such as blankets
and grub, as also the cooking outfit, in charge of old Anthony, the
stage driver."

"That's a fact, Will, and he was to leave it at the abandoned mine
shaft, from which point we expect to make pack horses of ourselves."

"True for you, Jerry! And unless Frank here has made a mistake in his
reckoning we're due to reach that hole in the ground before another
hour."

"How about that, Frank?"

"We'll fetch up there in less time than that I reckon, fellows. To
tell you the truth, it can't be more than a mile away from here."

"Bully for that! And after we get over the peak of this rocky ridge we
ought to be on the down-grade most of the way."

When Jerry Wallington gave expression to his gratitude after this
fashion, two of his companions waved their hats as though he voiced
their sentiments. One of these boys was Will Milton, and while he did
not seem to be quite as vigorous as his chums, still his active life
during the last two years had done much to build up his strength. As
for Bluff Masters, any one could see from his looks that he had a
constitution of iron, while his face told of determination bordering
on obstinacy. The fourth member of the little party tramping along
this road leading over the ridge was Frank Langdon. He was a boy of
many parts, able to take the lead in most matters, and looked up to by
his comrades.

All of them lived in the town of Centerville, where, on account of
their love for the open and for camp life, they had become known as
the "Outdoor Chums." Fortune had indeed been kind to these four boys,
and allowed them to enjoy opportunities for real sport that come the
way of few lads.

They had first called themselves the "Rod, Gun and Camera Club,"
because their activities in the woods partook of the nature of these
several branches of sport. Will was an ardent photographer, and his
work had received high praise. Indeed, it was only recently that he
had captured a cash prize offered by a prominent newspaper for the
best collection of flashlight pictures of wild animals in their native
haunts.

This had been accomplished only after the most persistent and
laborious efforts. It was carried out during a delightful trip, taken
by the boys to the Maine country, where they met with some exceedingly
interesting adventures, all of which were set down in the seventh
volume of this series, under the title of "The Outdoor Chums in the
Big Woods; Or, The Rival Hunters of Lumbe