Since some time there was a rumor going around through Virginia City. Now was this quite usual but certainly not this time. The rumor was about the fact that the Cartwright family had a hidden treasure at a secret place at their estate. It was not known who had come with it but soon all sorts of plans got made to find and claim the treasure. The normal most laziest people were standing up front to find which wasn’t theirs.

It didn’t take long before the Cartwrights heard about the rumor.

At the Silver Dollar Saloon Sam Horn said with a clearly double tongue, “As soon as I have found that treasure I buy this saloon so I can drink for free.”

Everybody started to laugh out loud because they knew that Sam had never worked a day of his life. At that moment Adam Cartwright happened to come in.

“Sam, why don’t you ask Adam where your treasure is buried?”, asked Andy Carter.

“Good idea”, said Sam.

He left his spot at the bar and walked shaky to Adam. The drunken lazy-bones nearly fell but he could on standing up holding on to the eldest Cartwright boy. Sam let out a hard burp where out became clearly that he had thrown too much alcohol already inside.

“Adam, I need your urgent advice”, said Sam.

“Then first sit down”, Adam said quite.

That happened with much commotion.

Sam asked whispering, “Can you tell me where your treasure is buried?”

“Which treasure?”, Adam asked amazed.

“The one which is buried on your estate. Somewhere lies a strongbox with coins buried but nobody knows where ”, Sam explained.

Adam frowned his eyebrows and asked, “As far as I know there is nowhere a strongbox with coins buried at our estate. Who has made you believe that?”

“Everybody is talking about it. I understand that you don’t want to tell it but I am just a very poor beggar without money. So I can always use some financial support”, said Sam.

He put a hand upon the arm of Adam and looked at him begging.

“Forget it Sam. You trade every piece of coin in for booze. you would even trade your own mother for booze”, reacted Adam.

He got up and left the saloon. Sport was waiting faithfully for his owner who came there quite soon. Adam mounted don and rode in a quiet pace home. He had heard some news again and wasn’t pleased with it. Now their estate got overwhelmed by people who were looking for a treasure which wasn’t there anyway.

The following morning everybody was having breakfast when Adam suddenly said, “Last night I heard Sam Horn saying at the Silver Dollar Saloon that there is a treasure buried at our estate but not where. He asked me it himself.”

“Adam, you know as good as I know that Sam loves to have a drop of whisky too much”, his father Ben Cartwright reacted.

“Then he only can see glass, right?”, his grandson Mitch of five asked a bit simple.

Everybody laughed.

Ben explained, “That means that he loves to drink alcohol very much.”

Mitch kept silent for a second and said then a bit later on, “Then he surely will see a lot of glasses from the inside.”

“He surely does that”, said Adam.

They ate through where after Adam and his younger brothers Hoss and Little Joe went to work.

Mitch went to play outside at the yard with the dog Cody while Ben went through the administration.

Not much later Mitch saw as first that they were getting visitors. It was sheriff Roy Coffee.

the authority carrier dismounted from his horse and asked the boy, “Is your grandpa there?”

“Yes, I will say that you are here”, Mitch answered.

“That is not needed, you keep on playing. But do watch my horse together with your dog”, said Roy.

The boy promised that. Roy went to the front door and knocked. Ben answered the door himself and was surprised to see him.

“Come in Roy. What is the reason of your visit?”, asked the rancher.

The sheriff came in and said, “In Virginia City the rumor goes that you, your sons and grandson have a strongbox with coins buried at your estate. I come to warn you for the arrival of strangers and known people. Especially in case with Mitch.”

“Thanks for the warning. Adam heard it last night from Sam Horn”, said Ben.

After he had delivered the message the sheriff went back to Virginia City.

In the meantime Andy Carter had made up a plan to pinch the treasure without having going through too much trouble. He always had a glowing hate towards the family Cartwright. But they didn’t like him either so the hate was mutual. Andy knew that Adam had a young child so the young man decided to use the little boy to get hold of the treasure.

To put pressure on the Cartwrights Andy kidnapped Mitch. The little boy played alone near the oak at the yard when Andy very suddenly dropped by. He dismounted of his horse and walked up to Mitch. In a second he grabbed the boy and kidnapped him to his house.

Inside the house Andy threw Mitch harsh on the ground.

He asked, “Where is the treasure of the Cartwrights buried?”

“There is no treasure. I swear!”, Mitch answered a bit scared.

“Fibber. I keep you here so long until you have told me”, Andy groaned.

Mitch decided to keep silent and hoped that his father, grandpa and/or Uncles would come and save him soon. Because the boy didn’t say anything anymore Andy went to react his anger at the boy. The treasure digger kicked against the right ankle and stood with his boot on the left underarm of Mitch. The boy screamed it out of pain. Finally Andy stopped and he left. Mitch tried to get up but injured his right ankle. He started to cry out loud due to fear and pain. Fortunately or unfortunately Andy had left the door open so that everybody could come in like that.

So the three brothers Cartwright and Cody dropped by. Cody began to bark very loudly.

“Still for a second. I believe that I hear someone cry. Down Cody”, said Adam.

Everybody was quiet and listened again.

Hoss said, “It comes out of that house.”

“There lives that bastard of an Andy Carter”, Little Joe said excited.

Cody ran ahead and found his little boss lying on the ground. He licked the face of Mitch. the brothers rode towards the house and dismounted from their horses. carefully they entered the house. Adam found his son as first.

