"My, but that is a good one," he ejaculated when he had
recovered from his merriment. "You tenderfeet make a monkey of Gus
and then capture one of his men. I'll let Gus know it was you who
found me, if I never speak again. It will make him more angry than
anything else could."
To their surprise, the ranchers learned that the Lost Lode was only
about five miles from the plains and that it was at the foot of one
of the mountains, instead of high up in them, with a splendid
valley where the cattle could graze close beside it.
"Why, I've ridden through that place at least twice," asserted Pete
as he recognized Lawrence's description of the spot, "but never a
sign of cattle or mine have I seen."
"You noticed there was heavy woods on both sides, didn't you?"
returned the former raider, smiling.
"Yes."
"Well, that explains why you didn't learn anything, though of
course it might be that no cattle were in the valley when you
struck it."
This explanation only served to arouse the curiosity of the hearers
the more.
"The woods are the thing," he continued. "Every time any one comes
along, we drive the cattle into them and no one would think to look
for the entrance to a mine among the trees."
"But how does it happen you have never been taken by surprise?"
queried Mr. Wilder.
"Because when we had steers in the valley we always kept a lookout.
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