“Have you heard any news?” quavered the woman. “Is it true that people are putting knives in the bottom of their wagon-boxes and sliding down Pike’s Peak and scraping up the gold in big slivers?” “I’ve heard about it but I’ve never seen it, ma’am,” said Hi, truthfully. “When do we see the mountains?” “Oh, not for a few hundred miles more,” informed the Reverend, kindly. “Well, when you get there and see Jacob Smith from Posey County, Injianny, tell him we’re coming as fast as we can,” she called after them. “We will.” “Shouldn’t wonder if that was Jacob Smith or some other pilgrim on his way back already,” proclaimed Jim, pointing. “Reckon he’s made his pile and is heading home to spend it.” “Wish we were doing the same!” squeaked Left-over. “I’d buy pie; all I could eat.” “I don’t,” announced Billy Cody. “Do you, Dave! I want the fun of finding before I have the fun of spending.” “Yes,” agreed Mr. Baxter; “it’s a heap more fun to earn what you get.” A man on horseback was wending way down the trail from the west. It was an exception to meet anybody travelling east; he was the first since they had left the stage line. If he came from the Pike’s Peak country he ought to bring much news. So, as he met them, Captain Hi halted the Hee-Haw Express and hailed him. “Howdy, stranger? Bound far?” “To the States if I can get there.” “Come from far?” “Far enough, mister. I come from the Cherry Creek diggin’s.” Hurrah! Davy had been eyeing him keenly. He was an unshaven, thin but powerful man, with cadaverous face and fierce black eyes; and he bestrode a mule as cadaverous as himself. He carried a musket; and that seemed to be about all. Anyway, his saddle-bags were disappointingly flat. But he may have had his gold stowed out of sight or deposited to his account somewhere. “Clear from the diggin’s, eh?” pursued Hi. “How are things out thar? Booming?” The man stroked his black beard and surveyed the party. “Do I look booming, mister?” he demanded. “I wouldn’t give an acre in old Missouri for the whole of the Pike’s Peak country. You going out yonder after gold?” “Yes.” “Wall, you’re on the hardest trail you ever tackled, mister; no wood, no water, no forage, and game mighty scarce. And when you get to the end you won’t find much. That story about gold is the biggest hoax ever invented. From now on you’ll meet about as many people turned back as there are going on.” “What’s the matter? Isn’t there any gold at all?” asked Billy, dismayed. “Mighty little and hard to get.” “I’m going on just the same and see,” said Billy, doggedly. “We’re with you, Billy,” encouraged the Reverend. And――“What’s happening out there, anyway?” he queried of the returning pilgrim. “We hear that twenty thousand people are on the road.”