As soon as they were certain the Indians had gone, our friends continued the journey to the cabins. Bob and Si had brought down half a dozen rabbits, and they told about the big bear that had been laid low. "That's prime news," said Josiah Socket. "The bear, along with the provisions in the packs, will give us all we want to eat until spring comes." They had to rest twice before the cabins were reached, for the horses were all but exhausted. They kept their eyes wide open for the appearance of the enemy, but nothing came to alarm them. "Those redskins have evidently learnt their lesson," said Josiah Socket, "and if so, I am glad of it." When they were still at a distance the Socket boys came running to greet their father and Mrs. Socket was at the doorway to welcome her husband. When the woman heard about the brush with the Indians she almost fainted. "It's a wonder you weren't both killed!" she declared. "Josiah, you must be very careful how you venture out after this." "I'm a-goin' to be careful," answered the husband. "And you must be careful too, Mark." "I'll keep my eyes wide open," said the boy. The next day there was something of a celebration. A big haunch of venison was roasted, some turnips cooked and beans baked, and Mrs. Socket made some biscuits and some "real downright coffee," as Maybe Dixon named it. They feasted for over an hour, and never did a meal taste better to any of them. A good appetite and a touch of hunger are always the best sauce in the world for a square meal. CHAPTER XXII THE COMING OF SPRING Slowly the winter wore away to the three boys, each anxious for spring to arrive, that they might hunt for gold. There was a good deal of snow, and some biting cold weather, and then it began to moderate slowly but surely, until the ice in the river broke away and the snow disappeared from the valley as if by magic. "Hurrah! Spring at last!" cried Mark, one day when the sun came out extra strong. "I am not sorry for it." "Sorry?" cried Bob. "Why, I could dance a jig for joy." And he did a few steps in front of the cabin. The boys had already decided upon where to try their luck first--up the valley on the opposite side of the river, which soon began to flow swiftly, as the snow in the mountains melted. "If you don't find anything in one place we can easily try another," said Si. "We can go where we please, so long as we don't work on some staked-out claim." They had already learned that to work on another person's claim was considered a great crime in the gold country. Maybe Dixon was going to stick with them, "through thick or thin," as he expressed it. He had taken a strong liking to all three youths and could not think of separating from them. The Sockets were going further down the valley,--to the Feather River,--and soon they parted from their friends. "I shan't forget what I owe you," said Mark to Josiah Socket.