ned it under
the light of the electric torch.

"It seems that we have," was the reply. "I was not thinking much about
the mine as I ascended the mountain, but now it strikes me that I
unconsciously followed the directions given in this paper."

"That big lobster of an Englishman was looking for the mine," Jimmie
said, "and so it was natural that he should lead you to it. I can't
see how it belongs to any old estate, though," he added. "Looks like
everybody's property to me."

"Perhaps it was the knowledge of the whereabouts of the mine that had
value," suggested Nestor, "and not the fact of ownership. Anyway, we've
found it."

The walls of the cavern appeared to blaze with gold, in flakes and in
small nuggets. Here and there were empty pockets which appeared to
have been stripped of their rich holdings. Upon inspection the floor
of the chamber was found to be covered, in places, with crushed rock,
where blocks cut from the walls had been broken up.

"There is no knowing how many million dollars worth of gold have been
taken from here," Nestor said, "and there is no way of estimating, at
this time, how far this rich rock extends into the mountain. The fact
that the mine was abandoned may indicate that the ore became less
valuable as the workers cut out from the center."

"It is rich enough now to pay for working, all right! cried Jimmie.

"There appears to be millions in sight," Nestor said, putting away his
paper.

CHAPTER XX.

BLACK BEARS TO THE RESCUE.

Frank Shaw drew Nestor aside as the boys searched about the cavern for
nuggets. As a small one was occasionally discovered, the quest was
conducted with an enthusiasm which left the two to themselves.

"It is a strange chance that has brought us to this mine," Nestor said,
thoughtfully. "It seems like a fairy tale come true."

"Do you really think this is the long lost Tolford mine?" asked Frank.
"I think it is," was the reply. "The location is right, at least."

"It is remarkable," Frank said, "but we can talk of that at another
time. I called you over here to ask you more about the fourth man--the
one you referred to, but a short time ago, as having visited the
Cameron suite that night. I didn't think much of the idea when you
suggested it, but, somehow, I can't get it out of my head. Do you
still believe there was a fourth man? If so, what was he there for?"

"That will show in time," replied Nestor, with a little pause after
each w