Even courageous Eleanor began to quail at what would befall them if they were lost, when Mike suddenly appeared in the distance, climbing the steep slope before them. His broncho came on recklessly through the bushes and wild undergrowth until he was within speaking distance then he shouted: "Mike hear shoots! Gals in cabe alle-right. Mike smell fire. He go see who burn. Fin' tree bad miner--One gone happy hunting-groun',--two sleep f'm much fire-water. Tree hosses hobble on down trail." As he spoke he acted his words so that it was plain that he had found the three claim-jumpers who were dead drunk, and their mounts which were trying to break away in sheer fear of the fire. "Mike, Bill and Mr. Brewster said you were to leave us in the cave, if it is safe there, and then ride down trail to meet Jeb and go on to stop Simms' party. Warn the lookout on the forest-ranger's post and then come back to us, but Jeb is to ride home with the Missus!" exclaimed Eleanor, excitedly. Mike frowned. "Indian no like squaw job!" "That's just what I was going to say, Mike. Now if you will put us on the right trail, we three can find the way to the cave. We will stay there with the other girls, and let you do as you think best, _after_ you send Jeb away to meet Simms," said Eleanor. "Mike mus' tell Boss and Bill 'bout fire. Him eat down-hill, udder side Slide. No burn dis side." Meantime, the Indian was leading the way to the trail that would bring the girls out at the ravine where the cave was. Once on the right trail, the youth whom Bill had sent with the girls, said he could keep to it without going astray. Mike waited but a moment to assure himself that they would be safe along the trail, then he started his horse up the steep side. His keen Indian scout habits now stood him in good stead. He soon had the Sheriff's party tracked and was riding after them. His young broncho galloped along until the group of men bound for the Slide, were hailed by a war-whoop. Bill turned and saw the Indian close behind. He called a halt, and when the party stopped, the messenger was already in their midst. "Fire up lodge-pole pine side. Eatin' down--dat way!" cried Mike, waving a hand at the side of the mountain away from them and the cave. "Mike go see an' fin' tree miner. Dey hab big fight--two shoot one. Him dead. Udders drunk--gone 'sleep. Hosses tie up." "Mike, you lead! Men fall in--we-all fight the fire first, then find the drunken miners and arrest them for manslaughter," ordered Bill, and thus the posse rode away. CHAPTER III AT CHOKO'S FIND After losing the trail many times only to stumble into it again and again, and then slipping, sliding, or jolting down the steep side of the mountain where the timber-line ended near the cliff, Eleanor finally recognized the ravine where the cave was located. "Oh, thank heavens! We're almost there," she cried, trying to find the easiest way down to the ledge.