He kneeled down near him and asked, “Kid, how did this happen? How for god’s sake did you get here?”

“Andy kidnapped me from the ranch and wanted to know where our treasure is buried. I refused to tell that and then he kicked me against my ankle and he stood upon my arm. Then he left”, the boy told sobbing.

“Joe, go and get pa. Hoss and I stay with Mitch. Maybe that Carter comes back”, said Adam.

Little Joe grabbed Cochise and rode back to the Ponderosa. The young Cartwright knew for sure that his father wouldn’t appreciate this news. Meanwhile Adam and Hoss respectively looked after their son and nephew. Mitch had stopped crying because he felt safe now and Cody was with him. The arm of the boy got splinted and at the injured ankle was put ice on.

“Will grandpa not be angry with me because I left so suddenly?”, Mitch asked suddenly.

“Grandpa will be angry but not with you. You got kidnapped from our ranch so it is not your fault”, Adam answered.

Hoss got up and walked outside. He knew that Andy could come back any moment. Adam and Cody stayed with bij Mitch and didn’t lose him out of sight for a second.

Little Joe jumped from his horse as soon as he had rode upon the yard.

He ran into the ranch house and said gasping “Pa, Mitch has been kidnapped by that creep of an Andy Carter. The boy is injured at his left arm and right ankle. Adam, Hoss and Cody are with him.”

Little Joe didn’t have to say anymore because his father went along right away. Quickly father and son Cartwright rode to the house of Andy to pick up Mitch.

Inside the house Adam and Hoss took excellent care of the youngest Cartwright. Though Mitch remained a very scared. The brothers noticed that far too well. The boy kept on looking at the front door and laid very still in the corner where Andy had thrown him into. When Hoss saw his father and brother coming he was relieved. Ben and Little Joe jumped from their horses and went with Hoss inside.

The rancher cared about Mitch at once who looked for protection by him and found that too.

“Adam, Hoss, help Mitch on my horse. I take him home. You go after Carter”, Ben said when he had heard the whole story.

That was done and Ben rode with his injured grandson home. Cody went along with the brothers. Now he was back with his grandpa Mitch started to feel better time and time again.

Arrived at the ranch Ben first dismounted from his horse Buck and then he lifted Mitch from it. Limping and supported by his grandpa Mitch went inside. The boy went to sit on the settee and put his right ankle on it too. Carefully Ben took off the boot and saw that the ankle has been swollen up a bit. Hop Sing came out of the kitchen and saw the swollen ankle too. He went back into the kitchen and came a moment later with an ice bag which he put on the ankle. After the cooling the cook wrapped up the ankle. The arm got wrapped up in bandages too and tied together with a few plasters. To let Mitch recover a bit from the kidnapping Ben remained at home and he gave the boy a peach to eat. The rancher knew that Mitch loved that very much and it was healthy for him too. Mitch had very much trouble with peeling it but Hop Sing cut it in small pieces. Now the peach got be eaten and that was happening too. After a while Mitch fell asleep so Ben brought him to bed.

The rancher was one hundred percent sure that Andy Carter was also looking for the treasure of the Cartwrights which wasn’t there at all.

Now that Mitch was safe home again Adam, Hoss, Little Joe and Cody opened the hunt for Andy Carter. They knew that it was a dangerous type to deal with and were much aware. Though their sense of humor got priority.

The sun shone very fierce and that made sure that Hoss made the remark, “It must have been the fault of Mitchy that it is so warm. That is really something for him.”

“That could be so. Since he is living with us it is good weather every day”, reacted Little Joe.

“It might be good weather each day but the lad himself is a thundercloud. Pa adores him and he just takes disadvantage of it”, was the comment of Adam.

“You are also fond of Mitchy”, Hoss reacted.

“Of course I am. He is my son. Aren’t you fond of him then?”, asked Adam.

Here Hoss and Little Joe could only give a positive answer on. They rode into Virginia City.

The brothers stopped at the Lucky Nuggett Saloon.

“Hoss, you enter this saloon. Joe, you bring a visit to the Bucket Of Blood saloon and I take the Silver Dollar for my account. Come Cody. We are back here over one hour”, Adam said cool when they had dismounted from their horses.

The brothers and dog separated to look for their enemy. Hoss and Little Joe tried their luck in the mentioned saloons. It was quite busy in the drinking buildings but both brothers had no luck. Andy Carter nowhere to be seen. When they stood near the at the appointed time Adam had the same news for his younger brothers.

“Let’s go home or else pa will search for us”, Adam suggested.

“We surely may not let Hop Sing wait with his meals”, Hoss reacted.

Adam and Little Joe looked at each other laughing because they knew exactly what time it was. When Hoss once had the subject Food in his mind there was no room for anything else. That’s why they mounted on their horses and they rode with Cody following in their ware to the Ponderosa.

By dinnertime the brothers came home again. They dismounted and brought the horses to the stable. After the horses were looked after they went inside the ranch house where Mitch was downstairs also. Ben saw directly that they hadn’t found him yet. Mitch noticed that too and started to feel unsafe at the ranch. Cody felt that too and stayed near his little friend. During supper the youngest Cartwright kept on looking at the front door and hardly touched his food.

Adam said at a certain moment, “Drink only your milk and then you go sleep nicely.”

