ile long. The only spot they had avoided was one where some loose rocks
looked to be positively dangerous.

"We might tackle that, but we'd be taking a big risk," said Dave.

"Right you are," said Phil. "If those rocks tumbled on us, it would be
good-by to this world!"

"But the entrance to the lost mine may be under those very rocks!"
sighed Roger. "And if so, just see what we'd miss by not searching
there."

"I've got an idee fer tacklin' thet place," said Abe Blower. "It will be
hard work, but putty safe--if we are careful."

"You mean to get above the rocks and roll 'em down the mountainside, one
after another?" questioned Tom Dillon.

"Exactly, Tom. We could do it with the wust o' the rocks that are
loose--an' the rest wouldn't matter so much."

"But we'd have to take care that we didn't roll the rocks on somebody's
head," remarked Dave.

"To be sure."

The task of getting at the dangerous rocks was begun the next day. Stone
after stone was sent crashing down the mountainside, into a desolate
waste below. It was hard work, and the boys were exhausted by the time
night fell around them. They had found a number of openings under the
rocks, but none of these had proved to be the entrance to the lost mine.

"And yet, somehow, I'm almost certain this is the spot where the mine
was located," said Abe Blower, after another look around. "The scenery
yonder looks jest like it."

"So it does," answered Tom Dillon. "I feel that the Landslide Mine was
just about here, an' my claim was over there," and he pointed to some
rocks in the distance.

Twice during the time that they were sending the big stones down the
mountainside they had caught sight of another party among the rocks,
once on horseback and again on foot. But the party had been too far away
for any one to be recognized, even with the field-glass.

"Maybe it's the Sol Blugg crowd," said Dave.

"Yes, and maybe Merwell and Haskers are with them," added Phil.

The wind had begun to blow strongly and the sun went down in a heavy
mass of angry-looking clouds.

"Up against a storm, I reckon," said Tom Dillon, after a careful survey
of the sky.

"Yes, an' when she comes like as not she'll be a rip-snorter," returned
Abe Blower.

Supper was hurried, because of the wind and the heavy clouds, and then
the whole party withdrew to the shelter of some rocks, taking their
horses with them.

"Do you think it will be very bad?" asked Dave, of old Tom Dillon.