"Looks that way," agreed Jed.
"Something must have happened to him."
"I'm afraid so. Still, the horses are all right. So are the packs on their backs. They may have broken loose right after we went to look for Gabe, and he may be hunting around for us. Anyhow, we can get something to eat. I'm nearly starved."
There was food in the packs, and the boys made a hasty meal. They held a brief consultation, and decided they would walk along, leading the horses, as the trail was rough, and try to reach the camp, though they had no idea in which direction it lay.
As they were about to start off, Jed, who picked up from the ground the end of the broken tether rope, uttered a cry of surprise.
"What's the matter?" asked Will.
"Look here. See what I've found!"
He held out in his hand something of a dull yellow color. There was no need to say what it was. The boys knew the color of gold by this time.
"It's a nugget! A big nugget!" whispered Will, for the discovery seemed to awe him.
"Yes, and here's another, and a third!" exclaimed Jed, as he dropped the rope, and picked up from among the stones two more irregular chunks of the precious metal—the gold they had come so far to seek.