tened with much interest to
what they had to tell. As they felt they could trust such a man, they
withheld nothing from him.

"It certainly is some game--this trying to locate that lost Landslide
Mine," said the old miner. "I've been thinkin' it over again since you
told me about it, and it interests me mightily. So you want somebody to
go with you, and help you find the right trail, and find Abe Blower?
Well, if you don't think I'm too old, I'll go myself!" And he smiled
broadly at the boys.

CHAPTER XVI

ON TO BLACK CAT CAMP

"You go!" cried Dave.

"I thought you had given up prospecting," exclaimed Roger.

"Not but that we'd be glad to have you along," put in Phil, hastily.

"Well, I have given up prospecting," answered Mr. Dillon, with that
broad smile still on his face. "But I like to go out once in a while,
just for the sake of old times. Besides that, I was interested in the
Landslide Mine myself in a way."

"How so?" asked the senator's son.

"Well, when Maurice Harrison staked the claim I came along and staked a
claim a bit further up the trail. It wasn't near so good a prospect as
was the Landslide, but it was pretty fair, and I was sorry to see that
landslide come along an' knock us all out. So, if we find the lost
Landslide Mine maybe we'll locate my mine, too."

"Come by all means, and welcome, Mr. Dillon!" cried Roger. "If you had
that mine you speak about you must know as much about that district as
Abe Blower--maybe more."

"I think I know as much, but not any more, lads. Abe is a good
prospector, and he knows Montana from end to end, an' Idaho, too, as
well as other gold fields. He has made money, too, but he allers spent
the cash lookin' fer bigger things, while I salted a good bit o' mine
away!" And Tom Dillon chuckled broadly.

The matter was talked over for the best part of an hour, and it was
decided to begin the hunt for the Landslide Mine on the following
morning.

"There ain't no ust bein' in too much o' a hurry," said Mr. Dillon.
"That mine ain't goin' to walk away, and Abe Blower an' those with him
ain't goin' to find it right plumb to onct, believe me! I guess the only
reason those others hurried so was because they feared you would come
along and queer their game with Abe."

"I think that myself," said Roger.

"Abe had a prospectin' outfit all ready--he allers has--up to Black Cat
Camp. That's the startin'-point for the Rodman trail, on which the
Landslide Mine a