The Go Ahead Boys and Simons Mine | Page 3

it he wrote, "The grave of an
unknown man, supposedly Simon Moultrie. The bones were found July
13, 1914, by Fred Button, John Clemens and Zeke Rattray."
"Don't you think," inquired John, "that I had better put our addresses on
this paper too?"
"Good scheme," replied Fred.
Accordingly the permanent address of each member of the party was
added to the brief statement.
"Do you suppose we'll ever hear from anybody?" inquired John in a
low voice.
"I don't know," answered Fred, shaking his head as he spoke. "It's one
of those things you never can tell about."
Fred Button was one of the four boys who among their friends and

themselves, for the matter of that, were commonly known as the Go
Ahead Boys. They were schoolmates and classmates and were nearly of
the same age, John being the only one who was eighteen, while his
three companions were each seventeen years old.
In various parts of their country they had been spending their recent
vacations together. The list of books given at the beginning of this story
will indicate the various parts of the country in which they had met
their adventures.
At the present time, however, when this story opens, they were nearly
two thousand miles from home.
Across the continent they had journeyed together and together also they
had spent ten days viewing the wonders of the Grand Canyon of the
Colorado. The apparently perilous ride on the backs of donkeys down
Bright Angel Trail had been greatly enjoyed, as well as certain other
inspiring expeditions which the boys had made, sometimes in company
with others and sometimes with a single guide for the quartet.
So enthusiastic had the young travelers become over their experiences
that at last they had obtained the consent of their parents to make an
expedition of their own. Two guides were secured who were familiar
with the entire region and two strong skiffs were purchased. In these
boats the boys had planned to follow a part of the dangerous Colorado
River. They had no desire to incur the perils that belonged to many of
its swirling rapids and tossing waters. In other places, however, the
river was comparatively safe and there the boys planned to follow the
course of the stream with their strong and heavy little boats.
Inasmuch as Fred's father was a prominent railway official he had
obtained for the boys certain privileges which otherwise they might not
have had. Fred himself was the most enthusiastic member of the party.
Shorter than any of his comrades his weight was still nearly as great as
any of the four. His solid, sturdy little frame was capable of great
endurance and there were few experiences he enjoyed more than tiring
his long, lanky comrade John, who as one of his friends brutally
expressed it was as much too tall as Fred was too short.

Out of consideration for Fred's physique, among his friends he was
known as Pigmy and Pee Wee, the former title sometimes being
shortened into Pyg.
John, however, rejoiced in his name, or if he did not rejoice, at least
was accustomed to respond to the appellation, String.
The remaining members of the little band were George Washington
Sanders, one of the most popular boys in the school in which all four
were students. Frequently he was referred to as Pop, a distinction by
which his friends indirectly expressed their admiration for one who was
laughingly referred to as the "Papa of his Land," just as the great man
for whom he was named was the "Father of his Country."
Grant was the member of the Go Ahead Boys who easily led in
whatever he attempted. In the hundred yards dash he had established
the record of the school. His standing in scholarship was high, while his
fund of general information was so extensive that he had received the
appellation, Socrates. This nickname, however, recently had been
shortened by the time-saving lads and Grant was more frequently called
Soc than by the name which his parents had given him. His ability as
an athlete was scarcely less than his success in the classroom. And yet
Grant by no means was one who withdrew from out-of-door life, or
enjoyed less than his friends the stirring adventures in which they all
had shared.
Zeke Rattray, the guide, was a tall, bronzed, powerful young fellow
about twenty-five years of age. For several years he had dwelt in the
region, serving as guide for various exploring parties or prospectors.
The Go Ahead Boys had smiled incredulously when Zeke had informed
them that when he came originally to the state because he was expected
to die "back east," (in Iowa) of tuberculosis. "I weighed just one
hundred and nineteen pounds when I landed out here,"