When they had gone half a mile, covering the ground slowly, they came to what seemed to be another cache.
It was in a sandy place. All round it the sand had been smoothed down—a bush having been drawn over it; so that whatever footprints had been made were wiped out. Even the “cache” had been covered in that manner; but as a good deal of sand had been taken out in digging the hole, all of which could not be put back when the hole was filled in, a slight mound was the result.
The scout and his pards inspected this mound, and the apparent work of track-hiding round it, before they ventured up to it; for they could not be certain that the man who had done the work was not somewhere near, in hiding.
To make sure on this point, they cautiously skirted round the place.
But no human presence was discovered.
Then they came up to the “cache.”
The baron was now much excited; he believed the gold-nugget bags he had seen were buried anew at that spot. Buffalo Bill and Nomad drew their sheath knives and attacked the sand, which, when loosened, they were able to draw out with their hands.
They went down rapidly; but the hole was much deeper than they anticipated.
“Gone down ter Chiny, he did,” grumbled the trapper, “ter make shore thet ther stuff would be safe.”