Mrs. Claxton looked a little doubtful.
"Oh, I guess it won't hurt just once, perhaps," said Mr. Claxton, genially. "I know just how you boys feel about such things."
The boys were delighted at this endorsement of their plan, but after they had finished their supper and left the table, Mrs. Claxton turned a little uneasily to her husband.
"Do you think it perfectly safe to let the boys do that?"
"Why, yes, my dear, I think it is," replied Mr. Claxton. "But to make you feel comfortable, I'll arrange to have one or two of the men camp out that night a little way off from the cave, so that they can be within reach if anything happens. But don't say a word to the boys about that. There wouldn't be any fun in it at all for them if they thought that any one was looking after them."
After supper the boys were walking down near the bunk-house when they met Hank Thompson.
"Where are the rest of the men, Hank?" asked George, after they had exchanged greetings.
"All of them off on a round-up," replied Hank. "They won't be back till late to-night."
"You must be rather lonesome," said Frank, with a smile.
"I've got one fellow down there to keep me company," grinned Hank. "But he ain't what you might call real sociable like."