After calling on the Gussings and being invited to remain there for several days,Joe took himself to Ned Talmadge's residence.
Ned was very glad to see him and had to give all the particulars of another trip he had made to the West.
"I had a splendid time,"said Ned."I wish you had been along.""Then you like the West,Ned?"
"Indeed I do,--better than the East."
"Perhaps I'll go West some day,"went on our hero,and told his friend of what Maurice Vane had said.
"I saw some mines while I was out there,"continued Ned."I went to the very bottom of one mine.I can tell you I felt a bit shivery,being so far underground.""I suppose the miners get used to it."
"It would be a joke on those swindlers if that mine should prove of value,"went on Ned,after a pause.
"I hope,for Mr.Vane's sake,it does prove valuable.""Now your hotel is burnt out,what are you going to do?""I haven't made up my mind,Ned.Perhaps I'll come back here,to work for Mr.Mallison.""Then we'll be together again next summer.That will suit me."The boys had a good time together and then Joe said he would like to pay a visit to his old home on the mountain side.Ned readily consented to go along.
"But I don't imagine you'll find much of the old cabin left,"he added.
There was still a little ice in the lake,but they rowed to the spot without great difficulty and made their way to the tumble-down cabin.
It was not an inviting sight and it made Joe feel sober to view the locality .
"Joe,you never heard anything of that blue box,did you?"asked Ned,after several minutes of silence.
"No."
"It ought to be somewhere in this vicinity."
"It's gone,and that is all there is to it,"said our hero,and gave a long sigh.
The boys tramped around the vicinity for a good half hour,and then sat down on a hollow log to eat a lunch they had brought along.
"Let us build a fire beside the old log,"said Ned."It will help to keep us warm."Joe was willing and the two boys soon had some leaves and twigs gathered,and placed some good-sized branches on top to make the blaze last.Then they began to eat and to warm themselves at the same time.
"This log would make a good hiding-place for some wild animal,"remarked Ned."Can anything be inside?"
"It's not likely,Ned.The smoke would drive out any living creature.""I'm going to get a stick and poke into the log."Both boys procured sticks and began to poke at the log.
Presently they felt something move and a half-dazed snake came into view.
"There's your animal,Ned!"exclaimed Joe.
"Oh,a snake!Keep him away!"roared Ned,badly frightened.
"He can't hurt you--he is too stiff from the cold,"answered our hero,and quickly dispatched the snake with a stone.
"Do you suppose there are any more in the tree?"asked the rich boy,still keeping at a distance.
"More than likely.I'll poke around with my stick and see.""Be careful!"
"I am not afraid."
Joe's stick had something of a crotch on the end of it and with this he began to rake among the dead leaves that had blown into the hollow log.He brought out a great quantity but no more snakes showed themselves.
"I reckon he was the only one after all,Ned.""The log is burning!"said Ned,an instant later."See,the smoke is coming out of the hollow.""My stick is caught,"said Joe,pulling hard on something."Iguess--well,I declare!"
He gave a jerk,and from the hollow came a square object,covered with smoking dirt and leaves.
"What is it?"
"Unless I am mistaken,it is a tin box."
"Oh,Joe,the blue box?"
Joe did not answer for he was brushing the smoking leaves and dirt from the object.As he cleaned it off he caught sight of some blue paint.On one end the box was badly charred from the fire.
