"Now, for goodness' sake, Bob, what does all this mean?" demanded Dick, impatiently.
"Just this: I believe Reynolds' crowd hasn't located the mine, after all."
"What—what—made a mistake? You don't—you can't mean it! How—"
"Ter my mind, I'll wenture ter say it's as sartin as that a bullfrog can't drive an ox-team," remarked the captain, solemnly.
"Hold on—wait a minute! Here come the other fellows," roared Jack, excitedly.
In a short time they were all together.
"Jehoshaphat!" cried Jack, when Bob had begun again. "Warble your reasons fast."
"Listen: didn't Wanatoma tell us the creek flowed through a level plain at the base of the mountain?"
There was a moment of thoughtful silence.
"I'm sure he did!" cried Sam Randall, excitedly. "I remember now. And all around us it's—"