“First we got to get those stones out of the way and see if there is another tunnel opening,” suggested Chot.
“That’s right,” assented his chum. “We’ll do that to-morrow, and then, if we find what we’re looking for, we’ll start next day.”
Uncle Tod and his partner were so busy seeking another mine location, where they would not have to depend on water, that they paid little attention to the boys or dog. Rick, Chot and Ruddy could wander off where they pleased. So it was an easy matter to proceed to the second opening of the tunnel—the place where they had come out before.
They went by the outside trail, as it was quicker, and there was nothing to be gained by again proceeding through the tunnel. And there, as they looked at the pile of rocks, it was made certain to both boys—in the light of Rick’s map—that what Rick had said might very likely be true.
Behind those stones might easily be another tunnel, and in that tunnel—well, they hoped to find Lost River, or a trace of it.
“It’s going to be a lot of work—moving all those stones,” announced Chot with a sigh as they gazed at the tumbled mass of broken and jagged rocks.
“Oh, not so much,” retorted Rick, more cheerfully. “We can move one at a time, and all we need to do is to make an opening so we can get through. If we can bring the river back, the water will soon make a channel for itself.”
“Bring Lost River back?” cried Chot. “How you going to do it?”
“That’s what we’ve got to find out,” answered his chum. “Anyhow we’re on our own, now, and maybe we’ll surprise Uncle Tod.”
Then they fell to work upon the rocks, tossing the smaller ones aside, and, with long tree branches for levers, rolling the larger boulders down the side of the mountain.