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That made Sol Blugg and his crowd sore, and they often tried to do Abe harm. Now that Abe queered that land swindle for 'em I suppose they are more sore than ever. But I don't think they would have come here, only they have been drinkin'." "You had better keep on the lookout they may come back," said Dave. "I'll keep on guard, don't fear.
We know what we are doing," retorted the youth who in the past had caused Dave and his chums so much trouble. "You can't scare us." "Link, you ought to be in jail!" burst out Phil. "You'll never put me there," was the quick retort. "We have as much right to look for a mine up here as you have," put in Sol Blugg. "If you own a mine, where are your stakes or other landmarks?"
The others can locate that lost mine if they wish." "See here, you fellers sit down an' we'll talk this thing over," said Sol Blugg. "If you've got Blower an' Dillon interested in lookin' fer the lost mine there must be somethin' in it wuth knowin'. Might be as you've got a new lead, or somethin'." "I'll tell you what I know," answered Link Merwell.
The lads and the old miner were soon ready for the trail, and, bidding Dick Logan farewell, they set off through the main street of Black Cat Camp in the direction of the Rodman trail, called by a few old-timers Smoky Hill trail. As they rode along they kept a sharp lookout for Sol Blugg and his cohorts, but that gang did not show itself.
"Can they be following us?" questioned Phil. "I don't know. They came from the stables," answered our hero. "Most likely they had their horses there over night. We can find out when we go down." "Where are they going?" asked the shipowner's son. All watched for a minute or two and saw the Blugg crowd pass down the main street of the camp and around a warehouse corner. Then they were lost to view.
They'd have to go back unless they fell in with somebody who knew something of this district." "What do you think of that other party we saw at a distance?" "They might be the Sol Blugg gang, or they might be almost anybody, Roger. Anybody can come here and try to locate a paying claim."
"Sure, I done that myself," said Blugg, and laughed. "Nobody took their hosses so far as we know." "I guess the new strike o' gold must be near the old Landslide Mine," said Larry Jaley. "Maybe it's the old mine itself." "We'll soon know, if we watch 'em close enough," returned Sol Blugg.
"Three of them." "Oh, say, do you think they can be Sol Blugg and his two cronies?" burst out Phil. "Maybe," answered Roger. "I can't make them out from this distance." "Let me take a look," suggested Tom Dillon, and adjusted the glasses to his eyes. "You are right they are three men on horses. But who they are I don't know. Plenty o' miners travel this trail at one time or another."
It's not a common name, like Smith." "Listen," whispered Phil, for the two men had begun to talk again. "I lost a lot of money by havin' thet land deal fall through," growled the fellow called Blugg. "So did I," responded the man on the arm of the car seat. "We all did." "If Abe Blower knows we are on his trail he'll keep out o' sight."
"I've seen it in minin' camps many times. A feller would slide in, an' he could make money diggin' fer gold. But instead o' doin' it, he would jest fool away his time gamblin' an' drinkin'. It's awful the way some folks act." "They won't have any easy time of it, getting back to Butte," said Dave. "Perhaps they'll meet that Sol Blugg crowd on the way." "Oh, don't say that!" cried Roger.
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