The boy did that at once. supported by his father Mitch went upstairs. Cody followed them. The other Cartwrights watched them go. They had had bad to do with him. Mitch was a sensitive lad and nobody knew how he would deal with the nasty kidnapping and how long that would take.

After supper the Cartwrights thought about the best way of how they could track down Andy Carter and make him pay for what he did to Mitch.

“Can’t we go and watch his house? He will have to come home time”, Little Joe suggested at a certain moment.

“That is alright. You take it in turns. I rather stay at home. Especially for Mitch”, Ben answered after a long silence.

The brothers could understand that naturally. Without it was really meant they had involved the little boy in the problems of the family.

Adam decided to take the night for his account to watch the house of Andy. He saddled up Sport and by midnight he went to the house. Fortunately it was a clear night and the house was separated from the other houses in town. Adam didn’t know yet that Andy had fled to the house of his girlfriend.

By morning Adam decided to decided to take a look in the house of Andy with risk for his own life and that of his horse. Quite soon Adam discovered that the creep had gone away. The eldest Cartwright decided to go back home and tell his father and brothers everything.

They were already having breakfast when Adam came home. He told what had happened and also that Andy had gone away.

Ben said finally, “Mitch stays at home with Cody for a while and someone guards him. You do that on turns.”

The brothers agreed with it.

To test how people in Virginia City reacted when the Cartwright family was dining in town Ben decided to take his sons and grandson out to dinner.

That morning during breakfast Ben said, “”Mitch, we are going out to dinner tonight.”

Adam said to his son, “You must look very nicely for sure because we are going to eat in that new exclusive restaurant.”

“I thought we were going out to dinner?”, the boy asked amazed.

A fit of laughter followed where after Hoss explained to Mitch, “Going out to dinner and to dine is just the same thing. Or to say it even more easier: we just going to fill our stomachs outside of this house.”

But Mitch didn’t understand this either because now he asked, “Aren’t we going to eat inside the restaurant then?”

“Of course we are. Why?”, Ben asked amazed.

“Uncle Hoss said that we are going to eat outside of this house. so not inside”, the boy explained.

Again there was laughter but now the Cartwright brothers had no answer to it.

The whole day strangely enough it was very quiet at and around the Ponderosa. When everybody was ready with getting dressed they had to wait for Mitch of course. Especially for tonight Mitch had put on black trousers with a black vest and a yellow shirt with black boots.

When the boy came downstairs Hoss asked teasing at his younger brother, “Is that our lovely nephew who looks so dirty every evening of playing outside?”

“No, that can’t be. Or is it his twin brother?”, Little Joe asked also on a teasing tone.

Adam gave his son a wink and Ben looked proudly at his grandson.

Mitch said to his uncles, “You are just jealous of me because I get noticed and you don’t!”

He clearly enjoyed of all the attention and admiring he got.

“You look marvelous. Are you coming?”, asked Ben.

Mitch nodded. They went by horse to Virginia City. Mitch was allowed to sit up front by his father.

Arrived in town they rode straight to the restaurant.

When they had dismounted and hitched the horses Mitch said to Hoss, “You would go and eat outside the door so you must stay outside.”

Everybody except Hoss started to laugh.

“Very funny Mitchy”, he reacted indignant.

Ben had reserved a table for five in an expensive and exclusive restaurant. He hadn’t said that his grandson was coming along too. Or they would have done very difficult with the reservation for sure. And the rancher didn’t feel like having that. He already had enough problems at and around the ranch.

At the restaurant owner Dick Baker looked at bit unconvient when he saw that Mitch was there as well.

He decided to take action right away.

“In this restaurant children aren’t allowed”, Dick said to Ben.

“Mitch is my grandson and he lives at the Ponderosa too. But if he is not allowed to come here we are going to eat somewhere else as well”, the rancher answered.

Then the eye of Dick caught the article in the newspaper about the buried treasure of the Cartwrights.

He thought, ‘Now if I let Mitch in my business they probably will tell me where their treasure is buried. then my restaurant can become much bigger.’

That’s why he said quickly, “Mr Cartwright, I have changed my mind. Mitch can stay anyway as he is inside already. I will bring you and your company to your table.”

Mitch looked for a second at his family but said nothing. Dick went ahead of them to a round table in a corner.

“The waiter will soon take your order”, Dick said while he was handing out the menus.

Mitch had gotten a menu too but he couldn’t read it anyway.

Adam noticed that and asked, “What do you want to have?”

“Wouldn’t they have baked potatoes, applesauce and chicken?”, the boy asked.

Ben checked for a moment if it was on it but couldn’t find it.

“It is not on it but if you want to eat that we will make sure that you get it on your plate tonight”, the rancher replied.

“The owner won’t like that. He isn’t so fond of children anyway”, Adam reacted dry.

He beckoned the waiter who would serve them and he came with his notebook and pencil to write down the orders.

When the waiter got to hear the order of Mitch he said directly, “We don’t have that in store. You can only get what is on the menu.”

“Then I want to see owner”, Ben said directly.

He came at once and he said, “We already have an extended choice of dishes and still someone must have something that isn’t on it. Chicken is a dish for the common people. We don’t serve something like that.”

“We are also common, aren’t we?”, Mitch asked plump.

The Cartwrights started to laugh hard.

Dick couldn’t appreciate this and cut a sorry figure by a child.

