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.Parker and Mr.Damon agreed to remain on guard in it, while Tom and Mr.Jenksspent a day or two traveling around, making inquiries.The young inventor and his companion proceeded on foot to a small settlement,where they hired horses on which to make their way about.They were to be gonetwo days, and in that time they hoped to get on the right trail.CHAPTER XII THE GREAT STONE HEADIt was a wild and desolate country in which Tom Swift and Mr.Jenks weretraveling.Villages were far apart, and they were at best but smallsettlements.In their journeys from place to place they met few travelers.But of these few they made cautious inquiries as to the location of PhantomMountain, or the landmark known as the great stone head.Prospectors, minersand hunters, whom they asked, shook their heads."I've heard of Phantom Mountain," said one grizzled miner, "but I couldn't saywhere it is.Maybe it's only a fish storythe place may not even exist.""Oh, it does, for I've been there!" exclaimed Mr.Jenks."Then why don't you go back to it?" asked the miner."Because I can't locate it again," was the reply."Humph! Mighty queer if you've seen a place once, and can't get to it again,"and the man looked as if he thought there was something strange about Tom andhis companion.Mr.Jenks did not want to say that he had been taken to themountain blindfolded, for that would have caused too much talk."I think if we spent tonight in a place where the miners congregate, listenedto their talk, and put a few casual questions to them, more as if we were onlyasking out of idle curiosity, we might learn something,"suggested Tom."Very well, we'll try that scheme."Accordingly, after they had left the suspicious miner the two proceeded to asmall milling town, not far fromIndian Ridge.There they engaged rooms for the night at the only hotel, and,after supper they sat around the combined dance hall and gambling place.There were wild, rough scenes, which were distasteful to Tom, and to Mr.Jenks, but they felt that this was their only chance to get on the righttrail, and so they stayed.As strangers in a western mining settlement theywere made roughly welcome, and in response to their inquiries about thecountry, they were told many tales, some of which were evidently gotten up forthe benefit of the "tenderfeet.""Is there a place around here called Phantom Mountain?" asked Tom, at length,as quietly as he could."Never heard of it, stranger," replied a miner who had done most of thetalking."I never heard of it, and whatBill Slatterly don't know ain't worth knowin'.I'm Bill Slatterly," he added,lest there be some doubt on that score.Page 36 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Isn't there some sort of a landmark around here shaped like a great stonehead?" went on Tom, after some unimportant questions."Seems to me I've heardof that."Tom Swift Among the Diamond MakersCHAPTER XII THE GREAT STONE HEAD40"Nary a one," answered Mr.Slatterly."No stone heads, and no PhantomMountainsnary a one."Who says there ain't no Phantom Mountains?" demanded an elderly miner, whohad been dozing in one corner of the room, but who was awakened by Slatterly'sloud voice."Who says so?""I do," answered the one who claimed to know everything."Then you're wrong!" Tom's heart commenced beating faster than usual."Do you mean to say you've seen Phantom Mountain, Jed Nugg?" demandedSlatterly."No, I ain't exactly seen it, an' I don't want to, but there is such a place,about sixty mile from here.Folks says it's haunted, and them sort of places Isteer clear from.""Can you tell me about it?" asked Mr.Jenks.eagerly."I am interested in suchthings.""I can't tell you much about it," was the reply, "and I wouldn't git toointerested, if I was you.It might not be healthy.All I know is that one timemy partner and I were in hard luck.We got grubstaked, and went outprospectin'.We strayed into a wild part of the country about sixty mile fromhere, and one night we camped on a mountaina wild, desolate place it was too."The miner stopped, and began leisurely filling his pipe
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