The Go Ahead Boys and Simons Mine

Go Ahead Boys and Simon's Mine, by Ross Kay

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Title: The Go Ahead Boys and Simon's Mine
Author: Ross Kay
Release Date: February 9, 2005 [EBook #14998]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND SIMON'S MINE
BY ROSS KAY
Author of "Dodging the North Sea Mines," "With Joffre on the Battle Line," "The Search for the Spy," "The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers' Island," "The Go Ahead Boys and the Treasure Cave," "The Go Ahead Boys and the Racing Motor Boat," etc., etc.
ILLUSTRATED BY R. EMMETT OWEN

I leave this rule for others when I'm dead: Be always sure you're right--THEN GO AHEAD
Davy Crockett's Motto

NEW YORK BARSE & HOPKINS PUBLISHERS
=BOOKS FOR YOUNG MEN=
* * * * *
=THE GO AHEAD BOYS By Ross Kay=
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume, 75 cents, postpaid.
1 THE GO AHEAD BOYS ON SMUGGLERS' ISLAND 2 THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND THE TREASURE CAVE 3 THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND THE MYSTERIOUS OLD HOUSE 4 THE GO AHEAD BOYS IN THE ISLAND CAMP 5 THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND THE RACING MOTOR BOAT 6 THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND SIMON'S MINE
(Other volumes in preparation)
BARSE & HOPKINS
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

1917
* * * * *
The Go Ahead Boys and Simon's Mine
[Illustration: In spite of their recent exertions and the loads they were carrying they all began to run. page 203]

PREFACE
In this book the writer has endeavored to relate a story of stirring adventure and at the same time eliminate all sensationalism and improbable elements. The thread of the story was given him by a man who was familiar with the life and experiences of prospectors. Indeed, there is warrant for almost every event recorded in these pages.
The author has no desire to make his young heroes either preternaturally brilliant or possessed of too precocious brains. They are normal, healthy American boys fond of travel and adventure and naturally are meeting experiences such as come to men doing what they were doing in certain parts of our country. Self-reliance, determination, the ability to decide quickly and to act promptly, the strength of will which prevents one from abandoning too easily a course of action which has been decided upon,--all these are foundations upon which any successful life must rest. If these qualities can be acquired in the early years then life is just that much stronger and better.
The Go Ahead Boys, in spite of their many experiences are typical boys of America, and as such wish to express to the many friends they have made their hearty appreciation of the interest which has been expressed in their wanderings and adventures.
Ross Kay.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I A GHASTLY DISCOVERY 11
II A CLUE 21
III TWO UNBIDDEN GUESTS 30
IV TWO THIEVES IN THE NIGHT 40
V A START AND A LOSS 48
VI DIVIDED 57
VII TWO NAVAJOS 65
VIII WAITING 75
IX DOWN THE RUSHING RIVER 84
X A RATTLER 92
XI A PERILOUS FALL 101
XII A WRECK 109
XIII ALONE IN THE CANYON 118
XIV CLIMBING 126
XV THE SEARCH 134
XVI A STARTLING ARRIVAL 143
XVII A DEPARTURE BY NIGHT 151
XVIII RESTORING THE MAP 160
XIX A JOYOUS RETURN 169
XX TWO CROW TREE 178
XXI THE RETURN OF THE STRANGERS 187
XXII SPLIT ROCK 196
XXIII ON THE RIM 205
XXIV A SMALL CLOUD 214
XXV CIRCLES 224
XXVI CONCLUSION 234

THE GO AHEAD BOYS AND SIMON'S MINE
CHAPTER I
A GHASTLY DISCOVERY
"Look at that!"
Instantly Fred Button and his companion halted and the two boys stared at the sight to which their attention had been directed.
Even their guide, who at that time was several yards behind, hastened to join them and was almost as shocked by the sight as was his young companions.
"What is it? What is it?" whispered John.
"Can't you see?" retorted Fred. "It's a skeleton of a man. The skull is over there," he explained as he pointed to his right. "The other bones have been scattered. Probably some wolves or buzzards have been at work here."
For a brief time no one spoke. The bones before them were unquestionably those of a man. They had been bleached by the sun and their very whiteness increased the ghastly impression.
"What do you think has happened?" inquired John in a low voice.
Fred shook his head and turned questioningly to the guide.
Zeke, the name by which the guide was commonly called, also shook his head as if the mystery was not yet solved. Without speaking he approached the place where the skeleton had been discovered, and a moment later