"Forward!" cried Frank, when the burros were laden with the remains of the food, and the precious sacks of gold. "Back to the ranch!"
They emerged from the mouth of the cave. Riding their horses, holding them well in hand, lest they slip on the wet earth, and leading the burros, the lads began their homeward march with the treasure of Golden Peak.
As Frank, who was in the lead, made a turn in the downward trail, he suddenly came to a halt. Then he uttered a cry of alarm.
"What is it?" called Andy.
"The water—the rising water!" answered his brother. "Look, there's a lake below us! We're surrounded by water!"
"LOOK, THERE'S A LAKE BELOW US! WE'RE SURROUNDED BY WATER!"
It was even as he said. A quarter of a mile down from the top of Golden Peak there was a sea of turbid water, and it was still rising.