hoof-beats on the rocky trail leading along
Top Notch.

"Two tenderfut 'mos' catch up. We-all wait an' talkee," suggested Mike,
settling himself in his saddle to await the riders.

"Mike's right, because they will only follow us and find out where our
claim is located, if we start on now," added Polly.

Mr. Brewster shook his head. "Ah reckon you-all talk sense but Ah would
offer an amendment to your plan: to have Polly and Anne take Jeb for an
escort and ride on at once. Let the horses have their head and get to
the cave as soon as you can. Hold the fort until we-all join you. We-all
will see these two men and find out what they are after."

"Daddy, you must remember a grizzly bear lives in that cave. He may have
been injured but he may not have died, the other night. I have my small
rifle but Anne hasn't any weapon at all. As for Jeb--he's great on the
farm, but for this work, huh! Then there are those three miners who are
up ahead: they wouldn't hesitate to put two mere girls out of their way,
if we interfered with their staking our mine or jumping our claims,"
said Polly.

Mike smiled and expressed his opinion. "Miss'r Brooser wait wid two
ten'erfut, an' Mike go wid leedle leddies. Ef cabe hab trouble of
grizzle er miner, Mike shoot."

"Good! And Ah'll wait for Simms and the others, and then come after
you-all," agreed Mr. Brewster.

"I won't go with Mike if there is any danger at the cave. I didn't come
to the Rockies to be killed!" declared Barbara.

"Daddy, you must keep Eleanor and Barbara here with you and Jeb, and
wait for mother and the sheriff's men. Anne and I will go with Mike and
see that our rights are protected," now said Polly.

"I have as much right to go with you, Polly, as Anne has. Why must I
remain here with Bob?" demanded Eleanor.

"I know that, Nolla, but three of us will be too many--especially as
Anne and you have no firearms. I may need Anne to help me load but you
can't even do that. So it will be far better for us all if you remain
here. Mike will not have to bother over so many of us, then," explained
Polly.

"But everything may be safe at the cave, and all this worry about
fighting may be a farce," argued Eleanor.

"In that case Mike will leave us safely there and come back to guide
you-all to us. Once we are safe on that ledge with a pile of dry wood in
front of the entrance to the cave, we can defy the whole country."

"All right! Hurry away and get on to that ledge befo