“Here’s a campfire—fresh ashes. It rained three days ago. These ashes are perfectly dry and feathery. Never have been rained on.” “Quite true! Good for ‘Trailer Joe, the Young Scout of the Rockies,’” chuckled Dig. “That’s all right. You can laugh,” said his chum. “But I haven’t forgotten the things old Rafe has told us when we have been out hunting. It’s well to remember such things.” “But what’s the good now?” demanded Dig. “We can’t get into the mine, and it doesn’t matter who was here before us. Unless you think there’s somebody gone down this shaft and the cave-in’s shut them down there,” he added quickly. “I don’t believe that’s happened,” said Chet thoughtfully. He was walking around and around the mouth of the old shaft. He stopped and picked up the end of a tough, straight sapling. “Why the lever, I wonder?” Chet continued. “It’s been used to pry something—The old windlass, of course. That windlass was knocked over purposely.” “What for?” cried Dig. “I bet the cave-in was started with this lever, too. They pried out some of the heavy timbering. This old shaft was shored-up with oak and was a good job. You know that, Dig.” “But I don’t know what you’re getting at,” answered Digby. “I’m getting at just this: The mouth of this old mine was closed on purpose, and very recently.” “Oh!” “Somebody must have had a reason for doing this, though I don’t see what. And father was interested in the Crayton claim. I know that. He spoke of having got control of it at a low price.” “Petered out before you and I were born, Chet,” cried Digby Fordham, with impatience. “Perhaps. But father had a reason for getting hold of it. Perhaps he thought the pay-streak of our mine was leading this way.” “Then he wouldn’t have caved in this shaft,” Dig said slowly. “No, no! Somebody else did it. I—don’t—see—” “Whew!” ejaculated his chum, suddenly. “By the last hoptoad that was chased out of Ireland! I know who did it, _sure_!” “Who?” queried the other boy wonderingly. “Who told us we couldn’t get into this shaft? Why, that lame Indian!” “John Peep?” muttered Chet. “Yes! Don’t you remember?” “Of course he must have known the shaft was filled up,” agreed Chet Havens. “But do you suppose he had anything to do with it? Why should he cave in the pit?” “Dunno,” grumbled Dig. “But it looks funny. You don’t suppose one cave-in had anything to do with the other, do you?” “Of course not!” exclaimed Chet. “Only, the Indian boy knew of this. He may have been over here recently. You can see that the marks on this sapling are fresh. Well, this isn’t going to help us any,” he added hopelessly. “We might as well go back. Oh dear, Dig! how will they get father and the boys out of tunnel Number Two?” “They’re working hard, Chet,” his chum said, trying to speak hopefully. “We’d better go back, I expect.”