In the rattling flivver they journeyed to the place where Rick and Chot had discovered the hidden dam and water gates. As they reached the place the boys saw some men working over a flume box.
“I thought you said the Lawson crowd hadn’t come back,” remarked Rick apprehensively.
“They haven’t,” answered his uncle.
“But there are men washing dirt in the flume box, and they’re using some of Lost River water. They have one of the gates open.”
“That’s all right—they’re my men,” said Uncle Tod. “That’s what I came to see about—if they were washing out any color.”
“Rick—look!” suddenly exclaimed Chot.
He pointed to a board sign near the flume box. It read:
THE RUDDY MINE
PROPRIETORS
T. Belmont