The Legend of Deadman's Mine Read Free Page A

step out of the way as two dozen hungry campers stampeded through the main doors of the lodge.
    â€œCome on, Brian,” Sean called out excitedly, “before I starve to death.”
    â€œWait for me!” Bobby yelled as he ran after Sean.
    The boys had piled their plates high with food and were climbing over one another looking for places to sit.
    Sean was seated at a table with his fork halfway to his mouth, dreaming about how good the food was going to taste, when he saw Bobby standing alone looking for an empty seat. Sean thought he looked so miserable he might cry. Sean sighed, put down his fork, and walked over. “Since we’re going to be bunkmates,” he told Bobby, “come on and sit with us.”
    Bobby beamed. He looked so grateful, in fact, that he reminded Sean of a puppy that begged to be picked up. He tagged after Sean, right on his heels, and squeezed in on the bench next to him.
    The boys wolfed down their food and became so excited talking about what the dude ranch was going to be like that they were surprised to discover it was already getting dark.
    At the bottom of the hill, Mr. Austin had built a large campfire, and it blazed high with a whoosh and a crackle. All at once the boys scrambled down the hill and found places to sit on the split-log benches that ringed the campfire. A few of the ranch hands, including Woody and Cookie, sat with them.
    â€œS’mores for dessert,” Mr. Austin said, and passed around long sticks and marshmallows to toast. “It just so happens I know a ghost story.”
    It was a story Sean had heard before from Sam Miyako, Brian’s best friend. Sam had earned a reputation back in their neighborhood as someone who was always trying to frighten the younger kids with scary stories. Sean was Sam’s favorite target.
    The story was about a ghost who kept following people, crying, “Give me my bones!” And even though Sean already knew the story, it still seemed awfully scary outside in the dark.
    Suddenly in the distance there was a mournful howling.
    â€œIt’s the prospector’s ghost!” Carter said ominously.
    â€œFor goodness’ sake, Carter,” Mr. Austin said, “that was just a coyote. Don’t worry about coyotes,” he told the boys. “They don’t want to meet up with you any more than you want to meet up with them.”
    Carter spoke up. “Tell them about the lost mine and the ghost of the prospector who protects it.”
    â€œA lost mine?” asked Brian.
    â€œIs it somewhere on this ranch?” Mike asked. The boys began to fidget excitedly.
    â€œThe lost mine is a legend,” Mr. Austin said. “And so is the prospector’s ghost. They’re just stories that got out of hand.”
    â€œBut there were directions to the mine,” Carter said. “I heard about them.”
    Cookie chuckled. “Sure there were. And they were so confusing it’s no wonder the prospector got lost.”
    â€œWhat were they?” asked Brian.
    Cookie frowned, trying to remember. “Supposedly there was something about finding the highest peak and following the trail to a tree with two tops,” he said. “From there it was downhill to a rock ledge, and facing south, or something like that.”
    â€œIt does sound confusing,” Brian said.
    â€œI bet I could follow that trail,” Carter said. “Just because the lost mine hasn’t been found doesn’t mean it isn’t there. In fact, I think I have a pretty good idea just where it is.”
    Mike nudged Sean. “Carter’s a real pain. He pretends he knows everything. I guess he can’t stand it if somebody else gets more attention than he does.”
    â€œNow listen carefully, boys,” Mr. Austin said firmly, his eyes coming to rest on Carter. “Don’t get any ideas about hunting for a lost mine. There are abandoned mines all over Nevada. But none of them are