The next day he determined to firid out the truth of the matter,
and so we started up the canyon.
The road seemed rougher than it did when I was prospecting
and as we neared our destination, the boulders became more nu
merous. This fact increased the wonder that I felt at having pro
ceeded so 'far in my flight without falling.
At last we came to the cave. As we entered, could not re
press a shiver at the remembrance of what had taken place here.
Jack, who was leading, suddenly stopped and motioned me to him.
He pointed to two skeletons lying on the floor of the cave and I saw
by his face that he now had more belief in my story, although he
would have laughed to scorn the idea that he placed any stock in
the supernatural part.
While I stood looking at these gruesome objects, Jack moved
to the side of the cave and took up a loose piece of the rock. He
examined it closely for an instant and then shouted, " Jim, it's
gold 1" I hastened to his side, my previous thoughts going to the
winds, my present ones occupied by the glad discovery. Sure
enough, there it was, the piece of quartz in his hand being streaked
with the precious metal.
Well, Jack and I hugged each other like two school girls. Our
luck seemed to us too good to be true. Who would have prophe
sied that Jack Waters and my humble self, two of the most notori
ous " flunks " of the class of at State, would so speedily be
come rich.
When I had become somewhat used to the idea, I went over to
where the skeletons lay and while gazing down at them I did not
find it difficult in my present state of mind to forgive them for
frightening me out of my wits. And, indeed, they did not look
very ghostly now.
Who the poor fellows were or how they met their death will
never be known unless Yntali's story be accepted as true. And
'HE CAVE