natz. The load under which the beasts of burden
tottered was gold. Death Valley had been invaded, and once more
substantial treasure from the "Pegleg" mine gave positive evidence of
the fabulous riches, surpassing the most wonderful opulence of ancient
kings, which was accorded those who survived the horrors of the
health-wrecking, life-destroying journey. A joyous welcome awaited the
returned travelers. Chiquita had determined to get a rescuing party that
day, but a kind Providence directed otherwise. In attempting the short
cut from the last triangle of monuments Jack and Yamanatz had traveled
in a circle.

Jack recovered his normal condition more readily than did Yamanatz.
Before leaving the "Lone Fisherman," which the old prospector found of
value sufficient to pay for working, Yamanatz and Jack again made the
trip to and from the nearest located triangle and Jack had no trouble in
future visits. He soon succeeded in obtaining from the Government a
valid title to the ground.

The nucleus of that fortune was spent in fitting Chiquita for her
college education.

She entered at once upon her studies, under the care of private tutors,
and in two years' time the rapid advancement made placed her far along
toward the goal of learning. Academic courses followed in quick
succession, her wonderful intellectual powers seemingly never to weary
or flag in their grinding evolution from savagery to civilized
enlightenment during her self-imposed task of ten years in the bright
fields of knowledge.

CHAPTER XI.

COLLEGE VACATIONS.

During one of the spring terms, when the birds taunted Chiquita with
their freedom, Jack and Hazel proposed, during the recess of two weeks,
that they all take a trip to the Indian Territory and visit the
Cherokees, Kiowas and Comanches, among whose tribes were many relatives
of Chiquita. Over a rough and dusty roadbed rolled a long train of
coaches bearing tourists, farmseekers and business men through banks of
smoke and clouds of cinders to the great farming lands of the west. At
Coffeyville Jack disembarked his party and in a comfortable "buckboard"
continued the journey. A couple of miles of dusty road between
sweltering hedges of osage orange led them to the boundary of the Indian
Territory. Along this in a never varying line for a hundred miles on the
north side stretched farm after farm, divided from the highway and each
other by thousands of miles of wire fencing. Bare cornfields