I was willing they should visit Welch, and the sooner the better.
As soon as they closed their cabin door my comrades emerged from the gloom; they had caught the horses and were waiting for a clear coast again.

We remounted the cargo on the pack horse and got under way, and as day broke we reached the "divide" and joined Van Dorn.

Then we journeyed down into the valley of the Lake, and feeling secure, we halted to cook breakfast, for we were tired and sleepy and hungry.

Three hours later the rest of the population filed over the "divide" in a long procession, and drifted off out of sight around the borders of the Lake! Whether or not my accident had produced this result we never knew, but at least one thing was certain--the secret was out and Whiteman would not enter upon a search for the cement mine this time.

We were filled with chagrin.
We held a council and decided to make the best of our misfortune and enjoy a week's holiday on the borders of the curious Lake.