The tent which would afford them shelter was in sections, and could be laced together.  They carried food, compressed into small packages, coffee, a few cooking utensils; and each one had a gun, Tom carrying a combination rifle and shotgun, for game.

“We can’t live very high while we’re on the trail,” said the young inventor, “but it won’t be much worse than it was on Earthquake Island.  Are we all ready?”

“I guess so,” answered Mr. Damon.  “How long are we going to be away?”

“Until we find the diamond makers!” declared Tom, firmly.

Shouldering their packs, the adventurers started off.  Tom turned for a last look at his airship, dimly seen amid the trees.  Would he ever come back to the Red Cloud?  Would she be there when he did return?  Would their quest be successful?  These questions the lad asked himself, as he followed his companions along the rocky trail.

“Perhaps we can find the road by which these men go in and out of the cave,” suggested Mr. Damon, when they had gone on for several miles.

“I fancy not,” replied Mr. Jenks.  “They probably take great pains to hide it.  I think though, that our best plan will be to go here and there, looking for the entrance to the cave.  I believe I would remember the place.”

“But why can’t you follow the directions given by the miner who told you about Phantom Mountain?” asked Mr. Damon.

“Because his talk was too indefinite,” answered Mr. Jenks.  “He was so frightened by seeing what he believed to be a ghost, that he didn’t take much notice of the location of the place.  All he knows is that Phantom Mountain is somewhere around here.”

“And we’ve got to hunt until we find it; is that the idea?” asked Mr. Parker.

“Or until we see the phantom” added Tom, in a low voice.

“Bless my topknot!” exclaimed Mr. Damon.  “You don’t mean to say you expect to see that ghost; do you Tom?”

“Perhaps,” answered the young inventor, and he did not add something else of which he was thinking.  For Tom had a curious theory regarding the phantom.

They tramped about the remainder of that day.  Toward evening Tom shot some birds, which made a welcome addition to their supper.  Then the tent was put together, some spruce and hemlock boughs were cut to make a soft bed, and on these, while the light of a campfire gleamed in on them, the adventurers slept.

Their experience the following day was similar to the first.  They saw no evidence of a large cave such as Mr. Jenks had described, nor were there any traces of men having gone back and forth among the mountains, as might have been expected of the diamond makers, for, as Mr. Jenks had said, they made frequent journeys to the settlement for food, and other supplies.

“Well, I haven’t begun to give up yet,” announced Tom, on the third day, when their quest was still unsuccessful.  “But I think we are making one mistake.”