d the slab yonder covered, it would be almost
impossible to locate it." He turned to Jake. "How long would you say it
was since the rain or frost brought that small stuff down?"

Jake glanced at the young brushwood growing higher up the slope. It was
shorter than that surrounding it, and evidently covered the spot which
the mass of debris had laid bare in its descent.

"Part of one summer and all the next," he answered decidedly.

"Tell us how you figured it out."

Jake climbed the bank and returned with two or three young branches which
he handed to Lisle.

"The thing's plain enough to you." He turned toward Nasmyth. "No growth
except in the summer--they'd had a few warm months to start them, but
they don't fork until the second year. See these shoots?"

"As winter was beginning when the Gladwyne party came down, that small
landslide must have taken place some time before then," declared Lisle.

They set to work and carefully moved aside the stones. First they
uncovered three cans of preserved meat, and then a small flour bag which
had rotted and now disclosed a hard and moldy mass inside. There was also
another bag which had evidently contained sugar; and a few other things.
All examined them in silence, and then sat down grave in face.

"It's unfortunate that nobody could positively state whether this cache
has been opened or not since it was made, but there are a few points to
guide us," said Lisle. "Do you know what kind of food civilized men
who've been compelled to work to exhaustion on insufficient rations,
helped out by a little fish or game, generally long for most?"

"No," answered Nasmyth, with a feeble attempt at levity. "I've now and
then remembered with regret the kind of dinner I used to get in England."

"You have scarcely felt the pinch," Lisle informed him. "The two things
are farinaceous stuff and sugar. No doubt, it will occur to you that
Vernon might have taken a can or two of meat; but that's not likely."

"If you're right about the longing for flour and sweet-stuff, it's a
strong point," Nasmyth declared. "Where did you learn the fact?"

Lisle looked at Jake, and the packer smiled in a significant manner.

"He's right," he vouched. "We know."

"Then," continued Lisle, indicating the sugar bag, which had been wrapped
in a waterproof sheet, "can you imagine a starving man, in desperate
haste, making up this package as it was when we found it?"

"No," admitted Nasmyth; "it's most impr