"We came over yesterday to tell you about it," added Piper, "but no one was here."
"Wal, lads, as these young gentlemen think it might be a good plan ter go an' dig fur them skins, I think we'd best be goin'," said Yardsley.
Armed with two shovels, the party soon started off on their strange expedition.
"If it wasn't fine weather you wouldn't catch me on such a wild goose chase as this," growled Hackett. "Look at Yardsley—by the way he's getting along, you might think he had discovered a gold mine."
Without hesitation, the trapper kept on, and finally, to the great relief of his tired followers, slowed down considerably.
"We're gittin' near there, mates," he announced. "Now you fellers divide up, an' look fur the gully what the note speaks about."
This suggestion was quickly acted upon, and in the course of a few minutes a hail was heard from Sam Randall.
"Look!" cried Sam, eagerly. He held up a paper. "I fished it off the stick with a branch," he explained.
"Another message?" asked Bob Somers.
Sam laughed and proceeded to read the following: