Fortunately it was not heavy going, as the dirt and gravel was comparatively loose, and in the morning of the next day about ten o’clock, they came to a nest of rocks which barred their way. By hard efforts and by loosening a large stone there was a narrow rift made, through which they crawled, with Juarez in the lead.
“Here’s the entrance,” he cried, his voice sounding hollow from the interior.
“The Lost Mine!” yelled Tom, and in a second they were all together in the entrance, and with a rousing cheer at what promised to be the successful end of all their trials and dangers, then home again, and after that their journey on the Sea Eagle into foreign countries and searching strange corners of the earth.
“Light up, boys,” said Jim. “We will soon see what we have ahead of us.”
“We will have to be careful,” warned Juarez, “there is no telling what we will meet, we are always running into excitement of some sort.”
“I guess not,” replied Jeems, “we have had enough to last us for a lifetime. Let’s wind this business up quietly.”
“Agreed,” said Jim. “We will make up for it later. Forward, march!”
With pine torches they went forward through the gloom, the light showing that the entrance to the mine had been buttressed with pine timber, but this extended only a few feet, and then they came to a narrow rift between dripping rocks.
“Low bridge, Jeems,” cried Jo.