"Eben and I are too good mountaineers to be easily lost. How long have you been in these woods?" "Since yesterday noon." "Did you sleep out?" "No, I found a cabin where I lodged." "You were in luck." "In bad luck." "How is that?" asked Rawson in surprise. "Were you robbed?" "No, but I found myself in the company of two men who I am pretty sure belong to a gang of robbers. One of them I had seen before—at the East. They blindfolded me, and took me, to a cavern, where they left me in charge of a negro named Pompey." "What could be their object?" asked Rawson. "You are sure you're not romancing, boy?" "I wish I were, but the cave exists, just as certainly as I do." "But of what use is it?" "I think it is a hiding-place for their booty," answered Dean, and he gave an account of the chest which he had opened, and the nature of its contents. "Why didn't you take a handful of the gold?" asked Rawson. "At the time I didn't know but I should have to remain in the cave, when of course it would be discovered on me. Besides, though I knew it to be stolen property I didn't feel like taking it." "Eben and I wouldn't be so particular. Whereabouts is this cave?" "I think it must be three or four miles away, but I may be mistaken, for I got turned round, and may have doubled on my tracks. I have been afraid I might fall in with Kirby and Dan. When I heard your voices I thought at first it might be them." "You're safe now, lad. We would be more than a match for them, even if they did turn up. I shouldn't mind giving them a lesson. But you haven't told us what brought you out here, lad." "I thought I might make a better living than at home." "And have you?" "So far I have, but my prospects don't appear to be very bright just now." "Don't be too sure of that. Suppose you join us." "I shall be glad to do so, if you will let me." "Then we'll shake hands to our better acquaintance. I'd offer you a pipe if I had an extra one." "Thank you; I don't smoke." "Well, lad, perhaps you're right. Smoking won't do any good to a boy like you." "If I am to join you would you mind telling me your plans?" "Of course I will. We're miners, as you might guess from our looks. We've been up in Gilpin County, and have done pretty well. We've got some claims there yet, but we wanted a little change and have been on a little prospecting tour." "Have you had good luck?" "In prospecting? No! We are on our way back, and shall settle down to work again all the better for our holiday." "How long have you been out here?" asked Dean. "I've been here fourteen months—Eben for a year. We never met before, but we concluded to join forces, and haven't regretted it, eh—Eben?" "Right you are, Rawson." "Eben here has a girl at home that's waiting for him. When he has made his pile, he's going back to her." "And how about you, Mr. Rawson?" "Never mind about the handle to my name, youngster. Call me Ben." "But you are so much older than I," objected Dean.