He said furiously, “My restaurant out rotten boy that you are!”

“Then we leave too at once. It was a delicious meal which you served but not to us”, Ben said directly.

They got up and left the exclusive restaurant.

Outside Hoss asked, “Where are we going to eat now?”

“At the restaurant at the corner of the main street”, his father answered.

“My order is still the same with ice cream for dessert if that is allowed”, said Mitch.

His father nodded.

Now the Cartwrights got a warm welcome and they finally got something on their plates. It tasted them very well. The owners, the couple Francis and Louise Collins, weren’t doing very difficult about the fact that Mitch was present because they liked him very much.

When the desserts came at the table Louise had made especially for the youngest of the company a big sorbet.

“You have an extra large one because you still need to grow and those big galoots not anymore”, the hostess said to the young Cartwright.

“Mitchy, shall we exchange? Your ice cream is much bigger than mine”, Hoss tried but it didn’t work.

Mitch quickly started eating his dessert before someone else wheedled it from him. Ben noticed that his grandson behaved himself very neat despite all the problems at the

ranch. By Adam, Hoss and Little Joe Mitch got a big appetite and he always ate his plate nicely empty. Though it had been a long night for Mitch because he often was sweeping away the sleep from his eyes.

“We ask for the bill and then we go home”, said Ben said when he saw that the eyes of Mitch were nearly closed.

“Mustn’t you pay then?”, the boy asked suddenly wide awake.

Everybody laughed and Ben said smiling, “Mitch, you do know what I mean.”

The rancher got up and walked to the bar to pay.

“Has it tasted well Ben?”, Francis asked who was making up the bill.

“It has tasted us very well. We go back home because Mitch starts to get a lot of sleep”, Ben answered.

He paid the bill and took his offspring outside.

On the way home Mitch was very quiet which they didn’t find strange. The whole evening his voice had sounded throughout the restaurant and now the boy had become a bit hoarse.

Adam remarked teasing, “What is it so nicely quiet now the kid is so hoarse.”

“Wish he was that every day. then we had some peace”, Little Joe reacted.

“Sure do. But still we love that lad”, Hoss said kind-hearted.

“You better do too. Mitch isn’t long as troublesome as you together at his age”, was the reaction of Ben.

Discussing about this reaction the Cartwrights rode back to their familiar ranch.

The next day was a normal working day for the Cartwrights. But it wouldn’t become a normal day.

During breakfast Ben said, “Mitch, you come along with us to the herd and you stay by me. The young calves must be branded.”

“Alright”, the boy said still a bit tired.

“You can sleep there then”, said Adam.

Quickly they ate on to leave after that.

On the way to the herd Mitch saw in the distance two men riding.

“Grandpa, there are riding a few people. This land is land is ours, isn’t it?”, asked the boy at that moment.

Now the others saw them too.

Ben said, “We go to them.”

So said, so done.

Ben asked strict, “What are you doing here?”

“We are looking for the hidden treasure”, said Glen Wilkes, one of the two.

“You may not come here at all because this is our spread and there is no treasure at all”, the rancher answered calm but strict.

“We have a map here where the treasure must be buried”, Simon Kendall, the partner of Glen, said.

He showed the map to the Cartwrights.

“Someone has drawn that map for you to cheat on you. The map of the Ponderosa looks like differently”, reacted Adam.

Glen became furiously and said groaning, “Then that Frank Simpson has cheated us with his map.”

They went home. The Cartwrights couldn’t stop laughing but Ben realized that the whole thing had started now really. They rode ahead to the herd but they didn’t come very far. Because three kilometers further they caught a man red-handed digging at their spread.

He was already quite digging deep but hadn’t found anything yet. Cody groaned at him whereby the man looked up.

“What are we doing?”, Ben asked strict.

“I am digging. Any objections?”, the man asked who had gotten the name of Paul Jenkins with his arrival on earth.

“Yes, by accident I do. You are at the Ponderosa and you have nothing to do here. Just fill that hole again and disappear for good”, said the rancher.

“Tomorrow on my bike”, said Paul.

“I don’t see a bike anywhere”, Mitch said dry.

“You must keep your big mouth shut. You always tease my nephew and niece at Sunday School and only because they can read well and you don’t”, reacted Paul.

He got his spade and hit the boy with it off his pony. He shouldn’t have done that because he got a few bullets in his arms straight away. Mitch laid moaning on the ground while Ben examined him.

“Adam, take him home and let Hop Sing take care of him”, said the rancher.

Carefully Mitch got up and mounted don his pony to go back home with his father. Paul decided to fill the hole again for not receiving anymore bullets of the Cartwrights. He felt three pair of eyes burning into his back and that made sure that he became scared and also dangerously.

After the forced departure of Paul Jenkins Ben, Hoss and Little Joe finally could go to the herd. But the three unwanted visitors kept the Cartwrights busy.

Ben said at a certain moment to his youngest sons, “You each go guide a part of the ranch and make sure that no one dig any holes anymore.”

Cody stayed by the rancher. They promised that and they did that too. Hoss searched in the north part but didn’t find any diggers anymore. His brother took the west part for his account but he also didn’t see no more diggers. Though they remained at their post like they had promised their father.

Meanwhile Adam had delivered Mitch at home and left him in the care of Hop Sing.

Adam rode to the herd and saw to his big amazing that his younger brothers were gone.

