Thus were the boys lulled into a false security, and their fond dreams were not shattered for several days. It was on the afternoon of the day before the mine expert was to arrive that Bud, Nort and Dick, riding toward the cave to find out how matters were progressing there, saw, on a hillside some distance away from the glen, a number of motionless lumps.
"Looks like some of the steers from the main herd had strayed and were taking a siesta," suggested Nort.
"Yes," admitted Bud, slowly. "But I wonder——"
Suddenly he put spurs to his pony and dashed toward the dark objects. His cousins followed and as they got near enough they saw that the cows, far from taking a siesta, were in their last sleep.
"They're dead!" exclaimed Bud. "Dead same as the others were—from gas, or something. Boys, that gang is back again!"
"Then it's all up with the men on guard at the mine!" cried Nort.
CHAPTER XXII
TO THE RESCUE
There was no use wasting any time or sympathy over the dead cattle. They were dead beyond a doubt, a fact which was easily proved. And yet, as before, there was not a sign of anything that showed how they had met their death. The bodies lay in a natural position, as though the animals had been overcome when grazing and had sunk gently down. Or as if they had succumbed to some gentle poison that brought a painless death.
"Well, if this isn't the limit!" cried Bud while his cousins looked at him and at each other with wonder on their faces.