Page:Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice.djvu/183

Rh "It's a good thing we weren't in there," remarked Tom, and he could not repress a shudder. "There wouldn't have been much left of the Red Cloud if she had been inside."

It was a desolate place, in spite of the wild beauty of it, and beautiful it was when the sun shone on the ice caves, making them sparkle as if they were studded with diamonds. But it was cold and cheerless, and there were no signs that human beings had ever been there. Mr. Parker had completed the setting of his stake, and picked out his landmarks, and was gravely making his "observations," and jotting down some figures in a notebook.

"How fast is it moving, Parker?" called Mr. Damon.

"I can't tell yet," was the response. "It will require observations extending over several days before I will know the rate."

"Then we might as well go on." suggested Tom. "There is nothing to be gained from staying here, and I would like to get to the gold valley. Abe says we are near it."

"Right over that ridge, I take it to be," replied the miner. "An we can't get there any too soon for me. Those Fogers may git their ship fixed up, an' arrive before we do if we wait much longer."