their clothing torn.

Dave had hoped that the search for the missing cases would be an easy
one, but in that he was disappointed. The three chums walked all
around the knoll several times without getting anything in the way of
a clue as to where Porton's _cache_ was located.

"It's a shame!" burst out Roger at length. "If we could only--" He
looked quickly at Dave. "What do you see?"

Our hero did not reply. Instead he hurried forward several feet, and
then gave a low cry.

"Porton has been here!" he exclaimed, and held up a half-burned
cigarette.

It was not much of a clue, but it was something; and working on this
all three of the youths searched the vicinity diligently. They soon
came upon a somewhat flat rock, and all seized hold of this to cast it
to one side.

"Hurrah!" came simultaneously from Dave and Roger, as they saw a large
opening under where the stone had been placed.

Ben said nothing, but plunged his hand into the opening, to draw from
it an instant later one of the cases that had contained the Enos
miniatures. The other cases quickly followed.

"Are the miniatures in them?" questioned the senator's son.

"That's what I'm going to find out," answered Ben.

The cases were fastened by several catches, but these were quickly
unfastened and the lids thrown open.

"Good! Good!" exclaimed Ben, and his face showed his intense
satisfaction.

There before the eyes of the youths were nearly all of the wonderful
collection of miniatures which Mr. Basswood had inherited. Only two
were missing--those which the thieves had sold in New York.

"Oh, this is simply grand!" cried Roger, enthusiastically.

"That's what it is," added Dave, and then went on quickly: "We'll have
to get these to some safe place and then make sure that they'll never
be stolen again."

"Don't you worry about that, Dave. I won't let them out of my sight
until they are safe and sound," declared the real estate dealer's
son.

Locking up the cases once more, the three youths carried them off the
knoll and through the chaparral to where they had left Dunston Porter
and the others. Of course, Dave's uncle was much gratified to learn
that the miniatures had been recovered, and Frank Andrews was also
pleased. Jarvey Porton looked downcast, and his son showed his deep
disgust.

"I was a fool not to take them over into Mexico," remarked the former
moving-picture actor.

"Well, I told you that was what you should have done," retorte