The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-06-22

trail OF the mules from the picacno
station and back againt" asked Hat-
per
Pendeld says he had To laugh before
he replied: Il suppose that the idea
OF trailing the mules was uppermosJ
in every man in the crowd NJ the
Picacho station the morning after
Barlows death. But every trace left
by the animals had been washed out
by a thunderstorm, and considerable
rain fell while we Were prospecting
the mountain
Did any one think OF turning the
mules loose at the station" asked
Tom, "and then following them up?'
NO" replied Pcnfeld. feeling sur
prlsed.
well, it might have amounted to
something. Animals are creatures of
habit. They follow the same route in
feeding day after day; they go TO the
same place for water. although there
may be equally good springs near.
Now those mules of Barlow's prOba-
bly, had the run of the range often.
When they bolted that morning tn
chances are ninety i'm n hundred that
they took n trail that they were uscl
10. and followed II until they were
overtakon. And mules. unless closely
pushed, would not climb the mountain
side, but keep Oh or close 20 the level
ground"
"Go on" said Penhcld, now bccom-
ing much interested.
Now" continued Harper, 1--WE may
turn our attention TO Barlow. He was
simply in pursuit OF his runaway ami
mails. and il is not likely that ho
turned aside to make prospecting
trip mp the side of the mountain. So
if he found a gold mine that day hc
stumbled on IL accidentally, and he
found ii nj or near the base OF the
PicaCho Peak"
And you may add" interrupted
Penficld. that he succeeded in hiding
ii away cffcctually."
"Yes, that is a point The problem
is To find something which has been
concealed somewhere in the neighbor-
hood OF the route OF two wandering
mules. If we knew their route the
problem would be simpliGed"
And you propose 10 find ii by TAX
ing Barlow's mules, which | bought
this afternoon, TO the old station, turn
ing them loose, and following their
trail? Bright boy! The scheme Is
worth trying. Tomorrow we VIII
take the mules up TO the Picacho sta
tion and turn them loose and the next
morning we viii take their trail. We
shan't find the mine, but we shall
have done our bcsc TO find It,"
The surprising thing 10 me-" TO
marked Harper, lis your way OF max
ing a practical application of ideas
The notion Of following the mules was
simply something that occurred to me-
but / am ready 20 try it If you arc.
Anyhow. it viii give ne an opportu-
nifty TO see the picacho Peak at close
range"
PcnGcld says they both felt foolish
the next morning but one, when they
started out from BarlOw's old citation
with provisions for twenty-four hours.
and each carrying a light prospecting
pick over his shoulder Barlow had
gone afoot, and Harper insisted that
they should follow his example.
The trail OF the mules, plain TO Pen.
fields experienced eye. led them IN n
southcastcrly direction, around rather
than directly toward the peak. The
had fed leisurcly along for
some time, and then. as the Western
partner announced, had moved on
more rapidly.
The two men made easy progress.
The occasional patches Of mesquit
through which the animals had wan
dered gave them some shade as the
sun rose higher and higher over the
desert.
Gradually the trail led them 10 the
base OF the mountain, ana they began
20 ascend the extreme end Of the long
ridge in which the peak ends 20 he
AZ this point n wcli-deGncd cattle
trail led over low saddle" in the
ridge. and as they reached the top of
this saddle Penfcld saw the mules
calmly switching away the flies under
n mcsquit tree on the descr; beyond.
There they are" said Pcnhe.d
pointing
Then" remarked Harper. II think
that we are close 20 the lost mine"
Why
Because this Is tic only point n
which the trail Of the mules has
touched the mountain
Standing on the summit Of the
range they carefully looked over %"
ground and then went slowly dowr
the north side OF tine ridge. Near the
foot Of the slope the trail sklrted tic |
edge Of n small pond. "One Of OLD |
man Barlows tanks" Penhcld said.
There had been n small spriu: ia the |
side Of the gully and when rarlOw |
drst began TO pasture his siOck on the |
range he built n dam across the gully |
lelow the spring. and 20 made wa
ering place for bis cattle. After Pen |
field had explained this the two yOups |
men set about prospecting the ridge.
They were az this more than three |
hours. carefully examining "Tery |
square foot for n hundred yards oS
more on both sides Of the trail. st /
last Penfeid said.
we are simply beating over ground |
which has been searched again aud |
again by the best miners in Arizona
lie wanted 20 stop and befOre long /
Harper agreed that u would be use-