ked the old miner, after he had waited anxiously
for several seconds for the mountain lion to reappear.

"Not in the--the least," was our hero's panting answer. "But it--it was
a close call!" and he shuddered. "Do you think he's dead?"

"I shouldn't wonder. You hit him, didn't you?"

"Yes, twice. But they couldn't have been very good shots, or he wouldn't
have come for me again."

"Mountain lions is mighty tough, lad. I've seen one with six bullets in
him still show fight. Load up, as quick as you can. His mate may be
around."

This advice was, however, unnecessary for Dave was already recharging
the empty chambers of the pistol. From his Uncle Dunston he had learned
years before the advisability of keeping one's weapon ready for use at
all times.

The sound of the shots had called the others of the party to the scene,
and numerous were the questions asked.

"Wow! a mountain lion!" cried Phil. "And did you kill him, Dave?"

"I don't know whether he is dead. Mr. Dillon and I both hit him, and he
flopped around here until he slid down into that hole yonder."

"Maybe he isn't dead yet," suggested Roger.

"Even so, being badly wounded, he'll stick to his shelter," said Abe
Blower. "Say," he went on, "thet looks like a putty good sized cave!"

"Just what I was thinking," returned Dave. "I was going to have a look
inside, when that mountain lion growled and sprang out at me."

"We'll light some torches, and take a look at the place," suggested old
Tom Dillon.

"Oh, supposing it's an entrance to that lost mine!" cried Phil.

"It would be great!" added the senator's son, enthusiastically.

"I hardly think it could be thet," put in Abe Blower. "But if the cave
is long enough, it might lead to one o' the shafts as was sunk fer the
mine; eh, Tom?"

"That's true," responded the old miner.

"I've got my electric torch with me," said Roger, bringing that useful
article from his pocket. "We can use that in the cave."

"The light wouldn't be strong enough, an' steady enough," answered Abe
Blower. "We'll have to have regular torches, and plenty of 'em, too.
Caves like thet are often full o' holes, an' ye might step into one an'
fall down to Chiny, or somewhere else," and he smiled, grimly.

The old miners had picked up some sticks for torches on the way,
thinking they might come in useful for firewood if for nothing else, and
several of these were now lit and swung into a lively blaze.

"No use of all of us goin'