CHAPTER XXV
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.