outmaster had decided that he and Aleck would disappear from
the valley camp for a short time, leaving no trail by which they could
be followed. He did not tell a single one of his chums just what the
plan was, because he was desirous of keeping the secret. Then, in case
the sheriff questioned them concerning the movements of the missing two,
they could truthfully declare they did not know a thing about them.

But Thad made preparations looking to the carrying-out of a bold
project which he and the Rawson boy had talked over between
themselves. This was nothing more nor less than a hunt for the
long-hidden silver mine!

Thad thought that the sooner Aleck made sure his little chart, found
concealed in the back of that small pocket mirror which his dying
father had placed in his hands, was correct, the better.

And that accounted for several queer things he did on leaving camp,
one of which, the taking of the only lantern they had brought with
them, astonished Bumpus very much indeed, not to mention Giraffe and
Bob White.

The Fox had not been invited to join in the expedition; but later on
it was found that he had disappeared. Still, no one was worried, for
it seemed to be taken for granted that he must have followed Thad and
Aleck. They remembered that the latter had claimed a long-standing
friendship with the Fox. And it was also known that the Crow boy had
become an ardent admirer of the scoutmaster, whom he believed to be a
chief worth serving.

When Old Eagle Eye, then, announced that the two men were coming, the
others craned their necks to look. Allan told them not to appear too
curious; and so those who were busy at the fire went on with their
culinary labors, cooking a bountiful breakfast, as it seemed that they
might have company.

Sheriff Bob and the lawyer soon strode into camp--at least the
officer did the striding part, for old Artemus seemed pretty nearly
fagged out. A burning desire to acquire a glorious fortune so easily
was all that kept him up, otherwise he would never have been able to
have stood the long tramp as he did.

The first thing the sheriff did after replying to the salutation of
Allan, was to scan each one of the four boys in turn, and then turning
to his companion, say tersely:

"None of these the one you want, I reckon, sir?"

The old Denver lawyer looked dreadfully disappointed. His ferrit-like
eyes had flitted from one to another of the scouts, and each time he
changed base