before or came
upon it by accident, they would probably think it safer to steal from me
than to raid one of the ranches and thus risk bringing all the ranchmen
about their ears like a swarm of hornets."

"That's true," said Joe. "Yes, I must certainly tell Tom and Yetmore
about them: it may be important. And I'll start at once," he added,
rising from the table as he spoke. "I'll take the buckboard, Phil, and
then I can bring back Tom's camp-kit and tools for him; otherwise he
would have to pack them on his pony and walk himself. I expect you will
see us back somewhere about seven this evening."

With that he went out, and soon afterwards we heard the rattle of wheels
as he drove away.

CHAPTER XV

THE BIG REUBEN VEIN

But it seemed as though Joe were destined never to get to Sulphide. I
was still in the kitchen, when, not more than twenty minutes later, I
heard the rattle of wheels again, and looking out of the window, there I
saw my partner by the stable tying up his horse.

"Hallo, Joe!" I cried, throwing open the door. "What's up?"

Without replying at the moment, Joe came striding in, shut the door, and
throwing his hat down upon the table, said:

"I came back to tell you something. I've a notion, Phil, that we've got
to go hunting for that vein ourselves, and not lose time by going up to
tell Tom."

"Why? What makes you think that, Joe?" I asked, in surprise.

"That's what I came back to tell you. You know that little treeless
'bubble' that stands on the edge of the canyon only about half a mile
up-stream from here? Well, when I drove up the hill out of our valley
just now I turned, naturally, to look at the scar on the mountain, when
the first thing to catch my eye was the figure of a man standing on top
of the 'bubble.'"

"Is that so? What was he doing?"

"He was looking at the scar, too."

"How do you know that, Joe?" I asked, incredulously. "You couldn't tell
at that distance whether he had his back to you or his face."

"Ah, but I could, though," Joe replied; "and I'll tell you how. After a
minute or so the man turned--I could see that motion distinctly
enough--caught sight of me, and instantly jumped down behind the rocks."

"Didn't want to be seen, eh?" remarked Peter. "And what did you do
next?"

"I felt sure he was watching me, though I couldn't see him," Joe went
on, "and so, to make him suppose I hadn't observed him, I stayed where I
was for a minute, and then drove leisurel