The Golden Spider by Francis Lynde

Consternation was about the only word that fitted when Purdick had told the tale of the lost book. What he had said was perfectly true. Though they were all three taking engineering courses in college, no one of them knew enough about mineralogy as a science to do any practical prospecting for metals without a text-book. Besides, there were the Government maps; lacking them, they could never locate a claim, so as to be able to tell where it was situated, even if they should be lucky enough to find one.

At the moment, none of them thought much of the loss of James Brock's little sketch map of the Golden Spider. Uncle Billy Starbuck's evident conviction that the lost mine would never be found unless it was by pure accident had its effect; and, anyway, the real business of the summer was to be a search for the baser, though not less valuable, metals. And unless they could determine the presence of these――as they couldn't hope to without the help of the "Dana," there was no use in going on.

"Well," said Dick, drawing a long breath, "that fixes us, good and plenty. I guess it's us for a hike back to Nophi, and a wait until we can wire for another copy of the book and another set of the Survey maps."

Larry shook his head.

"It's likely to be a good, long wait. That copy of the ‘Dana' was the only one to be found in Brewster――so the man that sold it to me said; and the maps will probably have to come from Washington."

It was here that little Purdick had his say.

"This crazy break is on me and nobody else," he cut in. "I had no business to forget the book when we were packing up last night. If you fellows will wait here for me, I'll go back after it."

"A lot of good that would do! " said Dick. "Those three hold-ups will be on the trail ahead of you, and you can bet they won't miss finding the book in daylight, if they did overlook it last night."

"I know," Purdick went on, "but it's up to me to try it, just the same. I deserve all that's coming to me."

At this, both of the others protested vigorously. There was little chance that the returning desperadoes wouldn't find the book as they passed the camp site; and Larry and Dick both urged, with a good deal of truth, that Purdick was too "soft" to tackle the job; unfit, and too unused to roughing it in the open. Purdick let them go on until they had talked themselves out, but he wouldn't give up.

"What you say is so true that it hurts," he came back. "All the same, I'm going. I made the break, and it's my job to patch it up, if I can. All I want to know is whether you'll wait for me here, or at the foot of the pass on the other side."

Dick and Larry exchanged glances. One of Purdick's outstanding qualities――the one by which he was best known in Old Sheddon――was a certain patient, gamey obstinacy that never knew when it was beaten. They knew that if he had made up his mind to do penance for his neglect by going back, he'd go, no matter what they might say.

Larry took the bull, or rather the dilemma, by the horns.

"It isn't all on you, Purdy. I sent you down to the big rock last night to get the guns, and told you I'd make up your pack. So we can split the blame. " Then to Dick: "Think you could navigate these mules of ours down the western trail alone?"

"Sure I can," Dick asserted.

"All right," Larry went on; "I've got a scheme. As I told you, I soaked up good and plenty on those Survey maps yesterday, and I believe I can find a shorter way back to the canyon than the one the regular trail takes around that long loop at the head of the valley. Hustle us a quick bite of breakfast, Purdy, and I'll go along with you. There's just about one chance in a hundred that we may be able to beat those hold-ups to it."

Purdick demurred a little to this, still insisting that the fault was his and that he ought to pay the penalty alone. But he did not let his objections delay things. The water was boiling, and with the pot of coffee made, a few slices of bacon fried over the alcohol blaze, and a box of biscuits opened, they bolted a hasty breakfast. With the draining of the coffee pot the plan of action was outlined.

Since there was no feed for the burros on the barren pass, Larry's suggestion that Dick go on down the western slope with the pack animals had to be accepted, so it was arranged that he was to push on, stopping to wait for Larry and Purdick to catch up when he should reach the first good grazing ground for the jacks.

"We ought to be able to overtake you by to-night, or early to-morrow morning, at the latest," Larry said, "but if we don't show up as soon as you think we ought to, don't worry. We'll do the best we can, and we're going to travel mighty light. " And to prove it he discarded shoulder pack, rifle and ammunition, taking only a small camp axe for equipment, while Purdick took provisions enough for two meals in a light haversack, and nothing else.

"There's only one thing the matter with this lay-out of ours," Dick said, as his companions were preparing to leave him. "Suppose you don't find the book where Purdy dropped it――what then?"