"
Strong drew a long breath and passed his hand over his face.
"I have believed it true," he finally said, "ever since I first
came into possession of this paper. There is something about it
that rings true and I have counted upon finding sufficient wealth
to enable me to achieve a long cherished plan. If what you say,"
turning to Pedro, "is true, my chance of attaining my ambition is
very slim."
"I'm sorry, sir, but if I had known for certain what your object
was in coming down here I might have saved you the trouble.
Isn't there any other way you might obtain the money you wish?"
"If there is, I don't know it."
"Pedro may be right," spoke up Billie suddenly, "but I am in
favor of making an inspection of our own, now that we are here.
What do you say, Don?"
"I'm with you." Then to Strong: "How are we to get to the
bottom?"
Strong reached over and from behind a nearby boulder produced
another bundle of rope.
"I had intended making a rope ladder," he said.
"All right, then," from Donald, "a rope ladder it shall be."
The boys set to work and in the course of an hour had made a rope
ladder more than fifty feet in length. Lowering it into the
shaft, it seemed to reach to the bottom and Billie started to go
down, but Strong prevented him.
Pages:
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63