"I'm afraid that is a good deal of a disappointment to you, isn't it? But, perhaps you will be less disappointed when I tell you that the old mine is valueless to me or you or anybody else."
"How's that?" exclaimed Dick.
"Why, it's—— But come and see for yourselves," he cried, springing to his feet. "That's the best way. You'll understand the why and the wherefore in five minutes."
"What! Is it near here, then?" asked my partner.
"Yes, close by. Behind the bulge in the wall on the left here."
"On that side!" cried Dick. "Not on the right, then, after all? Well, that is a puzzler!"
"Why is it a puzzler?" asked the stranger. "I don't understand you."
"Why, if the mine is on the left of the creek, what was that bridge for up above here, crossing over to the right?"
"Bridge! What bridge? What do you mean?"
Upon this we told him of the niches in the rock up above, which we supposed to have been receptacles for bridge-stringers.