, with gasping breath.

"Mebbe no! Mike t'ink yes."

There fell a silence at that, and each one looked at the other, while
the same thought passed through their minds: "If that slide buried
Choko's Find again, where would they all have been had they remained in
the cave?"

CHAPTER IV

JOHN AND HIS FRIEND ARRIVE

Nothing could have been done to avert the catastrophe on Grizzly Slide,
so the adventurers finished their breakfast in silence. Mrs. Brewster
seemed the only one who appeared grateful for their safety. Doubtless,
the others felt a certain _sense_ of thanks but they were so disturbed
over the evident loss of the mine again, that it was paramount with
them.

Having packed the camp dishes, Mike started on the trail again, silently
followed by the rest. Not until they reached Bear Forks where the roads
separated, was anything more said about the mine.

"Jeb can accompany the ladies to Pebbly Pit, while Ah ride on to Oak
Creek to meet the train that will bring John and his friends. It doesn't
look as if we-all can use their knowledge now, but we may as well talk
things over seeing that like-as-how they will have had the long trip
here," ventured Mr. Brewster, thoughtfully.

"We-all ought to make up a crowd to go up and try to find Haywuth's
body. Mebbe it will show when the snow's melted from the slope," added
Bill.

"Sam, why don't you-all plan while on your ride to Oak Creek, to take
Top Notch Trail the same time John and Tom take the expert up? The
larger the party the less danger of accident, you know," suggested Mrs.
Brewster.

"Are we going with them, mother?" Polly said, in a pleading tone.

"No, indeed, child! Aren't you cured with what happened this time?"

"'Lightning never strikes in the same place twice,' Mrs. Brewster," said
Eleanor, hopefully.

"And you know, Maw, such a terrible slide has not occurred here-abouts
in twenty years," quickly added Polly, dropping back into her ranch
vernacular in her anxiety. "It may be another twenty years before such
another slide happens."

"And we can get all the gold out of the cave that we need in a short
time," Barbara reminded them.

This made the men laugh, as the girl's words showed how little she
really understood the situation up on the peak.

"Well, we can talk things over better when the boys are present to
advise us. Meantime, you-all ride home and rest up. Ah'll bring the boys
along about night-fall," said Mr. Brewster.

The