CHAPTER XII—THE GREAT STONE HEAD
It was a wild and desolate country in which Tom Swift and Mr. Jenks were traveling. Villages were far apart, and they were at best but small settlements. In their journeys from place to place they met few travelers.
But of these few they made cautious inquiries as to the location of Phantom Mountain, or the landmark known as the great stone head. Prospectors, miners and hunters, whom they asked, shook their heads.
“I've heard of Phantom Mountain,” said one grizzled miner, “but I couldn't say where it is. Maybe it's only a fish story—the place may not even exist.”
“Oh, it does, for I've been there!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks.
“Then why don't you go back to it?” asked the miner.
“Because I can't locate it again,” was the reply.
“Humph! Mighty queer if you've seen a place once, and can't get to it again,” and the man looked as if he thought there was something strange about Tom and his companion. Mr. Jenks did not want to say that he had been taken to the mountain blindfolded, for that would have caused too much talk.
“I think if we spent to-night in a place where the miners congregate, listened to their talk, and put a few casual questions to them, more as if we were only asking out of idle curiosity, we might learn something,” suggested Tom.