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〃No。 We came up the back trail to please Steptoe； who wanted to
see round the cabin；〃 said Dick； glancing nervously yet with a
forced indifference towards the whiskey which Stacy was offering to
the stranger。
〃What yer gettin' off there？〃 said Steptoe； facing Dick almost
brutally。 〃YOU know your tangled legs wouldn't take you straight
up the trail； and you had to make a circumbendibus。 Gosh！ if you
hadn't scented this licker at the top you'd have never found it。〃
〃No matter！ I'm glad you DID find it； Dick；〃 said Demorest； 〃and I
hope you'll find the liquor good enough to pay you for the trouble。〃
Barker stared at Demorest。 This extraordinary tolerance of the
drunkard was something new in his partner。 But at a glance from
Demorest he led Dick to the demijohn and tin cup which stood on a
table in the corner。 And in another moment Dick had forgotten his
companion's rudeness。
Demorest remained by the door； looking out into the darkness。
〃Well；〃 said Steptoe； putting down his emptied cup； 〃trot out your
strike。 I reckon our eyes are strong enough to bear it now。〃
Stacy drew the blanket from the vague pile that stood in the
corner； and discovered a deep tin prospecting…pan。 It was heaped
with several large fragments of quartz。 At first the marble
whiteness of the quartz and the glittering crystals of mica in its
veins were the most noticeable； but as they drew closer they could
see the dull yellow of gold filling the decomposed and honeycombed
portion of the rock as if still liquid and molten。 The eyes of the
party sparkled like the micaeven those of Barker and Stacy； who
were already familiar with the treasure。
〃Which is the richest chunk？〃 asked Steptoe in a thickening voice。
Stacy pointed it out。
〃Why； it's smaller than the others。〃
〃Heft it in your hand；〃 said Barker； with boyish enthusiasm。
The short； thick fingers of Steptoe grasped it with a certain
aquiline suggestion； his whole arm strained over it until his face
grew purple； but he could not lift it。
〃Thar useter be a little game in the 'Frisco Mint；〃 said Dick；
restored to fluency by his liquor； 〃when thar war ladies visiting
it； and that was to offer to give 'em any of those little boxes of
gold coin； that contained five thousand dollars； ef they would
kindly lift it from the counter and take it away！ It wasn't no
bigger than one of these chunks； but Jiminy！ you oughter have seed
them gals grip and heave on it； and then hev to give it up！ You
see they didn't know anything about the paci（hic） the speshif〃
He stopped with great dignity； and added with painful precision；
〃the specific gravity of gold。〃
〃Dry up！〃 said Steptoe roughly。 Then turning to Stacy he said
abruptly； 〃But where's the rest of it？ You've got more than that。〃
〃We sent it to Boomville this morning。 You see we've sold out our
claim to a company who take it up to…morrow； and put up a mill and
stamps。 In fact； it's under their charge now。 They've got a gang
of men on the claim already。〃
〃And what mout ye hev got for it； if it's a fair question？〃 said
Steptoe； with a forced smile。
Stacy smiled also。 〃I don't know that it's a business question；〃
he said。
〃Five hundred thousand dollars；〃 said Demorest abruptly from the
doorway； 〃and a treble interest。〃
The eyes of the two men met。 There was no mistaking the dull fire
of envy in Steptoe's glance； but Demorest received it with a
certain cold curiosity； and turned away as the sound of arriving
voices came from without。
〃Five hundred thousand's a big figger；〃 said Steptoe； with a coarse
laugh； 〃and I don't wonder it makes you feel so dd sassy。 But
it WAS a fair question。〃
Unfortunately it here occurred to the whiskey…stimulated brain of
Dick that the friend he had introduced was being treated with scant
courtesy； and he forgot his own treatment by Steptoe。 Leaning
against the wall he waved a dignified rebuke。 〃I'm sashified my
ole frien' is akshuated by only businesh principles。〃 He paused；
recollected himself； and added with great precision： 〃When I say he
himself has a valuable claim in Red Gulch； and to my shertain
knowledge has received offersI have said enough。〃
The laugh that broke from Stacy and Barker； to whom the infelicitous
reputation of Red Gulch was notorious； did not allay Steptoe's
irritation。 He darted a vindictive glance at the unfortunate Dick；
but joined in the laugh。 〃And what was ye goin' to do with that？〃
he said； pointing to the treasure。
〃Oh； we're taking that with us。 There's a chunk for each of us as
a memento。 We cast lots for the choice； and Demorest won；that
one which you couldn't lift with one hand； you know；〃 said Stacy。
〃Oh； couldn't I？ I reckon you ain't goin' to give me the same
chance that they did at the Mint； eh？〃
Although the remark was accompanied with his usual coarse； familiar
laugh； there was a look in his eye so inconsequent in its
significance that Stacy would have made some reply； but at this
moment Demorest re…entered the cabin； ushering in a half dozen
miners from the Bar below。 They were； although youngish men； some
of the older locators in the vicinity； yet； through years of
seclusion and uneventful labors； they had acquired a certain
childish simplicity of thought and manner that was alternately
amusing and pathetic。 They had never intruded upon the reserve of
the three partners of Heavy Tree Hill before； nothing but an
infantine curiosity； a shy recognition of the partners' courtesy in
inviting them with the whole population of Heavy Tree to the dinner
the next day； and the never…to…be…resisted temptation of an evening
of 〃free liquor〃 and forgetfulness of the past had brought them
there now。 Among them； and yet not of them； was a young man who；
although speaking English without accent； was distinctly of a
different nationality and race。 This； with a certain neatness of
dress and artificial suavity of address； had gained him the
nickname of 〃the Count〃 and 〃Frenchy；〃 although he was really of
Flemish extraction。 He was the Union Ditch Company's agent on the
Bar； by virtue of his knowledge of languages。
Barker uttered an exclamation of pleasure when he saw him。 Himself
the incarnation of naturalness； he had always secretly admired this
young foreigner； with his lacquered smoothness； although a vague
consciousness that neither Stacy nor Demorest shared his feelings
had restricted their acquaintance。 Nevertheless； he was proud now
to see the bow with which Paul Van Loo entered the cabin as if it
were a drawing…room； and perhaps did not reflect upon that want of
real feeling in an act which made the others uncomfortable。
The slight awkwardness their entrance produced； however； was
quickly forgotten when the blanket was again lifted from the pan of
treasure。 Singularly enough； too； the same feverish light came
into the eyes of each as they all gathered ar