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Read Ebook: Dave Porter in the Gold Fields; Or The Search for the Landslide Mine by Stratemeyer Edward Rogers Walter S Illustrator
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Ebook has 1145 lines and 33859 words, and 23 pages
"We might have taken a train for the first forty miles," remarked Tom Dillon. "But it wouldn't have helped us a great deal, for we'd have to side-track for ten miles. We'll go the old way--the way we went afore there was any railroads."
"There must be a lot of mines in Montana," remarked Phil, as they rode out of Butte.
"Somebody told me there had been over fifteen thousand minin' claims staked and recorded," answered the old miner. "O' course, lots of 'em ain't never been developed. But a good many of 'em have."
"They must produce a lot of gold," said Dave.
"Yes, lad, the output runs up into the millions every year. Oh, a good mine is a bonanza!" added Tom Dillon, emphatically.
"Then I trust we locate the Landslide Mine, and that it proves a bonanza," returned Roger, eagerly.
On the way they passed mine after mine, and the boys were much interested in watching the process of getting out ore, and also in the work of the huge quartz-crushers. Whenever they passed a mine there would be sure to be somebody to wave a friendly hand to Tom Dillon.
"He certainly is well known," whispered Roger to Dave.
"Yes, and we were mighty lucky to fall in with him--after missing that Abe Blower," was the reply.
It was not until about five o'clock in the afternoon that they reached a small settlement known as Robby's. Here they rested and had supper. They inquired about Abe Blower and his party, but could find out nothing concerning them.
"They must have gone around by Tilton," said Tom Dillon. "That's just as good a trail and about as short. We'll hear from them at Black Cat Camp."
It had been decided to push on to Black Cat Camp after supper, the old miner stating they ought to make the distance in three hours. Soon they were on the way again, just as the sun was sinking behind the great mountains in the west.
"I hope Abe Blower stopped for the day at Black Cat Camp," said Roger to his chums. "I'd like to meet him and confront Link Merwell--and Job Haskers, too, if he is with them."
"So would I," added Dave and Phil, in a breath.
It was more agreeable riding, now that the heat of the day was over. At noon it had been very hot, but none of the boys had complained, although they had perspired freely.
As it became darker they could see the twinkling lights of many a mining town and camp shining out in the mountains and the valleys below.
"It didn't used to be so, when first I came to Montana," remarked Tom Dillon. "In them days you could ride out here all night an' not see a light. But the State has settled putty fast in the last twenty-five years. They are buildin' railroads everywhere, an' towns spring up over night, like toadstools."
"Are there any wild animals out here?" questioned Phil.
"Heaps of 'em, further away from the cities. Bears, an' mountain lions, an' wildcats, an' wolves. An' then we have plenty o' mule an' other deer, an' elk, as well as Rocky Mountain goats, an' mountain sheep."
"Perhaps we'll get a chance to do some hunting!" exclaimed Phil.
"Not much, this time o' year, lad. But you might hunt a bear--if he cornered you!" And Tom Dillon laughed at his little joke.
"Did a bear ever corner you?" asked Dave.
"Onct, just onct, and it was the wust experience I ever had with a wild beast," replied the old miner. "I was out prospectin' when I got on a narrow ledge o' rock. All to onct I discovered a grizzly on the tudder end o' the ledge. We was both sitooated, as the sayin' is, so I couldn't pass the bear an' he couldn't pass me. I had fired my gun an' missed him. When I tried to pass by he riz up an' growled an' when he tried to pass me I swung my gun a-tryin' to knock off his head. An' so we had it fer about an hour, nip an' tuck, an' nobuddy doin' nuthin."
"But you escaped," said Roger. "How did you do it?"
"I didn't do it--your uncle, Maurice Harrison, done it. It was a favor I owed him that I never got paid back," responded Tom Dillon, feelingly. "The bear got mad and all to onct sprung at me. I swung the gun an' he knocked it outer my hand. Then I heerd a report from another ledge above us, and over rolled Mr. Bear, shot through the heart. An' Maurice Harrison done it."
"Good for Uncle Maurice!" cried Roger.
"That shot came just in time," went on the old miner. "If it hadn't--well, I wouldn't be here, lookin' for the Landslide Mine," concluded Tom Dillon.
"I don't know that I want a bear to corner me," said Phil, with a shiver.
"No, we'll leave the bears alone, if they'll leave us alone," returned Dave.
It was a little before nine o'clock when they came in sight of Black Cat Camp, a typical mining community, perched on the side of one of the foothills leading to the mountains. There was one main street, stretched out for the best part of a quarter of a mile. All the buildings were of wood and none of them over two stories in height.
"We'll go to Dick Logan's place," said Mr. Dillon. "That is where Abe Blower used to keep his outfit."
The boys found Logan's place to consist of a general store, with a sort of boarding-house and stables attached. Dick Logan was behind the counter of the store, in his shirtsleeves. He greeted the old miner with a smile, and shook hands cordially.
"Is Abe Blower around?" demanded Tom Dillon, without preliminaries of any kind.
"He was around, Tom, yesterday," was Dick Logan's answer. "But he left here about the middle of the afternoon."
ALONG THE MOUNTAIN TRAIL
The boys had expected some such answer as this, so they were not greatly surprised. They were introduced to the storekeeper by Tom Dillon, who then asked if Abe Blower had been alone.
"No, he had two others with him--strangers to me," answered Dick Logan.
"Was one of the strangers an elderly man and the other a young fellow like ourselves?" asked Roger.
"Yes, a tall, thin man. The young feller called him Haskers, I think."
"What name did the young man go by?" asked Dave.
"Morse, I think--or something like that."
"Morr?" put in Phil.
"Yes, I reckon that was it. Then you know 'em?" questioned the storekeeper, with interest.
"Yes, we know them, and we'd like to meet them," answered Roger, dryly.
"Well, I dunno where they went--Abe didn't say an' it wasn't my business to question 'em," returned Dick Logan. "Looked to me like the elderly gent was some kind o' a school sharp."
"He used to be," answered Dave. "And we all were under him."
"Oh, I see. Well, I dunno where they went, 'ceptin' they struck out along the Billy Rodman trail," said the storekeeper.
"Abe took his regular outfit, I reckon," remarked Tom Dillon.
"Sure--he never goes up in the mountains without it, Tom; you know that."
"And the three were alone?"
"I didn't see nobody else."
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