CHAPTER XIX
THE WORKING OF THE GOLD LODE
"Now you know what I think, Bob; but after all I may be on the wrongtrack," said Frank, after his companion had expressed himself so freely.
"Of course," Bob went on saying; "but all the same I don't think youare. After you've shown me, it's just like that egg Columbus stood upon end, after cracking the shell a bit--as easy as jumping off a log,once you know how. But now we're in here, I hope we find out the truthsoon, don't you, Frank?"
"Honest now, Bob, I don't care how quick it comes," replied his chum,frankly.
"This is a terrible place, with panthers hanging around, and thatthunder banging to beat the band every minute or so. I'm onlywondering, Frank, what would become of us if that old geyser shouldtake a notion to explode suddenly, and flush every avenue out of theheart of the mountain."
"Don't mention it, please," Frank answered, with a shrug of hisshoulders. "If such a thing happened we wouldn't know what hurt us,I'm afraid."
"Huh! some consolation in that, anyhow," grunted Bob. "If a fellow hasto go up against the buzz-saw, the sooner it's over the better."
"But nothing of the kind is going to happen," Frank insisted; "and youwant to get the idea clean out of your head. We're making fineprogress, and any minute, now, I expect we'll run across the party whooccupies this cave."
"But every time the blowout comes, away goes our light; and anotherspouting is about due now, I reckon," ventured Bob.
"I've got an idea I may be able to save the torch," Frank remarked. "Idon't know just how it's going to work; but anyhow the thing's worthtrying."
"Then here comes your chance," his chum called.
As before, the grumbling began with an earth tremor. It was as thoughsome giant, whose mighty limbs were shackled, was trying to breakloose; and in so doing made things near him tremble.
Rapidly the noise increased, until it became terrifying. Bob haddropped flat, and cowered there, almost holding his breath with awe.Not so Frank, in whose care was the burning torch.
He had whipped off his coat at the first sign of the disturbance. Thishe hastily arranged so as to partially protect the burning brand. Ofcourse in such a violent draught the suction was enough to make theflame flare and flicker until at one time Frank feared it could notstand the struggle. But just as he was ready to give up the attempt,the furious wind seemed to slacken.
Bob raised his head to see the torch still burning, and it soonrecovered its full capacity for illumination.
"Bully!" he exclaimed, beginning to rise from his position of huggingthe rocky floor of the cave; "you did it that time, Frank. But hurryup, and get your coat on. Gee! but this air feels chilly in here, anddamp too!"
Frank had found that out for himself. He was even shivering; and madehaste to don his jacket.
"Now let's be moving while we have the chance," he said. "I hope thatbefore the next rush comes we'll sight what we're looking for."
Perhaps his sharp eyes had discovered certain signs that told him theywere near the working part of the cave. Men cannot mine a lode ofprecious ore without leaving many traces behind to tell of theirpresence. And the stream of clear water that passed across the placeseemed to offer a splendid chance for panning any golden treasure thatmight be found in the shape of soft quartz.
Now and again Frank would place the torch behind him. Bob wonderedwhat he did this for until he saw his chum bending his head forward asthough endeavoring to discover what lay ahead. Then he realized thatthe light blinded him while it was before his eyes, and he sought toavoid the trouble in this way.
"There's another bend ahead, Bob," Frank remarked, presently.
"Yes?" said the Kentucky lad, eagerly, suspecting what was coming.
"And I can see signs of light at the curve," Frank went on.
"Hurrah! Everything seems to be coming out just as you figured, Frank.When I get back to the ranch I'm going to write to the president,proposing that he put you in charge of the weather bureau. Every oldfarmer will know then when to look out for storms."
"Well, we may be in for one now," observed Frank, dryly.
"Look here, you mean something by that remark," Bob cried. "Do youexpect we're going to have a peck of trouble with these miners?"
"I don't know. It all depends on what sort of men they are," Frankreplied.
"But we wont let 'em drive us out of here until we know all about thatgeyser, if there is such a thing; will we, Frank?"
"Well, I reckon it won't take a great deal of driving to get both of usout; but of course I do hope we'll learn something about the real causeof all this awful racket. Are you ready to turn the bend, Bob?"
"Sure," and the Kentucky boy ranged alongside his chum, by thismovement plainly indicating that he did not mean to let Frank take anymore risk than he himself was ready and willing to assume.
