A new expedition was promptly dispatched to the Bad Lands, with Dick and Doctor Dan in command.
But disappointment awaited them. Something had happened in Dick’s absence. Probably it was an earthquake, but he never knew.
At all events, great masses of rock had fallen down upon the trail, rendering it entirely impassable, and when they tried to get up to Izard Lake by way of the cavern the same state of affairs was found to exist there.
Even the Gold Queen’s trail was cut off and from that day to this no one has ever been able to reach Izard Lake, and access to the mine is had by another way.
Doctor Dan is still working on the problem, and some day he may find a way. When he does the world will doubtless be astonished to find that the prehistoric monster known as the Plesiosaurus still exists.
A few words more and our story is done.
Those papers!
Dick pocketed them when he returned to the cave.
Later he studied them carefully. Later still he showed them to a prominent lawyer in Washington. A week after that the lawyer rendered his report.
“You are unquestionably the owner of the Gold Queen mine,” he said. “I’ll take up your case for you. Nine-tenths of the stock is held by Tom Eglinton’s estate, and his daughter is the sole heir. The mine is yours, young man, and we are sure to win.”