s returned to the house. The place seemed
more lonely than ever with both Allen and Noel Urner gone.

"It's going to be a long time waiting for Allen's return," sighed Paul.

"Perhaps not," returned Chet. "He left me with a secret to tell you,
Paul."

And Chet lost no time in relating Allen's story of the hidden mine of
great wealth.

"And perhaps we can explore the place during his absence," Paul said,
after he had expressed his astonishment and asked half a dozen
questions.

"I don't know about that, Paul. We may not be able to find the opening
Allen mentioned, and then, again, he may not wish us to do so."

"Why should he object?"

"I don't know."

"We'll have ten days or two weeks on our hands, at the very least. We
might as well take a look at that wealth as not."

"Supposing somebody followed us and found out the secret? They would
locate a claim before we could turn a hand."

"We will make sure that we are not followed," said Paul, who was anxious
to see if all Allen had told could really be true.

Chet continued to demur, but after Allen and Noel had been gone the
whole of the next day he gave in, and seemed as anxious as Paul to do
something which would make it less lonely. Apparently the horse thieves
had left the vicinity, so there was nothing to be feared in that
direction during an absence that they meant should not last more than
one whole day.

Sunday came between, and on Monday morning they arose early and had
breakfast ere it was yet daylight. They decided to take Rush, both to
ride when on a level and each to take a turn at walking when on the
uphill trails.

Allen had left Chet minute directions as to how the opening to the
hidden mine could be located, he having fixed the locality well in his
mind before leaving it.

It was rather a gloomy day, but this the two boys did not mind.

"It's better than being so raging hot," said Paul. "It makes my head
ache to ride when it's so fearfully hot."

"If it only don't rain," returned Chet. "We need it bad enough, goodness
knows, but it has held off so long it might as well hold off twenty-four
hours longer."

"I doubt if we get rain just yet. It hasn't threatened long enough,"
replied his brother.

Before the two left the ranch they saw to it that every building was
locked up tight, and an alarm, in the shape of a loaded gun, set to the
doors and windows.

"That ought to scare would-be thieves away," said Chet. "They'll imagine
someb