No sooner had the two saddle boys turned the bend in the passage thanthey saw a singular spectacle.
A couple of lanterns were hung from wooden pins driven in the wall.These lights, being protected by glass, could safely resist thetremendous suction that accompanied each successive convulsion, as therocks trembled, and the air swept through toward the outer exit.
Only two figures were in sight--a man and a boy. In the latter theyrecognized little Lopez, the hero of the adventure with the grizzly;and if their suspicions proved true also, the little girl whom Bob hadrescued from the anger of the bully, Peg Grant.
The man was a rugged specimen, with long, iron-gray hair. Frankrecognized him as Lemuel Smith, whom he remembered to have met severalyears ago when in a border town with his father.
Smith had always been a rolling stone, a prospector who spent his timein hunting new strikes, and who lived year in and year out in the wildhope of sometime or other hitting it rich. Frank suddenly rememberedthat Smith had had one daughter, who, he believed, had married aMexican. And that would make the little girl his grand-daughter.
"They're packing up," remarked Frank, whose quick eye had noticed thefact.
"Perhaps he's done his work here, and means to vamoose the ranch," Bobsuggested. "Then again," he added, as another thought raced throughhis brain, "maybe he doesn't altogether like the looks of things, andwants to get out of this rat-hole before it all goes to smash. He musthave been here a long time, and ought to know something about thatgeyser, Frank."
"There, they have discovered us!" the other exclaimed, as he waved historch in what he meant to be a friendly way, and kept on advancing.
"Whew! I just hope he doesn't try to fire on us," muttered Bob, whowas nervously fingering his rifle, and wondering how dreadful it wouldfeel to be compelled, even in self-defense, to shoot at a fellow humanbeing.
But the old miner held up both hands. It was the Indian peace sign,understood by every savage tribe on the face of the globe.
Quickly the two boys hurried forward, for the first symptoms of anotherburst of thunder and furious wind began to make themselves felt.
This time Frank did not take off any of his outer clothing in order toprotect the torch. He had noted that the old miner had _two_ lanterns,and he expected to borrow one, if necessary.
Of course his torch was snuffed out while the furious blast swept by.Bob noted that each successive outbreak tried to beat the record, andhe was wondering just when the limit of endurance might be reached.
The old miner, after the roar had subsided, offered the two boys hishand.
"How are ye, young Haywood?" he asked, recognizing Frank. "I heardabout what you done for my little gal here, Inez Lopez, whose fatherwas once a cowboy on the Circle ranch, and lost his life in a fightwith some of his countrymen when they quarreled. I'm glad to see you.Found a nice little pocket here a year or so back. Kept it on thequiet; and the gal, playing the part of a boy, has been fetchin' mesupplies once in two months, an' takin' away the dust I winnowed.Pocket's played out now, but I reckons as how I've got plenty. 'Sides,I just don't like the way thing
s is agoin' here. That spoutin' geyserthat rises up inside the old mountain every once in a while acts likeit meant to break loose. Never saw it carry on that bad before; andwe're just ready to cut and run, leavin' most of the truck behind.What brings ye here, Frank?"
So Frank had to explain in a few words, while the old miner lookedadmiringly at the boys, and grinned.
"I admire your nerve, young fellers," he declared, at the conclusion ofthe explanation. "And, Frank, ye guessed the true facts, blessed if yedidn't! I got onto the same by accident. Fell in through a hole, andjust had to creep along this passage to the end. Then havin' guessedwhat made the roar, I wondered if so be I could find any stuff in here.So I took a lot of wood along, and made my discovery."
"And you say you're bound out now?" asked Frank.
"That's what we are, little Lopez and me; and we can't get to the openany too soon, either, to please both of us," Smith replied, shoulderinghis pack.
"Oh! say, Mr. Smith," cried Bob, "have you lost a pet that wears acollar?"
"Meanin' my pet painter, Nero, I take it," replied the miner. "Iraised him up from a cub, and he's as fond of me as my dog. But he'sgone somewhar. We ain't seen him for hours, and like as not thecritter knowed it was gettin' dangerous in here. Trust animal sensefor that. But wait till this next whoop gets by, and then we'll makefor the door. Here's hopin' we'll all be smart enough to get to theopen. Bend your backs to the wind, boys; ye wont feel it so muchthen," and all of them carried out his instructions as, with a rapidlyrising roar, the spouting geyser that played in the heart of ThunderMountain again started to break loose.