Tacked up in the entryway of their barracks was a large-scale map. Scarlet Lake was marked with crayon. The boys studied the area, looking for Careless Mesa. Finally Scotty found it, almost due north of the base. "About twenty miles. Only one road to the mesa, but two roads lead away from it. Let's see where they go."
The first road from Careless Mesa ended at a point in the mountains marked "Dry Spring." The second road led to the town marked "Steamboat," where the road forked again. One branch eventually joined other roads in Pahrump Valley, the other led to Death Valley.
The boys looked at each other triumphantly. Rick said, "So you can get from Careless Mesa to state highways without returning to the base."
Scotty scratched his chin. "Any idea what's at Careless Mesa?"
"Not the slightest."
"Neither do I. Maybe we'd better have a look."
That was fine with Rick. "When?"
"How about tomorrow?"
"I'll have to check. Suppose I wander over to the project? If Dick Earle is there, I can sound him out."
"Okay, and I'll check with my people."