"To think we were within two miles of meeting Megget again," exclaimed Tom as they rode along. "I'm afraid we would not have got away from him so well this time." As he heard the remark, Lawrence turned and looked the boy over from head to foot, finally saying with a smile: "So you are the lad Gus ran foul of up in Oklahoma?" "Yes, but my brother was with me." "Which is he?" "The one who found you." At this information Lawrence threw back his head and laughed heartily. "My, but that is a good one," he ejaculated when he had recovered from his merriment. "You tenderfeet make a monkey of Gus and then capture one of his men. I'll let Gus know it was you who found me, if I never speak again. It will make him more angry than anything else could." To their surprise, the ranchers learned that the Lost Lode was only about five miles from the plains and that it was at the foot of one of the mountains, instead of high up in them, with a splendid valley where the cattle could graze close beside it. "Why, I've ridden through that place at least twice," asserted Pete as he recognized Lawrence's description of the spot, "but never a sign of cattle or mine have I seen." "You noticed there was heavy woods on both sides, didn't you?" returned the former raider, smiling. "Yes." "Well, that explains why you didn't learn anything, though of course it might be that no cattle were in the valley when you struck it." This explanation only served to arouse the curiosity of the hearers the more. "The woods are the thing," he continued. "Every time any one comes along, we drive the cattle into them and no one would think to look for the entrance to a mine among the trees." "But how does it happen you have never been taken by surprise?" queried Mr. Wilder. "Because when we had steers in the valley we always kept a lookout. There's a cliff just above the mine from which a man can see the trail for at least two miles." "Then won't some one discover us?" asked Bill. "Not if we hurry. Every man jack of Megget's gang is out on this raid. All we need to do is to get there first." "How about that fellow who was with you?" Bill inquired. "Won't he be on the lookout?" "Who, Red Ike? Not much. He'll be too anxious to tell Gus about me. He knows his chief was going to cut across to join Vasquez and the others, and he'll follow. They'll be so tickled at the thought you all were lost in the fire they won't hurry much. Still, if we're going to round them up, we must get there before dark to-night. There's a spot just before you enter the valley where we can lie in wait and get them all." "No, that won't do," declared Mr. Wilder. "I want to capture them without resorting to firearms, if possible. While, of course, if it should be necessary, I would sanction shooting, I much prefer to take the men prisoners and turn them over to the sheriff and the law."