a bit. Don't you know how the rivers in these parts run down in
the canons? Why, I've seen a dozen or two that you didn't know were
there when you were a hundred yards away."

"And these may be ten miles off," cried Ned.

"Ten? Yes, quite that," said Griggs dryly.

"Ah, they're a long way off, Ned, my boy," said Bourne thoughtfully.
"How far do you make it, Griggs?"

"Well, sir, I should say it's a hundred miles from here to the highest
part of that peak."

"A hundred miles!" cried Ned.

"Yes, and a good sixty to the hills about the foot."

"Then we shan't get there to-day," said the doctor decisively.

"If we do half of it, sir, we shan't have done badly," replied Griggs;
"but in thirty miles I fancy we shall have reached water, and be in a
better country than we're in now, worse luck."

"What!" cried Chris.

"What I say, squire. We don't want to go dawdling about in pretty
places. We must go yonder for rest and water, say for a day or two, but
the old prospector's map won't fit in there."

"How do you know?" said Wilton sharply.

"Because if there'd been a landmark like that big peak anywhere near the
city he'd have been safe to mark it down."

"Of course," said the doctor thoughtfully. "Where should you think that
mountain is?"

"Don't know, sir, and I don't see that it matters to us in what State
the old temple and its treasure is. All we've got to do is to find the
wilderness that hides it away, and we may as well make up our minds that
it'll take all the patience we can store up. But what do you say about
our start, sir?"

"As soon as we have had something in the way of breakfast," replied the
doctor. "Unfortunately we can have no coffee. It seems impossible to
scrape together enough fuel to make a fire."

"Not till to-night, sir, but I think we might drink what water we like.
The horses and mules will be able to get along without."

"Yes, we might venture upon a tinful each before starting," said the
doctor.

That tinful each was the first part of the meal, and declared merrily by
both boys to have quite a rattle-snaky flavour. The solid portion of
the late breakfast was not appetising.

"But never mind, squires," cried Griggs cheerily; "we're going to get
game as we go along to-day. It'll be roast birds for dinner if you keep
your eyes open. I don't mean for the game."

"For what then?" asked Chris.

"The wood to cook it, my lad. We must carry the axe ready, and if we do