e found the treasure, stole it, then sealed the tunnel up again.
That doesn't spell sense, at all."

"I think those old Spaniards showed very little sense anyway," remarked
Kit. "Why didn't they hide their treasure in some easier place?"

Bet laughed. But at that moment her foot scraped against something
hard. There was a metallic ring. Stooping she dug away the dirt and
crumbled rock with her hands.

"Kit!" she gasped. "It's the treasure! Call the professor! Hurry!"
Bet's voice rang out.

There was no need to call the professor. Forgetting his weariness and
headache, he leaped from the cot at Bet's cry, and ran to the tunnel.

Bet appeared, carrying a small metal box, held tightly in her arms.

"Call the girls!" she said, and disappeared into the shelter of the
professor's tent.

When the box was pried open, the girls had all the thrill they had ever
planned. Old coins, nuggets and jewels were scrambled together in the
casket. Enid's fingers closed about a long gold chain, tarnished and
stained with the years.

"That's what I've dreamed about!" she said with a gasp. "Isn't it
wonderful!"

A loud "Hullo" came to them from the hill above. Bet shut the box with
a snap and placing it on the cot, sat down upon it.

"Anyone who gets this box, has to take me along!" she said in a tense
voice. "No one shall have it! No one!"

A moment later there was a scramble from the trail and Bob, Phil and
Paul rushed into the tent. They started back as they saw the
frightened faces of the girls.

Then Bet laughed.

"We thought it was robbers! After the treasure!" she exclaimed,
jumping to her feet and displaying the precious box.

"Three cheers for The Merriweather Girls!" shouted Bob.

The professor was delighted. He had forgotten his sickness. "It shows
how one should keep at a thing long after it seems useless," he told
the girls. "Why, I may even find my Indian village, yet."

"Of course you will. This is just the beginning of our good luck!"
cried Bet excitedly.

"And we'll all help you hunt for your village," promised Phil Gordon.
"That will be the next adventure!"

"What about your claims?" asked Tommy. "Aren't you going to work
them?" He cast a longing look over the flat-topped summit.

"Dad says we'd be foolish to go on with them!" replied Enid. "If we
were going to be out here to look after the work it would be different."

"Will you sell them?" Tommy's eager face expressed more t