else--something that will pay us both big."

"What do you mean?"

"We can go after a fortune that is coming to Roger Morr's mother. It's
the Landslide Mine, and it's lost. Haskers, if we can locate that mine,
our fortunes are made! Come on, and I'll tell you all about it while we
are getting away from this place. We must go West just as fast as we can
make it!"

CHAPTER XII

ON THE WAY WEST

"Off at last!"

"Hurrah for the West!"

"And the Landslide Mine, Roger, don't forget that!"

"What a splendid day for beginning the trip!"

"Say, we make quite a crowd, don't we?"

"Wonder if the train will be on time, Dave?"

"I suppose so. Special excursions are supposed to start on time. Is
everybody here, and have we all our baggage?"

"I've got all of mine," returned Laura. "How about you, Jessie?"

"I've got my hand-bag. The trunk went with the other trunks."

"Say, seeing this crowd, puts me in mind of a story," burst out Shadow
Hamilton. "Once some tourists--"

"Oh, Shadow!" came from several in concert.

"Better keep the story until after we are on the way," cried Dave,
gayly. "We'll have plenty of time on the train. It's a four-days' trip
to Yellowstone Park, remember."

"Here comes the train!" was the cry.

The scene was the Crumville station. The little platform was crowded
with the folks who were going on the personally-conducted tour to that
place of many wonders, Yellowstone Park. Mr. Basswood was on hand,
wearing a blue and gold badge, and so was one of the local ministers,
and these two had charge of the tour, these and a railroad official who
had to look after connections and meals. In the crowd were the boys and
girls, and also Mrs. Wadsworth, Mr. Dunston Porter, and about forty
others from Crumville and vicinity. The tour was being run at a very
reasonable rate, considering the accommodations afforded, and many were
taking advantage of this fact to see Yellowstone Park, with its
wonderful geysers, its curious boiling "paint pots," and its bears and
buffaloes. The minister had once given a lecture on the Park and this
had stimulated curiosity to go and see this land of such natural
wonders. It is a great national reservation that every American ought to
be glad to visit.

As the train rolled into the station the crowd got aboard and the
porters showed the tourists to their seats. All of the "Porter tribe,"
as Phil dubbed them, were together. Mrs. Wadsworth and another lady had
a