Pat's success was encouraging, at least. But as up the gulch they went, the crowd was no thinner, and presently Harry stopped.
"This pick and shovel weigh a ton," he said. "And so do my feet. I vote we knock off work, quit locating gold and try to locate supper. First thing we know it'll be dark and we can't find even Jenny and Shep."
"W-well," agreed Terry. "And tomorrow we'll start out again early. Wish I knew just what kind of dirt had the gold in it."
"That," quoth Harry, "evidently is the secret."
Scarcely had they turned to retrace their steps when another call hailed them. Somebody was running for them, from the other side of the gulch. He was a slim, muddy figure, in boots and trousers much too large for him, with long hair flapping on his bared head.
They paused and stared.
"Aren't you the Pike's Peak Limited fellows?" panted the boy.
"Why, Archie Smith! Hello, Archie!"
"I thought it was you, but I wasn't sure." Archie was completely out of breath, and very red in his thin cheeks. He panted and coughed. "What are you doing? Prospecting? Have you struck anything? Do you want a claim?"
"We're looking 'round. No, we haven't struck anything yet," they answered. "Have you? How long have you been here?"