“How do you suppose that hole got there?” Gordon asked after they were all rolled in their blankets. “Probably an ant dug it,” Bill told him. “Thanks, I just wanted to know,” Gordon replied. “No trouble,” Bill assured him. “I’ve got a theory.” “So have I.” “What’s yours?” “That I’m going to sleep if you’ll let me.” “Go to it,” Gordon snapped. They were up with the sun the next morning and breakfast was over and the dishes washed long before the usual time. No one said a word about the work of the day until they were ready to start. Then Gordon asked: “How about leaving the plane here this time and walking?” “Did you hear what I heard?” Bill asked looking at Rogers. “You think your ears fooled you?” “Well, strange things happen but I never thought I’d hear the kid suggest a thing like that.” “Come, cut out the comedy. Anybody’d think that I never walked. Are we going to take the plane or are we going to walk?” Gordon demanded. “We’re going to walk,” Bill told him. “Right, that’s all I wanted to know.” “We found the plane somewhat in the way yesterday and——” “No excuses are necessary,” Gordon interrupted. “Didn’t I suggest leaving it here? Come on.” They divided up the load they were to take with them and set off in high spirits. Gordon was especially elated over the prospect of an early and successful termination to their quest and insisted that they were going to find the platinum that very morning. “It’s fine to be young and hopeful,” Bill told him, “But I wouldn’t get my hopes up too high if I were you.” “Well, I don’t believe in hanging crape all the time.” “Neither do I, but——” “All right, let’s talk about something else,” Gordon interrupted. “Think we’re going to have a hard winter?” “Tell you later about that,” Bill laughed. The tide was at its lowest point when they reached the place and there was a space of about a hundred feet between the cliffs and the water. “We’ve got about five hours,” Rogers said as he dumped his load on the sand. “One’ll be enough,” Gordon assured him. “Here’s hoping,” Bill added. “Now, how are we going at it? We ought to have brought along a short ladder. Think you can manage it on my shoulders?” “Of course I can,” Gordon replied. “Steve, you hand me the bar when I get up. All right, let’s go.” But it was not the easy task he had thought it would be. He was in a difficult position in which to use the crowbar although he had little difficulty in inserting the end in the crack. But, pull and tug as he might, the rock would not budge. “Guess it’s stuck in there harder than I thought,” he panted after several attempts. “And you aren’t getting any lighter all the time,” Bill reminded him. “The fellow that put that rock in there sure did know his pebbles,” Gordon declared as he jumped to the ground. “It’s no use trying that any longer.” “It’s funny what holds it,” Rogers said. “Maybe it’s sort of rusted,” Gordon grinned. “It’s been there a long time, you know.”