Fool's Gold by Eric Walters Read Free Book Online Page A

embankment up ahead. That was the northern boundary of the camp.
    â€œDo we climb up and get into the camp here?” I asked.
    â€œNot yet, and not here.”
    We walked along in the shadow of the embankment.
    â€œI’m still not sure what we’re doing,” I said.
    â€œWe’re scouting. We have to try to see if anything has changed since we were last here. You know, extra security or anything. We have to find the best way in.”
    â€œIt just seems like another chance for us to get caught.”
    â€œWe might be seen, but that doesn’t mean we’ll be caught,” Jack said. “As long as it’s just the two of us, even if we’re seen we can run and the guards will probably just let us go. They’ll think it’s only a couple of local kids who’ve wandered by. I bet that happens all the time. But if we get caught looking around with those men, then the guards aren’t going to laugh it off. They’re going to come after us.”
    â€œI guess you’re right.”
    â€œOf course I’m right. Now keep your mouth shut and your ears and eyes open.”
    I wasn’t going to argue, because that had been my plan anyway.
    â€œThere’s the trestle!” I said, pointing up ahead. The embankment trailed off and was replaced by a high wooden railroad bridge crossing Corbett’s Creek.
    â€œThey said the gold was being stored in the caves down by the lake so I thought the creek would probably be the best way in. It worked before,” Jack said.
    â€œIf they haven’t put more guards on it since we went in that way the last time.”
    â€œThat’s what we’re here to find out,” Jack explained. He started up the side of the embankment, and Istarted after him. Stones and cinders shifted under my feet as I struggled to climb. I dropped to all fours, using my hands to get me to the top. By then Jack was standing in the middle of the tracks. I looked up and down the line. There was nothing coming in either direction. I stepped over the first rail and stood beside him. Suddenly he got down on his knees and leaned his head against one of the rails.
    â€œWhat are you doing?”
    â€œListening for oncoming trains.”
    â€œYou can hear a train?” I asked anxiously.
    â€œI can’t hear anything … which means we can cross the trestle.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWe have to cross the trestle to get to the other side of the creek.”
    â€œBut why do we have to cross? The camp is on this side of the creek.”
    â€œThat’s why we have to cross. Even if somebody does see us they won’t think anything about it if we’re not actually on the grounds of the camp.”
    Jack started down the tracks toward the trestle and again I trailed after him. As he started to move across the bridge I stopped and studied it. It was long and looked to be pretty high in the middle.
    â€œYou coming?” Jack yelled.
    I didn’t like heights and I didn’t think this was such a smart idea, but what choice did I have? Slowly Istarted across the trestle. Within a dozen steps the ground underneath the track bed dropped away. Now it was just the rails, held together by the wooden ties and nothing but open air in between. Carefully I took a step to the next tie. They were wide, but not as wide as the gaps between them—gaps that were certainly big enough to let me fall through. I took another step, and then another. With each step the ground was falling farther and farther away. Just how far down would the creek be when I was in the middle?
    â€œHurry up!” Jack hissed at me.
    I looked up. He was already standing on the far side.
    â€œDo you want somebody to see you?” he demanded.
    â€œI’m hurrying as fast as I can,” I said. I dropped my eyes back to my feet. I stepped onto the next tie, first with one foot and then the other. I did the same thing again, and then again, and then