"Never mind, we can come up to-morrow and investigate," said Mark to himself. "But I'd better take that nugget with me." He walked outside once more and placed the nugget near a fallen tree. Then he set up a stick at one side of the opening and another stick on the opposite side, that he might mark the locality. This done, he took a good look around, to fix "the lay of the land" in his head. "I mustn't lose this spot as Jacobs lost his mine," he told himself. He referred to a Jew named Moses Jacobs, who told a story of finding a wonderfully rich mine and then losing it. This mine was relocated some years later and proved to be of good value, but poor Jacobs never got anything out of it. As Mark's gaze swept the horizon he started, for up on the mountain-side he discerned two men, both looking down upon him. They were the two rascally Mexicans, he felt sure, for each wore the bright-colored cloak and the wide-brimmed, sharp-pointed hat which Si and Maybe Dixon had described. The boy was startled and looked eagerly at the nugget of gold, which was hidden by the tree limbs. Had the Mexicans seen him handling that precious bit of metal? If so, would they try to rob him of it? The cold perspiration stood out on Mark's forehead. He felt in his belt and satisfied himself that his pistol was there, ready for use. "They shan't rob me of it--I'll fight first!" he told himself, and set his teeth hard. Then he began to climb out of the gully, supporting the precious nugget under his shirt, next to his belt. To his alarm the Mexicans walked toward him and one of them called out something in Spanish which he did not understand. He shook his head and continued to walk on, getting as far from them as possible. But they continued to come after him. There was a patch of timber a few rods away, and toward this went Mark, leaving the regular trail and taking to a smaller one made by mountain deer. As soon as he gained the timber he broke into a run, and kept this up until he was all but exhausted. Then he came out at a spot directly above the camp and shouted loudly to Bob and Si, who chanced to be working within hearing distance. "What's up, Mark?" yelled back Bob. "I want help. Come up, and call Maybe Dixon." The old miner was not far away, and soon the two boys and the man climbed up to where Mark sat on a rock, panting heavily. "What's the trouble?" asked Maybe Dixon. "Wild animals or Injuns?" "Those two Mexicans!" gasped the exhausted youth. "They were after me! I think they wanted to rob me!" "The skunks!" roared the old miner. "Where are they now?" "I don't know." "Did you have much with you?" questioned Bob. "Take me to the tent and I'll show you what I have." "Make a find?" queried Si, eagerly. "Yes." The three others helped Mark down the mountain-side and into the tent. Tillie had gone to her father's camp, so the partners were alone. "What do you think of this?" asked Mark, as he drew forth the big nugget with much pride.