"Seems to me they not only are getting, but have been for some time," laughed the Professor. "The condition of my feet proves that."
The Number 2 section to which the superintendent's informant had referred, was a quarry mine, off among the mountains in the vicinity of the red rock that had attracted Tad's attention as they neared the camp. He made a sudden resolve to visit the place on the following day.
Borrowing a pony next morning, and without telling anyone where he was going, Tad rode away with the Ruby Mountain as his destination. The trail was an easy one to follow and, besides, he had so recently been over it that he would be able to find his way there and back.
Just why he felt such a keen interest in the place the lad did not know. Perhaps it was that the miners had thrown such an air of mystery about it in speaking of the red rock. Aside from its color there was nothing about the pile of stone to distinguish it from almost any other rocky formation in the Ozark range, unless it were the slight resemblance that it bore to the form of a church. The lad had observed this the first time he saw it.
After riding around the pile, Tad dismounted, and, tethering his pony, proceeded to examine the place more carefully.
The rock was rough and uneven, with little spires running up here and there. The lowest of these was a considerable distance from the ground.
"I'd like to climb up there if I knew how," decided the boy, looking for an advantageous place to make the attempt.
"I have it. I know what I'll do. I'll rope the rock."
Tad laughed gayly at the thought as he ran back to where he had tethered the pony in the shrubbery. Tom Phipps had seen to it that the outfit was fully equipped, having added a lariat, because Tad had jokingly inquired where this necessary equipment was.
"Glad I happened to think of that. I'll never ride out without a rope again, even if it's up and down Main Street in Chillicothe."