The sheriff was for taking the boys back to Carson, leaving them in custody, and then seeking the retreat of the counterfeiters. To this Big Gabe would not agree. "Give ther youngsters a show," he said. "I hev pledged myself ter stand good fer 'em. Take 'em erlong on ther expedition." There was considerable discussion over this, and Long finally gave in, although he expressed himself as certain that the boys would prove a great incumbrance. Both Frank and Bart resolved to show him his mistake, in case an opportunity was offered. They made preparations for the trip, which Big Gabe declared would take the better part of four days, as they would have to pick their way carefully through the mountains. The two horses left by the man and girl were brought up and stripped of their saddles, packs being substituted. Big Gabe was almost entirely cleaned out of provisions, but he did not murmur because of that. The giant insisted on making the jaunt on foot, saying he did not wish to be incumbered with a horse. When everything was ready, they started out, Gabe in the lead, carrying his Winchester at his side. It did not take the giant long to convince them that he was far from an invalid. He seemed built of iron, and he was sure footed as a mountain goat. Before long they were forced back from the shore of the lake and compelled to pick their way through a rough and rocky region, where progress was exasperatingly slow. It was midafternoon, when they halted at the beginning of a desperate and dangerous climb amid mighty bowlders, with yawning chasms on every hand. Here they opened one of the packs and brought forth provisions enough for the party to satisfy their hunger, the food being washed down with water from a tinkling brook that ran toward the lake. After they had satisfied their hunger, and allowed the horses to feed, the animals were saddled again, the packs made fast, and once more they started onward. Although Big Gabe had explored the greater part of the rough region lying around the lake, he had never before attempted to find a road for horses along the precipices and black ravines. After eating, they set about the most severe and dangerous part of the journey yet reached. Up amid the giant bowlders they climbed, at times working around some part of the mountain where there would be a bare bluff on one hand and a yawning chasm on the other. The giant guide warned them to look out for the loose bowlders, saying that some of them could be sent crashing down the mountain almost by the pressure of a hand. The dangers from these huge rocks were made apparent before they had passed beyond that region. Frank's horse proved far more skillful in climbing, keeping close to Big Gabe's heels, and the others were left at a considerable distance, so it became necessary to pause once or twice for them to come up.