"Lots of people are fooled by that," he said. "It is iron pyrites, a mixture of iron with lots of sulphur in it. The sulphur gives it the yellow color, and that's what makes Golden Peak show so yellow in the sun. Iron pyrites is often called 'fools' gold,' as it has fooled so many people. No, we've got to get a different yellow than that if we want to strike the treasure."
"Just my luck!" exclaimed Andy, in disgust, as he tossed the rocks aside.
All that day they roamed over Golden Peak, looking in vain for any signs of hidden wealth. The most that Billy hoped was that they would come to some out-cropping of precious metal that would tell of a hidden vein; but, though they did find several promising places, many of which had been prospected by the unknown men on the hill, the boys were not rewarded.
"Well, let's hike back to camp," proposed Frank, as the afternoon began to wane. "We don't want to stay in the open."
They found nothing disturbed when they got back to where they had left their burros and outfit, and supper was soon cooking.
The next day was a repetition of the first, and the boys were beginning to get discouraged. Not that they had been too hopeful, but they expected to find something.
"The treasure of Golden Peak is a myth!" exclaimed Frank, as they prepared to go back to camp on their third evening spent on the hill. "I say let's go somewhere else and camp."
"One more day," pleaded Andy, who was more hopeful than either of his companions. "Let's have one more day of it."
"All right," agreed Billy, "though I expect Uncle Richfield is getting impatient to close the gates of the dam and let the water rise. But he'll wait for us."
"It would be inconvenient if he didn't, and tried to drown us out," said Frank.