"Nor I. If it were not for that ride to-morrow, I could sleep all day," added Eleanor, hiding a yawn. "Ah will set the Big Ben to-night, I think," said Mr. Brewster, "so that we will not miss Simms and his party at Lone Pine Blaze in the morning." "Who besides Simms is going with us, father?" asked Polly. "Why, my old pal the Sheriff, and his men; Simms and a few of his best friends, and Rattle-snake Mike as a guide." "Oh, really! Why, it will be a large party, won't it?" cried Polly, delightedly. "We'll need a large party, Ah'm thinking, girls, if our surmises are right. In fact, the Sheriff plans to send an extra posse up by a different trail, in order to head off any strange-acting or unfamiliar-looking men who might happen to meet them on this unfrequented ride along Top Notch Trail." "My! It makes me tingle deliciously at thought of the fun we will have if we have to fight for the mine," said Eleanor. "I don't think we women ought to go if there is the least danger," whimpered Barbara, glancing from one to the other in the group. "You can stay at home and chaperone Sary," said Eleanor. "I'll do nothing of the kind, Eleanor Maynard! If you and the others go, I shall go too!" declared Barbara, jealously. "Well, no one in this family will go unless you all get into bed inside of the next five minutes," said Mr. Brewster. "Don't take time to use cold cream and wrinkle plasters this night." Laughingly, the girls said good-night and left the two adult Brewsters alone. The moment the door closed upon the last girl, Mrs. Brewster made sure that Sary was in her room with the door closed, and then she tiptoed back to join her husband. She spoke in a whisper. "Sam, do you really think there will be any danger of claim-jumpers, to-morrow, on Top Notch?" "There's always trouble where gold is to be had," returned Mr. Brewster, seriously. "But I mean, do you apprehend it and thus asked the Sheriff and his men to ride with us?" "Simms and the Sheriff think so. It was his idea to prepare against any surprises along the road, and after we get there. But it was the Sheriff's idea to get Rattlesnake Mike to guide us, and hire him to cook while we are in camp. Mike is an honest Indian, you know, Mary, and we may need one who is as good a woodsman as he is." "Well, Sam, if I thought there was to be the slightest risk to these girls, in any way whatever, I should refuse to allow them to go to-morrow," declared Mrs. Brewster. "You don't think that I would consent to have Polly go if I thought there was to be any trouble do you? All the gold in the earth wouldn't bribe me to do such a foolish thing." "I thought you may belittle any risk we might run. You are so accustomed to these ruffians at Oak Creek, but three city girls are different from western ranchmen. Even Polly and I are better seasoned for the adventures we may encounter than Anne and her friends," was Mrs. Brewster's reply.