o dig twenty mines," laughed Bet, as she
drew up her pony beside the old man.

"Only one," insisted the professor. "At least I hope that is all we
will need. But no one can tell for sure."

"I think it is all foolishness anyway," Joy exclaimed. "What we want
now is that treasure, and instead of looking for it, you are going to
dig a well."

Kit laughed as she always did at Joy's mistakes. "Call it a well if
you want to," she said patronizingly, "but don't let Tommy Sharpe or
Seedy Saunders hear you say it. They'll tease you unmercifully."

"It's this way, Joy," explained Bet, impatiently. "Kie Wicks might get
wise to it, and come in at the end of two months and snap up this claim
too, if we haven't done our work. That has to be done within two
months."

"Then he'd get the stone with the markings?"

"Yes, that's it. And he might find the treasure, if we don't watch
out," added Kit.

"Then let's get to work at once!" cried Joy, digging her spur into
Dolly's side.

"You mean, Professor Gillette will get to work at once while you and
the rest of us stand around and look pretty," said Enid.

"Why we don't mean any such a thing, Enid Breckenridge. I'm perfectly
willing to work and do my share," snapped Bet, her face red with anger.
"I'll not have Professor Gillette imposed on like that."

"We'll all do what we can," soothed Kit. "Although I'm not sure we'll
make much headway with the pick and shovel."

"I think we should have a Mexican do the work, girls," said Enid.
"He'd do it in half the time."

"Professor Gillette said it was better not to have anyone else around
for a while until we could find out something about this treasure," Bet
said. "So we might as well make up our minds to dig right in and work
hard."

Once on the site of the claim, the professor unloaded his tools and
looked about for a suitable place to put down the ten-foot shaft. His
knowledge of mining was not very great but he and Kit finally decided
on the best spot.

The old man started in at once, swinging the pick as if it were a
hammer. He soon dug away the thin layer of earth and crushed rock, and
reached solid stone.

"It's a good thing I brought the drills along!" the professor threw
down his pick and took up a drill and heavy hammer.

"Isn't it exciting!" cried Bet. "Do let me try to use the drill.

"All in good time, child, all in good time," he promised her as he
adjusted the tool. "This is a two-man job anywa