"That may be, but I do not see how it is possible."

"You went by her, didn't you?"

Tad colored.

"I guess so. But it was different in my case."

"Ah, that's it. It's different with them, too. If it wasn't, we
would have found them long before this."

"Then you are going to give it up? Is that what you mean?"

"Don't see as there is anything else we can do. If we don't come
across them this afternoon, we won't at all. See, there's the Ruby
Mountain already."

"The Ruby Mountain! I've heard of that. What a peculiar formation it
is. Almost blood red in spots. What is it--isn't there some
superstition about the rock?"

"Well, you might call it that. There are those who declare they have
seen strange lights appear on the face of the rock after dark."

"Have you?" queried Tad.

"Well, that's another story," laughed the leader.

"What makes it look so red?"