“Which means that we’ll have time to get some dinner,” Bill laughed. “I sure do like that statement,” Gordon assured him. A few minutes later the plane settled to the ground at their old camping ground and they jumped out and at once began getting things in shape for the meal. “Doesn’t look as though there’d been anyone here,” Gordon announced as he looked about. “I guess there doesn’t anyone come here very often,” Bill told him. “It isn’t a very inviting place to come to,” Rogers added. It was nearly two o’clock when they started out for the hole in the cliff and Gordon hurried them along so fast that Rogers was panting heavily when they reached the spot. “I’ll have to go into training if I’m going to follow you fellows about much,” he declared. “Quick, Bill, give me a jump up,” Gordon ordered and Bill hastened to take his stand beneath the hole. In an instant Gordon was on his shoulders and then the sand began to fly as he brushed it out with both hands. “Go easy there,” Bill gasped stepping back a pace and nearly upsetting his burden. “I’m getting the most of that sand down the back of my neck. Don’t brush it out so hard and then it’ll fall down straight.” “Don’t be so particular,” Gordon called down, “There isn’t much more. There, I told you so.” “Found something?” Rogers asked eagerly. “Looks like it. There’s a crack here in the floor that makes almost a square, but I’ve got to have something besides my fingers to pry it out.” “How about the bar? I brought it along, you know.” “Hand it up and I’ll give it a try but I don’t believe it will work.” “Crack too small?” Bill asked. “Afraid so,” Gordon told him as he reached for the bar which Rogers was handing him. It required several minutes for Gordon to work the end of the bar into the crack, but he finally accomplished it and in another minute he dropped a flat stone about a foot and a half long and a little more than a foot wide to the ground. “Get a bit nearer, Bill,” he called and a moment later added: “It’s here all right, but I don’t know’s I can lift it out alone.” “What is it?” Both Bill and Rogers asked the question in the same breath. “It’s a wooden box and it’s sure some heavy,” he told them panting as he tugged with both hands. “Steady now, and don’t spill me if you can help it. Here, Steve, get under it and I’ll ease it down to you.” The box was in a fair state of preservation as they found upon examination, although the cover was rotted a bit on one side. “Just a minute,” Rogers cried as Gordon was about to use the bar in prying off the top. “Do——do you suppose we’re going to find the platinum in there?” “Best way is to get it open and find out,” Bill told him. “Go ahead.” The cover flew off and three pairs of eyes peered eagerly at the contents. “I reckon we’ve found it,” Rogers said as he stooped and picked up a small lump of what looked like a fragment of nickle. “Is that platinum?” Gordon asked as he too picked up a piece.