n," returned
Paul.

On they went around trees and rocks and brush, until the way grew so bad
that both came to an involuntary halt.

"It looks as if the very trail had been swept away," said Paul. "I can't
see anything of it ahead."

"Nor I. Whoever would have thought of such a thing when we left home?"

"We can't go on in this direction, that's sure. What's best to be
done?"

Both looked around for several minutes and then decided to cross a rocky
stretch to the right. They had to do this with great care, as the road
was full of sink holes and crevices, and they did not want to break a
leg or have the horse injured.

The stretch crossed, they found themselves on a little hill. All about
them could be seen the effects of the cyclone, not a tree or bush had
escaped its ravages.

"It looks as if the landmarks Allen had mentioned had been swept away,"
said Paul, as he gazed around hopelessly. "I can't see the first of
them."

"It would certainly seem so," rejoined Chet. "If they are, they won't be
able to locate the mine again, excepting to sail down the underground
river."

"That is so--excepting Uncle Barnaby turns up with another and better
way of locating it," replied Paul very seriously.

CHAPTER XIV.

Another Surprise

The desolation on all sides of them and the failure to locate the marks
Allen had mentioned caused Paul and Chet to become much downcast. They
had had their long and tedious journey from the ranch home for nothing.

"I suppose there isn't anything to do but to go back," remarked Chet
dismally, as he thrashed around in the brush with a stick he had picked
up. "We are as far away from the mine as we were when we started."

"Let us be in no hurry to return," rejoined Paul. "We'll give Rush a
chance to get back his wind."

Leaving the trusty animal to roam about as pleased him, the two boys
threw themselves on the grass and gave themselves up to their
reflections.

"I'll tell you what I would like to do," remarked Chet. "I would like to
find the chap who cleaned us out of that seven hundred dollars."

"I wonder that Allen didn't get Watson to stop the horse thieves and
search them," mused Paul. "He must have known they had the money."

"He was too played out to think of much just then, I reckon. It was a
good deal to escape with the horses without getting shot."

"The cross we found in the barn belonged to that Saul Mangle beyond a
doubt. The initials prove that."

"I be