“Adam, you are going to guide the south and I will do the east. Hoss and Joe are doing the north and west respectively”, Ben said to his eldest son.

“Alright. I have left Mitch at home Hop Sing. Cody, go home and watch the little master”, said Adam.

The dog ran back home. Adam turned Sport and rode to the south of the ranch. The whole case was bothering him. The future of the Ponderosa was at stake and their own future too. When Adam arrived at the place of destination he discovered that at several spots was dogged.

The eldest Cartwright boy rode to it and caught a digger red-handed.

“What are you doing?”, Adam asked at a strict tone.

The digger looked up and saw Adam watching.

“Are you now really so dumb or is it pretending?”, Tom Anderson, the digger, asked at his turn.

Reluctantly Adam had to admit that was indeed a dumb question.

“Do I get an answer or not?”, Tom asked hurt.

“This is Ponderosa land and you have nothing to do here. So throw that hole closed if you love your life”, replied Adam.

“You are one of those rich Cartwrights. So you really don’t need that treasure. So get lost then”, said Tom said who saw that his accomplishes had come to stand behind Adam.

“You on that sorrel dismount and throw down your weapon”, said Greg Garth.

First Adam refused that but when he heard three rifles behind him he just did what was asked of him. He threw his revolver against the head of Tom but Greg grabbed Adam tight and hit him to the ground. They began to fight but quite soon Adam got the worst of it. Greg, Tom and their mates, John Knotts and Pete Willis, took the Cartwright boy to their cabin. There Adam got thrown into a corner.

Tom asked, “Where is your treasure buried?”

“What treasure? I don’t know what you are talking about”, said Adam.

He blinked a few times with his eyes.

“You know damn good where are we talking about. We keep you here so long until you tell where your treasure is buried”, said Greg.

He walked to the table and sat down to write. When he had finished that he got up and went outside. He put the letter in the halter of Sport and sent the horse away. In the meantime his mates had tied up Adam and hit his eyes shut so that Adam didn’t see nothing anymore.

John said laughing loud, “Now he is totally powerless.”

Sport walked straight to the de Ponderosa where Mitch saw him coming. The boy stopped the animal and saw that there was a note in the halter. Because he was very small Mitch couldn’t reach it.

He walked into the kitchen and asked the cook, “Hop Sing, Sport has just come home but without daddy. Though there is a note in his halter. Can you get it and read it to me?”

The cook walked along and got the note.

He read,

Mitch didn’t think any further for a moment and said, “Help me on Sport.”

Hop Sing began to talk in Cantonese but because Mitch didn’t listen anyway he helped the boy on the sorrel. Mitch gave the sorrel the spurs and came so near his father. The boy hid the horse carefully and slipped out of the saddle.

Careful and being alert Mitch sneaked to the cabin but he hadn’t count on the fact that he got caught by Pete.

The digger grabbed Mitch by the collar and asked strict, “Who are you and what are you doing here?”

Mitch looked at him for a second and knew enough.

“I know where the buried treasure of the Cartwrights lies buried”, the young Cartwright lied.

“That changes the case. Come on inside”, said Pete said now a bit more friendly.

They walked to the cabin.

At the door Greg said furiously, “Stupid egghead, that is the grandson of Ben Cartwright. He surely won’t keep his big mouth shut so just kill him.”

“If we have his eldest son and grandson we can demand more ransom. We will be getting rich sleeping”, reacted Pete.

Greg agreed but he also didn’t trust Mitch. The boy got also thrown into the cabin and ended up at Adam.

First the boy for a second amazed when he saw what they had done with his father and asked then, “What have you done with him?”

“He had a bit too much backtalk to us so we hit his eyes shut. We do that to you as well if you don’t shut up”, said Tom.

Mitch decided to behave exemplary to big annoying of the diggers. Adam heard of the voice of Mitch that he was busy drawing the men out which succeeded too. Meanwhile he untied his father. When John discovered that he threw his revolver at Mitch but the boy caught him handy.

“Throw it against his head”, Adam whispered Mitch in the ear.

With a nice and beautiful pitch Mitch did that and John fell by the hit against the table whereby he broke his neck. By the hit the trigger went over and the bullet hit Greg in his chest.

“Two are eliminated, now the rest yet”, said Adam.

That wasn’t needed anymore for Adam and Mitch because Pete and Tom had got such a big row about the treasure that they shot each other dead. Mitch went to look outside and saw the four bodies lying.

When he came back into the cabin he said, “Daddy, they are all dead. Just let’s go home.”

“You will have to guide me as I see nothing”, said his father.

The boy did that as good as possible. But Mitch didn’t even know where they were and Adam didn’t see anything so how should they come home? First they had to mount on Sport. This went very easily. But the way home seems to be swept away from the earth.

At the end of the day Ben, Hoss and Little Joe decided to go home. They hadn’t found no more diggers and that was good too. There were problems enough without all those unwanted diggers at their spread. Though they didn’t know yet that Adam and Mitch were gone.

Arrived home Hop Sing walked straight to Ben.

The cook said, “Mr Cartwright, little Mitch gone.”

This news felt very wrong by the rancher because the boy knew that he had to stay at home. Then Little Joe found the ransom note that Mitch had dropped at his departure.

“Pa, Adam is being held hostage”, said the young Cartwright.

“Adam had to go south so he will be there somewhere and Mitch probably too. We are going to look for them”, his father answered determined.

