Fred's face flushed as the Go Ahead Boys laughed and conversation ceased for a time.
The boys had given their word not to leave the region of the big tree. There was therefore nothing to be done except to endure the waiting until Zeke and the Navajo returned.
Occasionally the conversation turned on the subject of the claim which Simon Moultrie plainly had believed he had discovered.
Fred, who was the most enthusiastic of the Go Ahead Boys, was positive the lost claim would be found and that the future wealth of the four boys was therefore certain.
The others may have been as eager as Fred to find the place for which they were seeking, but they were more restrained in their manner and inclined to tease their enthusiastic comrade.
"Zeke told me," suggested Grant soberly, "that really this Simon Moultrie was crazy."
"Is that so?" retorted Fred. "Then I suppose you're ready to say next that everything he saw was crazy too."
"Not quite as bad as that," laughed Grant, "but I do say that it's possible, if Simon Moultrie really was insane, he may have imagined he saw things or found them when he didn't see them at all."
Even Fred was somewhat sobered by the declaration of his companion and once more the party lapsed into silence.
It was now past mid-afternoon and the Go Ahead Boys were becoming impatient over the failure of the guide and the Indian to return.