, Griggs," cried Wilton. "Did you use the glass up
there?"

"Up there, and several other places too. That's why I asked the doctor
here to let me carry it."

"Well, and what did you see?" cried Wilton.

"Nothing, till we got to that highest part."

"And then?"

"Why then, right away south where the salt plains seemed to come to an
end--"

"Ah!" cried the doctor.

"I could see just a line of faint clouds or shadows."

"Yes, clouds," said Wilton--"shadows."

"Nay, it warn't," said Griggs. "Clouds and shadows miles away--a
hundred, perhaps--seen through this clear air look like clouds and
shadows."

"Of course," said Wilton.

"Blackish or greyish. These didn't."

"How did they look then?" said Bourne.

"Like mountains, sir; just that beautiful, wonderful, soft, pale pinkish
blue. We were very high up, it was as clear as clear, and I don't say
how far it was off; most likely a hundred miles away, perhaps two; but
there they were, a long line of 'em, some high and some low. Mountains,
and no mistake, and that's where we ought to go."

"Right across that scorching desert?" said Wilton.

"Yes, sir. It won't be nice, but we'll take plenty of water."

"And risk the rattlesnakes?"

"Yes, sir, and leave the Indians to themselves here," said Griggs.
"They may have this part and welcome. We don't want it. What do you
say, doctor?"

"That we'll have a good rest to-night, and climb to-morrow morning as
high above us as we can to get another glimpse of your mountains,
Griggs, and then map down our course by the compass and start, after
making the best preparations we can. Have you anything more to say
against the plan, Wilton?"

"Not a bit," cried the latter. "I didn't know that Griggs had got
another range of mountains up his sleeve. There, I'm a lazy one, and I
can't help longing to loaf about in a beautiful place like this. I
should like to stop and shoot and explore. The place is lovely."

"Wait till we've got the gold, sir," said Griggs merrily, "and then I'm
with you. Nothing I should like better than to stop about here if Mr
Lo! the poor Indian, would leave us alone. But he wouldn't, I know of
old, and I've a great objection to standing still for him to make a
target of me and stick me as full of arrows as a porcupine. Say, I
wonder we haven't seen any of those gentlemen, and those black and white
fellows with the feathery tails."

"The skunks!" cried the doctor. "No, nor do we want