Pioneer boys of the gold fields

by Edward Stratemeyer

"It would be nothing to wonder at," answered Bob.

"They ought to be hanged for it if they did," put in Si.

"Our gold is gone," explained Mark. "Somebody dug it up and made off with it."

"Oh!" gasped the former farm boy, and a look of real agony crossed his face. "You don't mean it!"

"It is true," said Bob. "Maybe Dixon is trying to find the trail of the thieves."

Now that Si was found the boys could think of nothing but the loss of the gold. It was such a crushing blow it made them heartsick.

"All of our hard work gone for nothing," groaned Si. "And we may never make such a rich find again!"

"We must locate those greasers," said Bob. "They must be the guilty ones."

"With somebody to help them," said Mark. "I don't think they did the job alone."

"I am going to get into one of the trees and look around," said Bob, and began to climb the tree without delay, Mark giving him a boost up.