CAMPING OUT
"Have you got the grub?"
"What happened to that frying pan?"
"Who saw the coffee pot? I'm sure I had it a minute ago."
"Where are the tin cups?"
"Yes, and the knives and forks."
"I wonder if we've got plenty of matches."
"Is this tent going to be big enough?"
These were only a few of the questions, demands, exclamations and
wonderings that came from the three lads, Frank, Andy and Billy, as
they prepared to set off to explore Golden Peak.
It was a fine day--a better one could not have been desired--and the
sun shone warm over the prairies, while in the distance, as the trio
stood in the ranch yard, could be seen the twin hills between which
flowed the river that was soon to be harnessed, and made to irrigate
the vast farms.
Beyond the hills lay Golden Peak, showing yellow in the strong sun, and
fully justifying its name. Surely it looked as if treasure were there,
and if it was, the Racer boys and their chum were determined to find
it. They had arranged to camp for several days on the mysterious hill,
which many believed contained wealth in some form, but which others
said only held worthless yellow rocks.
In the ranch yard some burros, well laden with the camp stuff, stood
patiently about, while Billy, Frank and Andy looked to their saddle
horses, tightened girths, and saw to it that they had all they needed
for a stay of some time.
"Now boys," said Mr. Thornton, "I wouldn't waste too much time on this
expedition. Don't be gone more than three days. Because I'll want to
close the big gates and let the river rise, and I won't want to drown
you out like rats in a hole. So don't stay too long," and the ranchman
smiled broadly.
"Well, we counted on a week," spoke Frank.
"Well, then spend three days at Golden Peak, and the rest of the week
camping somewhere else," suggested Mr. Thornton. "There are lots of
good places around here, Billy knows 'em. Besides, it won't take you
three days to find out that there is no treasure at Golden Peak," and
he laughed.
"I don't know about that," returned Billy. "But we could finish our
camping expedition somewhere else, I suppose. We'll do it, and when we
send you word, Uncle Richfield, that we've vamoosed off the Peak, you
can turn on the water."
"All right," agreed his uncle. "Now have you everything you need?"
"If they haven't they never will have," said Mrs. Thornton, with a
laugh. "They've been up since before daylight getting their traps
together. Now boys, you will be careful; won't you?" and she put the
question for about the tenth time.
"Of course we will," said Billy, as he gave her a hug and kiss, for she
had been almost like a mother to him.
"Yes, I think we have everything," said Frank, as he looked over the
packs on the backs of the burros, and saw to the things he and his
brother and chum were to carry. The Racer boys had gone camping many
times, and, though the method of procedure might be somewhat different
on the prairies, still the general rules to be observed were the same.
"Then good-bye and good luck to you," said the ranch owner. "Don't
forget to let me know when you leave Golden Peak, as I'll then shut the
big water gate and start the flood."
"We will," promised Billy. "Though we may stay there four days instead
of three, in case we come across the treasure."
"In that case you may," laughed his uncle.
"Forward then!" cried Andy, as he leaped to the back of his horse. Or,
rather he tried to leap to the saddle, but his movement was unexpected,
and his steed a trifle frisky, so, as a matter of course, Andy missed
his mark and came down on the ground rather heavily.
"If that's the way you're going to march I'm not with you!" exclaimed
Billy, with a broad grin.
"Come here and I'll pick you up," invited Frank, from the saddle of his
own mount.
"Huh! You fellows think it's funny," grumbled Andy, as he slowly arose.
This time he was more careful, and successfully reached the leather.
There was a chorus of good-byes, a shout of encouragement from a group
of cowboys, who fired off their big revolvers, and a waving of Mrs.
Thornton's apron in lieu of a handkerchief.
"Vely much nice boys!" called Sing Lee, his yellow face all smiles.
"Goo' luck!" and he threw after them one of his queer shoes, filled
with rice.
"Gosh!" exclaimed Andy. "He must think this is a wedding party instead
of a treasure hunting expedition. But I hope the old custom holds good."
They rode off over the prairie under the summer sun, their hearts
filled with hope, and with no thought of the dangers they were soon to
face. Probably if they had had intimations of them it would had made no
difference.
"We'll head for the dam first," said Billy, "and take a look at the
work going on. Then I can arrange for one of the men to take back word
for us when we leave Golden Peak, so uncle can turn on the water."
"I rather think I'd like to see that operation," said Frank.
"Oh, we can come down to it if we like," returned Billy. "That is, if
we're not too busy getting out the treasure."
"I wonder what the treasure will be, anyhow?" spoke Andy. "I should
think gold ore."
"Or maybe silver, or copper," suggested Frank. "You know we're not a
great way from Colorado, and some of the rock strata of that State,
where there is gold, and other minerals, may have outcropped in Golden
Peak."
The boys talked of the possibility of this as they rode on. Now and
then they would flush some partridges, or sage hens, but they did not
shoot any, as they wanted to wait about getting game until they were in
camp.
"Watch out for prairie dogs' burrows," warned Billy. "There are a lot
of 'em around here." He spoke only just in time, for Frank managed to
pull his steed aside from stepping in one, which might have given him a
bad tumble.
They reached the dam, where scores of men were at work, and the foreman
greeted them pleasantly. He readily agreed to send back word for them
when they left Golden Peak.
"And if you find more gold than you need, just drop off a couple of
bags here," he invited, with a laugh.
"He's just like the rest of 'em," complained Billy, as they rode on.
"He doesn't believe in the treasure."
They saw that the dam was almost completed, and that a few more days'
work would bring it to the point where the big gates could be closed
and the river stopped from flowing, except as it was needed.
Already the stream was partly confined, flowing through several
openings in the big concrete wall, and this made the current much
swifter, also deepening the water. It had backed up some behind the dam.
"Another hour will bring us to Golden Peak," announced Billy, toward
the close of the afternoon, when they had stopped for lunch and again
taken the trail. "Then to get up the tent and camp out."
"It doesn't seem as if that hill was so far away," remarked Frank.
"Why, to look at it from the ranch I'd say we could walk to it in a
little while."
"That's because the air is so clear," explained Billy. "Distances look
shorter than they are. It's a good way off yet, but we can make it
before night."
The shadows were just beginning to lengthen when they reached the foot
of the curious little mountain where they expected to remain several
days, and which they hoped would contain a treasure trove.
"Make camp!" cried Billy, as he leaped from the saddle. His companions
did likewise, bringing the burros to a halt. As they were about to
unload the animals, looking the while for a good location for the tent,
Andy, who had strayed off to one side, uttered an exclamation. At the
same time there was a sound in the bushes as if somebody was forcing a
way through them.
"What is it?" cried Frank.
"Someone's here!" replied Andy, and they could hear his rifle being
brought up, ready for use.