ks like a
fellow who might be getting a fever."

"I noticed that. But I hope he doesn't," concluded Allen.

But the fever was coming and by nightfall all of the others saw that
Slavin was in a bad way. He sat up and began to talk wildly.

"Let me go! Take the tree from me!" he cried. "I haven't got the money!
Oh, how do ye do Mr. Winthrop. Glad to see me, eh? And how is that new
mine, an' what kind of a trade are ye goin' to make with Captain Grady,
eh? Ha! ha! The cave by the seven pines! A good hiding place, the seven
pines! Let me go, the tree is crushing me!" And then he fell back almost
exhausted.

"He won't travel any more, not jes' yet," said Watson, soberly. "He's up
ag'in a long spell o' sickness."

"Did you hear what he said about Captain Grady?" asked Allen.

"I did. He must be in this game, too. An' the seven pines."

"The cave must be at a place called the seven pines," said Noel.

"If it is I think I know the spot," answered Ike Watson. "I ran across
'em seven pines two years ago. They air about two miles from here, on
the other side o' the mountain. We'll have ter go around ter git ter
'em."

An hour later Allen and Watson left Slavin in Noel Urner's care and
struck out for the place on the other side of the mountain which the old
hunter had mentioned.

CHAPTER XXIX.

The Long Lost Found

Before leaving camp both Allen and Ike Watson saw to it that their
weapons were in good condition and ready for immediate use.

"No tellin' what we may run up ag'inst," said the old hunter.

"Well, I am ready to fight, if it comes to that," returned Allen,
grimly. "But I would rather take the enemy by surprise."

"Thet would be the best way, Allen. But fust we must locate thet cave."

The ride around the mountain was a rather trying one and from a gallop
they had to slow down to a walk. In some spots the trail was much cut up
and the mud was deep, while in others they had to pick their way over
rocks which were as smooth as they were dangerous.

"Look thar," said Watson, as he paused on a spur of the rocks. "Thar's a
tumble fer ye!"

He pointed to a canyon all of five hundred feet deep and Allen had to
draw back after looking into the awful depth.

"If a fellow should tumble here he would never live to tell it," said
the young ranchman. "This would be a bad trail to follow in the dark."

Moving away from the spur of rocks overlooking the canyon, they turned
to the northwest and plunged th