"We'll have to take it slowly," answered Dave.
The three youths set out, and they were glad to see the two miners do the same. The men were on horseback, and the other steeds came behind them.
As the boys had surmised, progress was difficult, and often they had to halt, not knowing how to proceed. Here and there they could see a small portion of a trail, but for the most part the way was new and exceedingly rough.
"If they ever do any mining here they'll have to spend a lot of time first building a roadway," was Phil's comment.
"If the mining pays it won't take long to get a roadway—and bridges, too," answered Roger. "Money can do almost anything, you know."
"Oh, I know that."
"The main thing will be to guard against the landslides," said Dave, grimly. "But I guess they'll know how to do that, too."
On went the boys, over the rough rocks and across patches of freshly turned up dirt. All were utterly worn out, yet not one of them complained.
"There they are!" cried Dave, some time after noon, as they made a turn around some rocks; and in a few minutes the friends were together once more.
"All safe?" asked Abe Blower, anxiously, and then, when assured that no harm had come to the boys, he added: "Mighty glad to know it!"