They mounted on their horses and rode in the direction of the south part of the ranch.

After having rode a long while Ben, Hoss and Little Joe finally ran into Adam and Mitch.

“Adam, what happened?”, asked Ben.

“I caught a digger red-handed but he had three accomplishes with him. They took me prison and hit my eyes closed. Sport came home with a note and so came Mitch. He eliminated two of the four. Hereafter we went back home”, Adam told calm.

Mitch said nothing because he didn’t understand much of it and he was very tired. Ben took over his grandson and Hoss grabbed the reins of Sport. In a quiet pace they rode home.

At home Hop Sing took care of the eyes of n Adam whereby the eldest Cartwright boy could see something again. Even though it was a bit vague.

The diggers were much bother to the Cartwrights because they started about it again.

“Now they come each day work on our land”, said Little Joe.

“We hardly can look for diggers each day?”, asked Hoss.

“No, we don’t have time for that but I won’t let them to either. I want that my grandson grows up in all peace and quiet at the Ponderosa and not gets bothered by strangers”, answered Ben.

All four looked at the boy who played with Cody.

“I do have gotten an appetite with looking for those unwanted treasure diggers. My stomach begins to rumble harder by those delicious smells from the kitchen”, said Hoss said to change the subject.

“Your stomach does that with every kind of food”, reacted Little Joe.

“Can I help it that I am partial to food? But since Mitchy lives here we do get a much smaller part of the pudding”, said Hoss.

“That is true but he needs and you don’t anymore”, said Adam.

“Uncle Hoss, why don’t you go look into the kitchen to see what we eat?”, asked Mitch.

Everybody except Hoss laughed.

“Very funny nephew. You know that I may not come into the kitchen of Hop Sing anymore due to you”, Hoss answered indignant.

A moment later Hop Sing came out of the kitchen with the announcement, “Cartwrights at table. Food ready.”

“Mitch, eat”, Adam just said.

The boy came at once and so did Cody.

At the table Ben and Adam kept a close eye on Mitch. He ate something but didn’t like his dessert.

“Are you sick kid?”, Adam asked amazed.

He knew just like the others that his son was mad about desserts.

“I have enough”, said the boy.

He pushed his dish away.

“Do you want to go to bed?”, asked Ben.

Mitch nodded. The boy got up and walked slowly upstairs.

“Then he will eat it tomorrow”, said Adam said before Hoss could seize it.

Of course Hoss didn’t like this but he said nothing.

Ben said, “I tuck my grandson in and read him a story.”

He got up and went upstairs too.

“I had hoped that Mitch would get shut out everything but that isn’t so. Who knows where that Andy is”, Adam said worried.

“Mitch is a Cartwright too. just count on it that the ladies will use him to pick up with us. They do that since his christening. Especially that Sue Parker”, answered Little Joe.

A few days it remained quiet at the Ponderosa. Because it was the turn of Adam to get some groceries he got confronted with the treasure again. This time it was due to Rosa Keller.

She was surrounded with her love for Adam but with an even bigger love for money. They met each other when Adam was that morning in town. he had parked the carriage in front of the trading post when Rosa on purposely walked up to him.

“I am sorry. I didn’t see you”, the young woman said.

“I think you do because you were waiting half a year when I arrived”, reacted Adam.

He knew Rosa longer but he didn’t like her at all.

Rosa reacted fierce with, “What do you think? Only because you happen to have a buried treasure you think you are really something! You ain’t.”

“There is no buried treasure at all”, was the answer of Adam.

He left her alone and went into the shop.

After a while Adam came out again with two bags with groceries to go home with horse and carriage. To his annoying Rosa was waiting with her horse.

“What are you doing?”, the eldest Cartwright boy asked.

“I am going home with you to your house. I love you so much that I want to marry you. Then we are going to start a family together”, the young woman answered with a desiring voice.

“Get lost now very quickly. I ain’t going to get married. And if I do, then it really isn’t with a hussy like you. You probably have been sleeping with so many guys that I am number so much on your list. Besides, I already have a family with my son”, Adam reacted quick-witted.

Now Rosa got red as fire and furiously. She already had red hair so that suited her face perfectly. She bit at him with poison, “I may hope that you will get so much unhappiness in the near future that you just will beg for my godly body!”

“Just look out that you don’t meet a wild bull now you look so red. Have a nice day Miss Keller”, Adam said where after he left.

Rosa became so angry and insulted that she nearly jumped out of her skin. Adam for sure that his father wouldn’t approve if he would get married to Rosa Keller. She dated every guy in town and then she jumped into bed with him. Besides that Adam was far too much attached to his freedom. As long as Mitch wasn’t around. Adam didn’t know that Rosa would chase him with love declaring. But he would find that out soon.

Mitch played near the oak when he was called by Rosa.

He turned around and asked, “What do you want?”

“You don’t talk like that to the Mrs Adam Cartwright to be. I demand that you go and fetch Adam and now right away”, Rosa said insulted.

“Are you going to marry daddy? Then are really no flies on him”, reacted Mitch reacted dry.

He knew how his father thought about Rosa and went to play further. Rosa became angry again and walked to the ranch house.

Adam happen to come outside with Cody and walked the woman over. Hereby she fell into the water trough for the horses. Mitch saw it happen and started to roar with laughter. Adam did the same. Cody wagged his tail excited.

