"If she could only talk what a tale she would have to tell," observed Paul as they rode homeward. "I wonder how she got out of the river?"
"I reckon we'll never know, unless Allen makes her talk. He can make her do most everything," laughed Chet.
On they went over the rocks and the level prairie beyond. The sun was now sinking in the west, and ere long the evening shadows would be upon them.
"Well, we found a horse even if we didn't find a mine, and that's something," said Paul, as they reached the trail beside the river.
"But I hope that the mine isn't lost for good," replied Chet, quickly. "The mine is worth a good deal more than even Lilly."
"Maybe you can't tell that to Allen."
"Oh, yes I can; for he saw the wealth there, you know."
"If only he finds Uncle Barnaby," sighed Paul. "Do you know, the more I think of it, the more I become convinced that something dreadful has happened to him."
"And that is the way I look at it, too, Paul. If we could"
Chet stopped short and stared ahead. They had
