CHAPTER XXIV

GOOD-BYE

There was no more thought of resting for the excited two. Up they climbed for another seven hundred feet to where the pick holes suddenly ended and they stood upon a ledge of rock which seemed to extend clear across the front of the mountain. The two looked about them with some disappointment. They did not know just what they had expected to find, but here there was nothing in sight but the ledge and the mountain towering above their heads.

"This is what I took for grass from the ground," said Alex, pointing to the green belt that girdled the mountain side close to where they stood.

"Don't look as pretty and fresh as it did from below," commented the Kid. "Let's mark the spot here where we came up so that we will not miss the place when we go down. Then let's mosey along this ledge and see what we can find. Surely no man would be crazy enough to cut all those holes for nothing."

They piled up a loose heap of stones where they had ascended, then they followed up the ledge, closely examining the mountain's face and the rocks and quartz at their feet.

"Great cats," cried the Kid suddenly. He had stopped in front of some curious markings on the green-hued mountain wall, and stood staring at them with amazement on his face.

"What is it?" demanded Alex, excitedly.

"Location notices of mining claims on the face of a mountain," said the Kid, bewildered. "Two of them." Reckon Ike's uncle took up one of the claims for Ike and the other for himself. The old gentleman sure was queer in the head just as I thought Why, he could have claimed the whole mountain if he had wanted to. I don't believe any one would have objected. "Well, let's scratch our names up to just keep the old man's company." He dug into the rock with his sheaf knife and a bit came off in his hands. The Kid gazed on it with frank amazement. He moved along further and pried out another chunk. He repeated this operation a dozen times, heedless of Alex's questions, the look of amazement on his face constantly growing. The last lump he picked out was as big as a man's fist and he held it up silently for Alex to see. Under its outside coating of green it showed a dull reddish brown.

"What is it?" Alex demanded, impressed by his companion's manner.

"Son," said the Kid solemnly. "Just cast your eye along that broad green belt and you'll see something unknown in the whole history of mining--an outcrop of copper, pure copper, millions upon millions of dollars' worth of it standing out in plain sight. I have got to think it over. Let's mark up a claim for each of our party and get back to camp. I've got to get alone for a while and think this over."

In a few minutes the claims were marked and the two clambered down the mountain to find their companions getting anxious over their long absence.

While Alex was telling his excited chums of the wonderful discovery, the Kid walked off by himself buried in thought, nor did he return until dark. Over the supper table he laid his conclusion before them.

"It's big--the biggest thing that has ever happened on the Yukon. It's too big for us to handle. It needs wharfs, staging, elevators, ships and a whole lot of other things. Likely a million dollars will have to be spent before the first load of copper can be got out of that mountain. Now our claims will not cover one-tenth of that copper belt, and my plan would be to get down to Nome as quick as I could and file our claims on the records. Then, pick out a few old timers I could trust and have them file claims on the balance of the belt, and then all combine to sell out to some big concern that has got the money to get out the goods. I'm sorry," he said, regretfully, "but you boys will not get your money at once. You can take up a claim at eighteen years of age but you can't sell until you're twenty-one. If you care to trust me, however, I'll see that your assessment work is kept up and your claims fully protected. Three years is not a long time to wait and you'll all be rich men before you know it."

It was a little disappointing to the boys to find that they were not to get the money for their claims immediately, but Clay's reply gave them food for thought.

"I like that idea of not getting our money until we are twenty-one," he said. "We are too young yet for wealth. It would likely turn our heads and make fools of us."

Next morning the Yukon Kid started before day, with the two teams of dogs, for Nome, and a week later the river, clear of ice, the _Rambler_ drove down to St. Michael's to be hoisted aboard the self-same vessel the boys had come upon.

Did they get back home all right? Of course they did; _Rambler_, Captain Joe, Abe and all the rest.

And say, wasn't it fine that Ike sold that cargo of furs in Seattle for $12,000, $2,000 more than they hoped to get, you'll remember.

I believe, boys, if you could just stroll out on the little pier in the South Branch some evening and listen softly at the _Rambler's_ window, you'd hear those boys--yes, those self-same boys--planning another long trip.

We hope they won't forget to send us an account of the trip if they so decide. Until that time arrives we will say good-bye.

THE END