But at no time did he give up his determination to explore the chasm.  From the first Mukoki and Wabigoon had regarded this project with little favor, declaring the impossibility of discovering gold under snow, even though gold was there; so Rod waited and watched for an opportunity to make the search alone, saying nothing about his plans.

On a beautiful day late in December, when the sun rose with dazzling brightness, his opportunity came.  Wabi was to remain in camp, and Mukoki, who was again of the belief that they were safe from the Woongas, was to follow one of the trap-lines alone.  Supplying himself well with food, taking Wabi’s rifle, a double allowance of cartridges, a knife, belt-ax, and a heavy blanket in his pack, Rod set out for the chasm.  Wabi laughed as he stood in the doorway to see him off.

“Good luck to you, Rod; hope you find gold,” he cried gaily, waving a final good-by with his hand.

“If I don’t return to-night don’t you fellows worry about me,” called back the youth.  “If things look promising I may camp in the chasm and take up the hunt again in the morning.”

He now passed quickly to the second ridge, knowing from previous experience that it would be impossible to make a descent into the gulch from the first mountain.  This range, a mile south of the camp, had not been explored by the hunters, but Rod was sure that there was no danger of losing himself as long as he followed along the edge of the chasm which was in itself a constant and infallible guide.  Much to his disappointment he found that the southern walls of this mysterious break between the mountains were as precipitous as those on the opposite side, and for two hours he looked in vain for a place where he might climb down.  The country was now becoming densely wooded and he was constantly encountering signs of big game.  But he paid little attention to these.  Finally he came to a point where the forest swept over and down the steep side of the mountain, and to his great joy he saw that by strapping his snow-shoes to his back and making good use of his hands it was possible for him to make a descent.

Fifteen minutes later, breathless but triumphant, he stood at the bottom of the chasm.  On his right rose the strip of cedar forest; on his left he was shut in by towering walls of black and shattered rock.  At his feet was the little stream which had played such an important part in his golden dreams, frozen in places, and in others kept clear of ice by the swiftness of its current.  A little ahead of him was that gloomy, sunless part of the chasm into which he had peered so often from the top of the ridge on the north.  As he advanced step by step into its mysterious silence, his eyes alert, his nerves stretched to a tension of the keenest expectancy, there crept over him a feeling that he was invading that enchanted territory which, even at this moment, might be guarded by the spirits of the two mortals who had died because of the treasure it held.