"I guess the burros can pack it back to the ranch," said Billy, as they made up bundle after bundle.
"Especially since our grub is nearly gone, and they won't have to carry that," added Frank.
"But it will be hard going through the rain," said Andy, for the big storm had still kept up, though not with such fury. The rain still descended, and the wind blew, but the cloudburst was a thing of the past.
They made the gold into small packages, so that they could easily be put on the backs of the pack animals. Since they had taken up their camp in the cave they had not gone out, as there was no necessity. They had their food, they could cook it over fires made in the cavern, their horses were safely stabled, and all there was to do was to dig out the gold.
The treasure of Golden Peak had not amounted to nearly as much as they had hoped it would, but it was still a good find, and they were very glad.
"Well, I suppose we might as well move," suggested Frank, when they had put all the precious ore into bags. "We can come back later and make a bridge across the chasm to see if there is any of the yellow stuff on the other side."
"Yes, I guess we've got all we can get at present," added Billy. "Besides, my uncle will be glad to get word that we are going to leave so he can close the dam, and——"
"But if there is more gold here he won't do that!" interrupted Frank. "We ought to hurry and tell him that we have found the treasure, and to wait a while before flooding Golden Peak."
"That's so," agreed the ranch boy. "We'll do it. Let's get back to the ranch as fast as we can."
Little more preparation was required to put them in shape for travel. It was still raining, but they did not mind that, though they realized that they would have to make quite a circuit in order to pass the river, which would be much swollen.