we care?" laughed Bet gaily. "We're out for adventure.
Today is the grand and glorious event. We will hunt for treasure."

"Oh, no, we won't," Enid returned decidedly. "You forget that
Professor Gillette and Dad decided that it would be better to do the
location work on that claim first."

Bet frowned. It was not her way to be patient. At last she said, "Oh,
well, if it has to be done, we'll do it. We'll go over early and
finish that ten foot hole by noon, then we'll have all afternoon for
the treasure."

"Kit said it would take us at the very least, a full week, to do that
work," returned Enid.

"Don't be a spoil-sport," pouted Bet. "You don't know anything about
it."

But Shirley Williams and Joy Evans both backed up Enid. "Why, Bet,
that hole has to be dug through solid rock, almost."

"How stupid!" shrugged Bet.

"If you should dig right into a vein of rich copper ore, you won't
think so. Why not have hopes of a mine and forget the treasure?" said
Shirley quietly. "Have you given up the idea of being a mine owner?"

"Not exactly. But to tell the truth, 'Orphan Annie' doesn't look very
hopeful to me." Bet shook her head dolefully. "Well, it's no use
fretting. If that hole has to be dug before we start looking for the
treasure, it has to be, that's all."

"Now you're being sensible, Bet. It's just as the professor says, it's
wise for us to have a real claim on the land around that tracing. It
might be worth something. Perhaps there is a treasure buried there,
but it isn't likely." Shirley was not a dreamer and Bet, for the
moment, was disgusted. She turned away and left them.

"Let's get breakfast over," called Enid, leading the way toward the
dining room. "We'll be pleasing Tang and that's a good start for the
day. Then we'll be ready for Kit when she comes."

"Where do we meet the professor?" asked Shirley.

"He'll be waiting for us by the pass into the small canyon. Isn't he a
dear to help us out instead of looking for his village? I like him!"
declared Bet.

It was only seven o'clock when the girls bade good-bye to Mrs.
Breckenridge, listened to her instructions about taking care of
themselves, and started down the trail, Kit in the lead.

Although it was twenty minutes before the appointed time, Professor
Gillette was waiting for them. On his burro, borrowed for the occasion
from Dad Patten, he carried all the tools needed for prospecting.

"You look as if you expected t