ipice a thousand
feet deep. This will be easy enough, so long as we have the sun to
help us."

"You probably know as much about the trail as Wade and I, for neither
of us has been over it often. Consequently, when we travel by night,
we shall have to go it blind, or rather shall do so after awhile,
since all is plain sailing now."

"I ain't so sure of that," observed Ruggles doubtfully; "we must have
come a mile already and ought to have made a turn by this time."

Captain Dawson checked his horse and peered ahead.

"Can it be we are off the track? We have come nearer two miles than
one--ah!"

Just then the moon emerged from the obscuring clouds and their field
of vision so broadened that they saw themselves face to face with an
impassable barrier. The canyon closed directly in front of them like an
immense gate of stone. It was impossible to advance a hundred feet
further.

"Well, I'm blessed if this isn't a pretty situation!" exclaimed the
captain.

"We have passed the opening, but we haven't far to return, and you
know that a bad beginning brings a good ending."

"Humph! I would rather chance it on a good beginning."

Ruggles was the first to wheel and strike his horse into a gallop,
which he did with the remark that he knew where the right passage was
located. His companions were almost beside him. The canyon was of that
peculiar conformation that, while it terminated directly in front, it
contained an abrupt angle between where the party had halted and the
mining settlement. At that point it was so wide that the little
stream, which might have served for a guide, was lost sight of. Had
they followed the brook, they would not have gone astray. The only
inconvenience was the slight delay, which in their restless mood tried
their spirits to the utmost. Captain Dawson muttered to himself and
urged his horse so angrily that he again placed himself in advance.
His mood was no more savage than that of his companions, but he chafed
at everything which caused delay, no matter how trifling, in the
pursuit.

Fearing that he might go wrong, Ruggles spurred up beside him. The
distance passed was less than any one expected it to be, when Ruggles
called out:

"Here we are!"

The exclamation was caused by the hoofs of their horses plashing in
the water. They seemed to share the impatience of their riders; "all
we have to do now is to keep to the stream; obsarve its turn."

Its course was almost at right angles t