be such a tenderfoot. To let Kie Wicks
pull the wool over her eyes like that! She certainly is an easy mark!"

But Bet was not such an easy mark as Kit imagined. She had figured it
out that it would take days for the men to dig their way to the
treasure and by that time they could find their old friend and then
form a party to drive the ruffians away from the tunnel.

An hour later, when they were returning to camp, Kit pointed up over
one of the small mountains. "Bet, I'll take a short cut with you. The
trail over that hill leads into Lost Canyon. Let's go and beat them
home. Who's coming?"

"I am!" exclaimed Bet turning her horse's head toward the up grade.

"I'll stay with Dad," called Enid.

"And so will I!" Shirley held her horse toward the canyon trail.

"Wise girls!" smiled the Judge. "You know good company when you have
it."

Kit waved her sombrero as they reached the summit and disappeared over
the ridge. But once on the other side, Kit was not so sure that she
knew the way. "This doesn't look like the trail that leads into Lost
Canyon, after all, Bet. Do you think we'd better go back?"

"I should say not. I'd love to get lost in the hills with you, Kit."

"Oh, we're all right, only I'm not sure that we will save any time.
They'll probably get home first, if we go this way," returned Kit.
"I'm not lost, I've been here before, but I just got mixed up. Lost
Canyon is over the next ridge."

"It's all right with me, let's keep on."

The girls rode for an hour, and still Kit declared that they had not
reached Lost Canyon.

"Are you afraid, Kit?" asked Bet, as she looked at her friend's
frowning face.

"No, of course not, only I'm disgusted that I made such a mistake.
Let's climb to the ridge there and look around, then I'll know in a
minute where I am."

The girls urged their horses up the steep trail. Kit was ahead and as
she reached the summit she signalled Bet frantically to stop. Sliding
from her saddle she ran back.

"We're coming out right by the tunnel, I see the two ruffians."

The girls crept along, keeping out of sight of the camp.

But suddenly Bet grabbed Kit by the arm. The men were descending the
trail to the creek, leaving the tunnel unguarded.

The girls did not wait to think whether they were wise or not. They
ran forward. Two shotguns lay on the ground. The men had taken off
their belts. They were in the canyon unarmed.

Bet choked with delight. "Here's