e I followed after Polly the day we discovered the gold!" exclaimed
Eleanor, greatly disappointed in Polly's father.

"Ah haven't had time, Nolla. What with the doings of the claim-jumpers
and everything, Ah've had a full day. Besides, it looks as if we-all are
going to have _some_ time up here, and Ah'd feel a heap easier if you
women were safe at home."

"Are there signs of other claim-jumpers coming up, Mr. Brewster?" asked
Eleanor, anxiously.

"From what our scouts report, up on the Trail, we're going to have such
a time, if we remain here, that we may not have another good opportunity
to escape with our lives," returned the distracted man.

"Oh dear me! Can't we start now? I never want to see any claim-jumpers
again!" cried Barbara, wringing her hands.

"Keep quiet, Bob! We'll do just as Mr. Brewster says, but your
whimpering won't help any," said Anne.

"Well, girls, I'm so eager to see John again, that I'm willing to ride
down with Mike and mother," said Polly, acting her part perfectly.

"Oh, Polly! I don't want to go and leave the gold mine, but I want you
to stay with me," cried Eleanor.

"Goodness me, Nolla! Don't you s'pose we can ride up again when the
danger blows over? A lot of good the mine would do either one of us if a
dozen claim-jumpers put lead through us all at one time!" laughed Polly,
but feeling far from humorous.

"I suppose I'll just _have_ to go, if all the rest of you do!" cried
Eleanor, stamping her foot angrily.

So, after much arguing and explaining, it was decided that every one
should be ready to start down-trail at the earliest streak of daylight.

That night the girls and Mrs. Brewster slept on the pine-beds--or at
least the city girls slept, while Polly and her mother rested even as
they waited for the first warning call from the guard, who sat by the
fire that was started to keep away the wild beasts.

The hours passed without any new signals, and at three o'clock Mike
called out that he was ready to start. The girls demurred about getting
up at that hour, but Polly was too energetic to give them any peace. So,
shortly after three, the entire party started down Indian Trail,
traveling as swiftly as possible.

"Now see here! why do all you men come down, too? I thought it was only
the womenfolk who had to get out of the way!" exclaimed Eleanor,
wonderingly.

"If, any claim-jumpers are about to stake out our land up there who is
there left to stop them?" added Anne, s