In a brief time the party with their packs on their backs started toward
the Gulch. As has been said, the sides of the canyon at this place were
not unduly steep, and, though the descent in places was difficult, none of
the Go Ahead Boys had met with any mishap when at last they all safely
arrived in the valley below.
There they halted for a rest and before they resumed their journey Zeke
said, "It's so warm here in the middle of the day that I feel as if I was
suffocated. I guess we'd better stay here where we be 'till we've cooked
our dinner."
The descent had required so much effort on the part of every one of the Go
Ahead Boys that they were all willing to accede to the guide's suggestion.
"Zeke, how far do you think we'll have to go before we begin our search?"
inquired Fred.
"We'll have to go until we come to the claim," replied the guide dryly.
"But when shall we begin to look?"
"Keep lookin' all the while. I'm thinkin', though," Zeke added, "that we
shan't have to go more than three or four miles from the rim."
"You don't suppose he has staked his claim right on the top of the ground,
do you?" inquired George.
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