Rosa yelled at the two, “Bunch of bullies. To laugh at a lady like me. I hate you. You really can forget our marriage now, Adam Cartwright!”

She climbed out of the water trough and went away.

Mitch walked to his father and asked a bit worried, “You weren’t really going to marry that woman?”

Adam picked him up and said reassuring, “I ain’t really going to marry such a woman. If I do it happens out of mutual love and not out of force.”

“And if mamma ever comes back? Will you marry her then?”, asked Mitch asked hopeful.

“If we find her and she wants to marry me, then you are my best man. That is the most important person of the bridegroom. But for now we are together”, answered Adam.

“May I have something to drink?”, asked the boy.

“Go and ask for a glass of milk by Hop Sing”, his father said while he put Mitch down.

The boy ran to the kitchen where he got his glass of milk. Adam though was pleased that he had got rid of Rosa Keller. Hoss saw Rosa leaving in a big hurry and looked at his brother questioning.

“She wanted to marry me but when she once tasted the delicious water of the Ponderosa and had fallen into it the whole party was cancelled. The love life of a Cartwright isn’t going over about roses”, Adam explained.

“Pa was happily married three times. And he is also a Cartwright”, Hoss reacted dry.

Adam had to admit that. His son came to stand near them with his glass of milk.

Mitch asked, “But you and mamma weren’t together when I was born. Why not?”

The brothers looked at each other.

Adam said, “Sometimes that just happens. In any case, we are glad with your arrival into this world. Even though you are such a bully!”

“It isn’t. You are that and so is Uncle Joe”, Mitch reacted quickly.

He put down his glass at the table and ran away. Adam and Hoss wanted to go after him but right at that moment Ben came riding towards.

He said strict, “Adam and Hoss Cartwright! Leave my grandson alone!”

This was the salvation for Mitch. The boys knew that they weren’t allowed to chase Mitch and the boy made handy abuse of.

It was initially a rare quiet evening on the Ponderosa. But that would not remain for long. Adam and Hoss played a game of chess. Ben read to Mitch and Little Joe went through the newspaper.

“Are all problems now really over?”, asked Mitch suddenly.

“You mean that hassle concerning that treasure?", asked Ben.

The boy nodded.

“I really don’t know but I hope so”, said Ben.

Adam looked at the large clock.

“Kid, now will you sleep quietly because it is tomorrow early day. It is bed time for you. Sweet dreams”, said Adam.

The boy stood up and said, “Goodnight everyone.”

“Good night”, said the others.

Mitch went to his room but when he came in the room he saw Andy Carter sitting on his bed

“You keep closed you large mouth and you will sleep. As soon as everyone is to bed we leave to find said the treasure”, Andy grimly.

Mitch did not know what he had say but he turned around and ran downstairs.

"Mitch, what is there?", asked Adam as first.

“Andy Carter is in my room. He wants that I help him the treasure when you sleep”, the boy said upset.

“Just remain here with Cody. We will look”, Ben said worried.

They didn’t have to go upstairs anyway because Andy made the big mistake by coming downstairs on his own.

“Now have I you all under shot. But do not think that your way can come because I have laid down dynamite at the front door.. If he opens but just as the boom! And gone is the Ponderosa”, Andy laughed hard. Slowly he went down the stairs and forced everyone to sit down.

That happened thus. Andy went to sit on the staircase with his revolver which he kept the Cartwright family under shot. It was deadly quiet in the living room when the stomach of Hoss started to rumble.

Andy was scared of it and asked annoyed, “Who made that sound?”

“That was my stomach”, Hoss answered lightly.

“Make sure that doesn’t happen again”, snarled Andy.

Hoss stood up and walked to the kitchen.

“I have forgotten to feed my horse. May I do that now?”, asked Mitch.

“Just go but no jokes”, said Andy.

Ben, Adam and Little Joe looked at each other and knew that Mitch was up to something. Mitch followed his Uncle and got from him half a bucket of water.

“Just come along outside”, Hoss whispered Hoss Mitch in the ear.

With the bucket water they went outside to make the dynamite harmless. At the front door uncle and nephew saw the dynamite lying. Hoss indicated Mitch to get the stuff carefully and to baptize it into the water. Mitch crawled rapidly and skill fully to the front door where he caught the dynamite. Hoss baptized confirm in water.

Mitch asked amazed, “Is it now no longer possible that it can explode?”

“If you a match in water stops fire extinguishes and the same impact gets you with wet dynamite. It is then no longer useable”, Hoss explained.

Mitch put the dynamite back and went with Hoss back inside.

“Where remains that small lad? Adam, go and have a look”, said Andy.

“Why? Mitch surely can take care of himself however”, he said calmly.

But just a moment later Mitch returned.

“Has it succeeded?”, asked Adam cunning.

“Yes, entirely”, Mitch said dry.

“What has succeeded? What you have carried out?”, asked Andy asked curious.

“If you want to know that just go and look outside then look at that know will then”, Hoss suggested.

Andy put his revolver on the staircase, went to the front door and did it wide open. Astonished he turned around.

He asked at that moment, “Why do I hear no explosion?”

“Because Mitchy have made the dynamite harmless”, answered Hoss.

Andy ran to its revolver but tripped over Cody and fell large on the floor. The next moment the Cartwrights overpowered him. Mitch During the overpowering Mitch had removed the bullets from the revolver of Andy and had thrown them into the open fire place. A couple hard bangs were the consequence.

