Zeke arose and after he had carefully looked to his person to assure himself that his revolver was in his hip pocket and that the pole he had taken would stand a severe test, quickly started toward the rim.  Not once did he glance behind him and in a brief time he stepped lightly over the rim of the Gulch and disappeared from the sight of the Go Ahead Boys.

For a few minutes after the departure of the guide the boys remained in the camp, obedient to the suggestion of Zeke, and perhaps all alike fearful of being lost if they ventured far from the locality.  Their restlessness, however, returned in a brief time and Grant said to his companions, “Boys, why don’t we try out my plan?”

“What plan is that?” asked Fred.

“Why, that we use this place where we have camped as a center and that every one of us, as I told you, a few feet from the others try to make a big circle about it.”

“I think that’s a good scheme,” said John excitedly.  “It will give us something to do and it will help us in finding what we’re after.”

“That’s right,” joined in George.

As a consequence the boys speedily began their new task.

Fred was stationed about twenty-five feet from the camp, George was fifteen feet beyond him, John was stationed an equal distance beyond George, while Grant, who was about sixty feet from the camp, made the outer circle.

At a given signal the boys began their search.  They did their utmost to retain the same relative positions, although such action required greater exertion on the part of Grant than of the other Go Ahead Boys.

When at last the circles had been completed the Go Ahead Boys decided to repeat the experiment, following a similar plan and at equal distances beyond the circles already made.

“We must look out,” suggested Fred as the boys lined up the second time, “not to go too far away.  You know Zeke told us not to leave this place.”

“I guess we shan’t have any trouble,” declared John.  “We shan’t be beyond hailing distance from one another anyway.”

The second attempt when it was completed had met with no better success than had crowned their former efforts.  No one had found a trace or indication of any spot that had been staked out as a claim.

The third time the strange wheels revolved about the camping place, although by this time the distance that had to be covered was greatly increased.

When the boys at last assembled once more and the reports were made they were all plainly disheartened.  Perhaps the fact that they were tired also had much to do with their feeling.  Even Fred, however, did not suggest that they should abandon their main purpose, for the excitement of the search in spite of his disappointment was still strong upon him.

“I’m not just sure,” said George when the boys stretched themselves upon the ground, “that I’m looking for the right thing anyway.”