at the intersection of
the two trails, just where the stream swings south. It was originally
staked and recorded by a man named Briney as a placer claim. Six
consecutive assessments were recorded, then two years later the claim was
relocated by a Joseph H. Williams. Willis frowned as he made notes and
took down the dates of the assessments.

"There you are," he said despondently; "just as I thought yesterday--Mr.
Joseph H. Williams, my uncle, owner. Great chance of getting that cabin,
isn't there?"

"Now, hold your horses," interrupted Mr. Dean. "Let's finish the rest of
this record. Well, that's the strangest thing I ever heard of. His last
assessment is dated last summer, August 3, 19--. This year's work hasn't
been done yet. Why--well, anyway, there must be something worth while
around that cabin. 'Claim jumped and re-recorded as a lode claim August
22, 19--.' Why, that's the day you started on the trip to look for a
cabin!"

"You are right," exclaimed Mr. Allen. "Let's look at the list of records
filed on August 22d last." The clerk showed them the page. It read as
follows:

"Assessment on Joseph H. Williams lode claim, Cheyenne Mountain." Then
followed the description. Directly under it was the following:

"Lode claim, Buffalo Park, located by Beverly H. Pembroke, as described
on page 1162."

"The cabin then belongs, by right of relocation, to Beverly H. Pembroke,"
remarked Mr. Allen, "and we are just exactly four days late. Too bad we
didn't start at this end of the trip."

"Who is Beverly H. Pembroke?" asked Mr. Dean. No one could tell. "Well,
this much is clear," he went on: "there was some very good reason for the
relocation of that claim, and it couldn't have been for that old cabin.
Men don't locate claims to get possession of old, tumbled-down log cabins
nowadays."

"Well, there's this much that isn't clear," returned Willis: "why that
change was made the day we started over this route, and furthermore, how
does it come that the same men worked the assessment on the two claims if
they belong to different parties? No, sir, men, listen: my Uncle didn't
want that cabin in his possession at this time for some reason, so he
transferred the claim to this man, Pembroke. Anyway, I'm glad it doesn't
belong to my uncle now, whether we get it for our purpose or not."

"Now, you listen," said Mr. Dean: "let's go and see Mr. Pembroke at once
and inquire about it. He can't do more than throw us out, and it migh