“It is not even July the fourth yet once four and we already have fire work”, Mitch said laughing.

Hoss and Little Joe tight up Andy firmly as Ben and Adam caught Mitch after the unexpected bang in the living room.

Hop Sing came running out of the kitchen frightened and asked, “What happen there?”

“Nothing serious Hop Sing. Mitchy ensured some early fireworks. Boys, take away that piece of bad luck”, Ben said are to his sons.

“Mitch, grandpa will bring you to bed”, said Adam said to his son.

Mitch nodded.

The brothers and Cody took their caught prey along while Ben stayed behind with his grandson.

Mitch asked when they had gone away, “I surely must go to bed now?”

“Indeed. You have had enough agitation for 1 evening. I come to tuck you in a minute”, was the answer of rancher.

Mitch stood up and went upstairs. By all upheaval the boy had fallen directly in sleep when he had crawled into in bed. Nevertheless Ben came to tuck him in.

The brothers had the largest fun then they brought Andy to the authority with the dog.

The most insipid observation started them laugh.

It became entirely a lot then Hoss started to tell, “A rabbit comes into a bakery. He asks the baker, “Do you have carrot cake?” “No”", the baker says. The rabbit leave. The next day comes he. Again he asks the question. Again he gets a negative answer. This continues this way a couple days. Then the baker thinks: Tomorrow comes that rabbit asks for that cake of course. I there one barges. Then it the following is morning and yes, there is the rabbit. He asks, "Do you have carrot cake? "Yes", the baker says. "Dirtily eh?", the rabbit asks.”

Adam and Little Joe laughed hard but Andy didn’t move a muscle.

“Tell there still one. Perhaps he is a bit slow of term”, said Little Joe.

“Well then. It is yellow and grazes in the meadow. What is it?”, asked Hoss blood-serious.

“I don’t know. A herd Andy Carters?” , asked Adam dry.

“Almost good. The correct answer is a herd vanilla custard”, said his younger brother.

Adam and Little Joe started laugh again but Andy found it not funny.

"What are you nevertheless peevish say", noticed Little Joe.

"Shut up Cartwright", said Andy.

“Joe, you must say it, however, well. Andy are not peevish. He is super peevish”, reacted Hoss.

“Let’s stop and dismount. Or otherwise I fall of my horse laughing”, Adam said laughing.

“Don’t do that or you will damage the beautiful ground. Then you will be prosecuted due to damaging the environment clogging”, Hoss said dry.

“What are you a bunch of nags say”, Andy said angry.

“We haven’t asked you anything so shut your face”, Adam said suddenly growling.

At last the four reached Virginia city. Andy was very glad to be able take place behind the bars because then he was released from the Cartwright brothers and their according to him very insipid joke. Clem was just ready with his round when he saw them coming.

“Deputy, release me stopped of these three joke makers”, begged Andy then them at the sheriff's office products.

“That will go with difficulty will go because I am not the liberator, as it happens but a simple deputy" was the grasped answer of Clem.

He had already noticed that the Cartwrights in a considerably farinaceous mood were and that worked of course very contagious. Adam, Hoss and Little Joe were rolling on the ground of laughter.

“I took hostage the complete family Cartwright in their house hostage but that small child infected it again. Underway told Hoss the one insipid joke after other”, said Andy.

“If you this way insipid are you must add some salt to it” , Little Joe reacted dry.

“Joe, you forget, however, that the General store is closed”, said Hoss

“Boys, thanks for bringing. Come along Carter. Hereby you are under arrest”, said Clem said laughing.

The Cartwright boys mounted on their horses again and rode home with Cody. They were very glad that Andy was nicely behind bars. They hoped that the rest would return now at last. Even if that would be on the ranch impossible as long as Mitch walked around there and made remark after the other.

To make an end at all rumors Ben had placed a big advert in the newspaper which read:

HEREBY I DECLARE, BENJAMIN CARTWRIGHT, THAT THERE IS NO TREASURE BURIED AT THE PONDEROSA. IF THAT WAS THE CASE THEN IT WOULD BE PROPERTY OF THE CARTWRIGHT FAMILY.

SIGNED,

BEN CARTWRIGHT.

The Cartwrights hoped with this to get enough peace.

A few days after placing the advert Mitch and Cody played in the back garden when they discovered a half dug hole. The two dug further and found a little old metal strongbox. Mitch didn’t think any further for a moment, grabbed the little strongbox and ran with Cody inside the ranch house.

“We were playing the back garden when we found a half dug hole. This little strongbox was in it”, the boy said within one breathe.

Ben grabbed the little strongbox and looked at his eldest son.

“I have buried that little strongbox twenty eight years ago and made a map with it. That map has fallen into the wrong hands of course whereby people would think that there was a real treasure at our land”, said Adam said after a long thinking break.

“What is in it?”, Mitch asked curiously.

“We shall open it. Then we know it”, said Ben.

Carefully he opened the little strongbox. big was their amazing when they saw that the little strongbox was empty.

“What is now a treasure strongbox without anything in it?”, Mitch asked who said as first.

“It was a funny joke at the time then and it worked even now”, Adam answered dry.

“Mitch, the biggest treasure in your life is that we love you and you love us”, Ben said to his grandson.

The boy nodded. Even though he didn’t understand much of it.