"No. That out-thrust of rock hides whatever lies at the bottom," Walter agreed, likewise peering down. "Say! couldn't your outlaw horse have tumbled down that place?"
"Criminy! do you reckon so?" asked Tom. "He might! Looks probable, don't it?"
He slid out of his saddle and seized a big chunk of rock—all he could lift. He started this sliding down the gravelly bank. In a minute it had slid to the point where the ledge of rock hid from their view the bottom of this sink. Beyond that it disappeared—and there was no sound of its landing.
"Goodness!" cried Nan, who had ridden up to look, too. "Is that a bottomless pit?"
"Might be, Miss," said Collins. "Anyway, I reckon that's where that ol' black Satan of an outlaw went to. Too bad! He must be deader'n a doornail down there."
The mystery seemed to be explained. But Walter was still thoughtful and curious.
"What's over this way?" he asked, pointing to the hill east of the gulch.
"More gullies," Rhoda said. "And somewhere is the bear den we're going to."
"Is it far?" Walter asked.
"It's in the gulch right next beyond this one," said Tom Collins, with confidence.