna were so interesting that the girls endured many a jar
and jolt for the sake of seeing them.

Reaching Four Mile Blaze they found they had saved over half the
distance it would have been to ride up over Top Notch Trail; and this
pleased Mr. Brewster tremendously. He had just turned in his saddle to
call out to the gi