along the road.

A short time afterwards Frank announced that they were near the
abandoned mine, which his informants had told him lay close to the
border of the road they had followed over the rocky ridge.

CHAPTER III

TAKING POSSESSION

Frank had learned that many years back there had been a company
organized to mine the iron that was known to exist in certain sections
of the hills in that region.

Considerable work had been done, and some ore even shipped away, when,
for some reason or other, the scheme had been given up after a shaft
had been sunk for fifty feet or more, and workings started.

The entrance to the abandoned mine had been visited by curious people
coming to that locality. It was even marked on the old map which Frank
had used in making the outlines of his own little chart.

"Here it is, boys!" cried Jerry, who had pushed to the front; "Frank
was correct when he said he could see where the wheels of the stage
had run in off the road just back there. I hope our stuff is all
right."

"So do I!" echoed Will, anxiously, "because I've got most of my new
rolls of films, as well as my flashlight apparatus, in my big pack.
I'm only carrying a lot of precious developed films in this bag, with
other things I need. You see I'm meaning to put in quite a bunch of
time while up here experimenting and that's why I carried them along."

They had their fears quickly relieved, for their property lay just
inside the old shaft leading into the abandoned iron mine.

"It all seems to be here, and in decent shape," remarked Frank. "That
stage driver kept his word when he said he'd take good care of our
stuff. And now to divide it up so every one has a share."

"No funny business, Frank," Bluff reminded him; "every one of us
expects to get an equal tote load."

"That's what I say, too," echoed Will, who suspected he might be
treated too generously by his chums, and given less than his proper
proportion to carry, for Will was over-sensitive concerning his lack
of physical strength.

In the end they managed to distribute the blankets, food, and other
things in a fashion that was fairly equitable, and then resumed their
journey. At this point they expected to leave the road, and follow a
trail that if stuck to would take them to the shore of the big lake
around Cabin Point, their intended destination.

"Our course should be almost due northwest from here on," the guide
informed his three companions as