Charley was badly wounded, but Doctor Dan extracted the bullet which had entered his side, and the boy was able to hobble back to camp.
The next day with Dick and Doctor Dan he rode to Node ranch, where he lay very ill for a week, but after that began to mend.
Now, so far, we have not said a word about Clara, for that involves an explanation of a painful shock which came to the poor girl.
Colonel Eglinton was not with his men, and for a very good reason.
Just as the party was starting out from the Gold Queen mine Colonel Eglinton fell off his horse and never spoke again.
He was dead—dead of heart disease which had long threatened him, and it was Clara’s sad task to take his body on to Washington for burial.
Dick met her at Node ranch and rendered her every assistance in his power. He wanted to go East with her, but she would no more hear to his leaving Charley then than she would when Dick wanted to go with her to the mine when Tony first communicated his sad news.
When Charley was able to be moved Doctor Dan concluded to go with the boys, and the day following their arrival Dick went to the Smithsonian with the guide and made his report.
Unfortunately, however, they had nothing to show to prove the existence of old P. D., for even the head of the Plesiosaurus which Doctor Dan had found in the underground cavern had been left behind.
Professor Poynter was greatly excited at the report Dick rendered, and we may as well tell the end of the monster business right here.