him, ain't he? He'll want to feast
his eyes on some of that same rich ore--that goes without saying. All
right, let him, say I. We'll try and be close enough at hand to
discover whar the pesky entrance lies; and while they're hangin' on up
here, it's us to streak it for town and file a claim on that mine by
description. First comer gets the persimmon every time. I ain't been
in this line of business all my life without learnin' something."

Again did Thad feel his companion move restlessly. It was as though
Aleck felt a sudden fear oppress him lest this sly old thief should
yet get ahead in entering a claim for the mine.

The flicker of the kindling fire now began to show through the vines
at the mouth of the opening. What if these men stayed there until
morning, how were the boys to leave? Even when the moon stopped
shining upon the face of the cliff, the light of the nearby fire would
continue to light it up, so that they would not dare try and creep
out. Such a movement, if seen or suspected by the campers, must arouse
their curiosity, and lead to an investigation. Then the only thing
that could save the mine for Aleck would be a hurried rush to town, in
which they might be beaten by the others.

It was not a pleasant thought, although of course, if necessary, the
boys could stay there without any great amount of privation. The
constant chance of discovery would bother them much more than anything
else.

Dickey Bird was still grumbling, it seemed. Things evidently did not
please him at all, and only because the fear he entertained for
Kracker, the man might have deserted the expedition.

"I jest don't like it around here, and that's what," they heard him say
presently. "It ain't the nicest place agoin' either. Now what d'ye
reckon that ere rumbling noise was, we all heard a while ago? Waffles,
he sez it was thunder; but they ain't nary a cloud as big as my hand
anywhar 'round. Sounded more like earthquake noise to me. I was in that
shake down at Frisco remember, an' ain't likely to forgit how it starts.
If these here mountings began to roll over on us, we'd be in a nice
pickle, now, eh? I tell you I don't like it any too much."

"Drop that kind of talk, Dickey Bird," ordered the big prospector,
gruffly, "and draw up closer to the fire here. You're cold that's
what, and things they looks kind of blue like. Get warmed up and
you'll feel better. I've got a little dried meat in my knapsack, and
we'll chew on that