es are
all in our favor."

They gathered up pine cones and other fallen wood, and with the
help of the matches soon had a fire. Then they cut strips of
bacon and fried them on the ends of sharpened sticks, the sputter
making the finest music in their ears.

Never before had either tasted food so delicious, and they ate
strip after strip. Dick noticed with pleasure how the color came
into Albert's cheeks, and how his eyes began to sparkle.
Sleeping under the pines seemed to have benefited instead of
injuring him, and certainly there was a wonderful healing balm in
the air of that pine-clad mountain slope. Dick could feel it
himself. How strong he was after eating! He shook his big shoulders.

"What are you bristling up about?" asked Albert.

"Merely getting ready to start again," replied Dick. "You know the
old saying, Al, 'you've got to hit while the iron's hot.' More
treasure is down there in the pass, but if we wait it won't stay
there. Everything that we get now is worth more to us than diamonds."

"It's so," said Albert, and then he sighed sadly as he added,
"How I wish I were strong enough to go with you and help!"

"Just you wait," said Dick. "You'll be as strong as a horse in a
month, and then you'll have to do all the work and bring me my
breakfast in the morning as I lie in bed. Besides, you'd have to
stay here and guard the treasure that we already have. Better
get into the pine den. Bears and wolves may be drawn by the
scent of the food, and they might think of attacking you."

They put out the fire, and while Albert withdrew into the pine
shelter, Dick started again over the mountain. The sun was
setting blood red in the west, and in the east the shadows of
twilight were advancing. It required a new kind of courage to
enter the pass in the night, and Dick's shudders returned. At
certain times there is something in the dark that frightens the
bravest and those most used to it.

Dick hurried. He knew the way down the mountain now, and after
the food and rest he was completely refreshed. But as fast as he
went the shadows of twilight came faster, and when he reached the
bottom of the mountain it was quite dark. The plain before him
was invisible, and the forest on the slope behind him was a solid
robe of black.

Dick set foot in the pass and then stopped. It was not dread but
awe that thrilled him in every vein. He saw nothing before him
but the well of darkness that was the gre