While he was in this distressing uncertitude, he descried the Irishman hastening toward him. He raised his hands in amazement, but before Teddy could speak the trapper comprehended how the thing had come about. “You’ve allers been a lucky dog, Ted, ever since we knowed you,” he remarked, as the Irishman came up; “tell me all about it.” It required Teddy but a few minutes to do this in his own peculiar manner. He related every thing succinctly, from the moment his feet rested upon the edge of the rock to the time when he emerged from the cavern by its back door. “Quaar that the red-skins war thar,” said old Stebbins. “Thar don’t seem to be many places in this country whar the varmints ain’t. I wonder what they war doin’ thar?” “Don’t yees saa it was the _goold_?” said Teddy, in a low, delighted voice. “Did yer take a look ’round and see any of the yaller stuff?” Teddy slapped his thigh a tremendous thwack. “I knowed I’d furgot somethin’, as me father obsarved, whin we missed the corpse of me mither, afther goin’ a mile to the church widout it. I was so interested in the haythen that I niver thought of the goold.” “I’m afeard you won’t find much thar,” said the trapper, feeling somewhat of a reaction from the high hopes he had entertained. “_It’s there!_” was the confident assertion of Teddy. “I know it; that’s what brought the haythen there.” “But they don’t know the valley of gold.” “They know it’s a handy thing to make ear-rings of, and that they kin git plenty of powder and lead fur it at the Forts.” “Wal, we’ll have to take another look in thar. Shall it be you or me?” “Why not both?” The trapper shook his head. “Ef it warn’t fur the varmints we might, but they’re too thick fur as to give ’em a chance to lock us up in thar.” “Yees are right,” assented Teddy, who saw the prudence of his companion; “do yees act the part of sintinel, and I’ll take a betther look at the insides of the cavern.” This was agreed upon, and the two set out for the bank of the stream, where the opening occurred. It was found to be nearly circular in character, like the mouth of an immense columbiad, so that an ordinary-sized man was compelled to stoop quite low to enter. The top of the bank projected over and concealed the orifice, so that there was little danger of seeing it, unless it was made a special search, or its existence was previously known. “Do yer want yer gun?” inquired the trapper, as his friend was ready to enter. “No; I kin do betther wid me fists on them spalpeens, ef there should be any of ’em in there. Do yees mind and not let any of ’em steal in upon me.” “Never fear for me.” With the faithful guard upon the outside, Teddy unhesitatingly re-entered the cavern, and began his explorations. The cave in no place was found to be over twenty feet in width. The bottom was generally level, composed of rock and hard, dry earth. The sides were the same, the dirt crumbling beneath the touch like ashes.