Satisfied that something was cooking for her breakfast, Noddy ran over and nozzled at the girls, who laughed and tried to push her cold nose away. The other burros and horses came out then, and Polly said, "It makes me feel selfish to eat their oats but then they can eat grass in the park and we can't!" "Girls! Aren't you going to have another look at the gold-mine before you leave here?" asked Barbara. "What for? It won't do us any good and only waste time," replied Polly. "Maybe you can find some more nuggets to carry back!" ventured Barbara. "We have all we need to claim the rights of the mine, so why lug any more than we need?" returned Polly. "Come on, Poll! Let's pack up and be going!" said Eleanor, decisively. So, with the animals saddled and the panniers packed, the cave-dwellers started carefully along the ledge towards the slope. It was an invigorating morning, and the sun with its rays was just topping the tips of the pines, when the girls rode forth to climb the slope. "Not a sign of that awful storm!" said Anne, amazed. "Only in the glades and ravines, where the snow has drifted into heaps! Even that will melt rapidly, as the warmth of the day is felt," said Polly, looking eagerly about as she rode. "Polly, what do you suppose became of those wild animals?" asked Eleanor, riding directly behind Polly. "That is just what I am looking for. I thought maybe I could see some tracks, for I was sure I got that panther when I took aim and shot!" "Well, I'm going over near that edge of the cliff and see if there is any sign of blood or tracks!" declared Eleanor. "No, no! You stop right here with us, Nolla!" cried Barbara, anxiously. "I'm going over myself, Bob, because I am curious to see why both of them should slink away so quickly. A mountain-lion seldom leaves a possible victim until he has been gorged, and it was strange that he should go without having tried to get at us!" said Polly. "Oh, Polly! _Please_ don't talk of such gruesome things! I am so glad we will soon be back in civilization!" said Barbara. The horses reached the top of the slope and Polly guided Noddy across the rough place to the cliff, where the fight had taken place. Here she sought for some track or sign of the fight, but saw only a few small spots of red in the white snow. Eleanor tried to make her burro follow after Noddy, but he was fractious and would not go near the cliff. He made a detour, however, about a small group of trees and just as he came opposite them, something upon the snow-drift at the base of the largest tree, caused him to shy violently. "Oh, girls! Run! Come here and see what's here," cried Eleanor, excitedly, jumping from her burro but remembering to hold the bridle. The burro backed and refused to go nearer the thing, but Polly rode Noddy over and saw that Eleanor had discovered one of the victims of the fight. "Ha! I thought so!" said Polly, with satisfaction.