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sound recommenced。 He drew a glittering bowie…knife from his boot…
leg； and in three noiseless strides was beside the pile。 There he
saw what he fully expected to see；a narrow； horizontal gap
between the log walls of the cabin and the adobe floor； slowly
widening and deepening by the burrowing of unseen hands from
without。 The cold outer air which he had felt before was now
plainly flowing into the heated cabin through the opening。 The
swishing sound recommenced； and stopped。 Then the four fingers of
a hand； palm downwards； were cautiously introduced between the
bottom log and the denuded floor。 Upon that intruding hand the
bowie…knife of Demorest descended like a flash of lightning。 There
was no outcry。 Even in that supreme moment Demorest felt a pang of
admiration for the stoicism of the unseen trespasser。 But the
maimed hand was quickly withdrawn； and as quickly Demorest rushed
to the door and dashed into the outer darkness。
For an instant he was dazed and bewildered by the sudden change。
But the next moment he saw a dodging； doubling figure running
before him； and threw himself upon it。 In the shock both men fell；
but even in that contact Demorest felt the tangled beard and
alcoholic fumes of Whiskey Dick； and felt also that the hands which
were thrown up against his breast； the palms turned outward with
the instinctive movement of a timid； defenseless man； were
unstained with soil or blood。 With an oath he threw the drunkard
from him and dashed to the rear of the cabin。 But too late！
There； indeed； was the scattered earth； there the widened burrow as
it had been excavated apparently by that mutilated handbut
nothing else！
He turned back to Whiskey Dick。 But the miserable man； although
still retaining a look of dazed terror in his eyes； had recovered
his feet in a kind of angry confidence and a forced sense of
injury。 What did Demorest mean by attacking 〃innoshent〃 gentlemen
on the trail outside his cabin？ Yes！ OUTSIDE his cabin； he would
swear it！
〃What were you doing here at midnight？〃 demanded Demorest。
What was he doing？ What was any gentleman doing？ He wasn't any
molly…coddle to go to bed at ten o'clock！ What was he doing？
Wellhe'd been with men who didn't shut their doors and turn the
boys out just in the shank of the evening。 He wasn't any Barker to
be wet…nursed by Demorest。
〃Some one else was here！〃 said Demorest sternly； with his eyes
fixed on Whiskey Dick。 The dull glaze which seemed to veil the
outer world from the drunkard's pupils shifted suddenly with such a
look of direct horror that Demorest was fain to turn away his own。
But the veil mercifully returned； and with it Dick's worked…up
sense of injury。 Nobody was therenot 〃a shole。〃 Did Demorest
think if there had been any of his friends there they would have
stood by like 〃dogsh〃 and seen him insulted？
Demorest turned away and re…entered the cabin as Dick lurched
heavily forward； still muttering； down the trail。 The excitement
over； a sickening repugnance to the whole incident took the place
of Demorest's resentment and indignation。 There had been a
cowardly attempt to rob them of their miserable treasure。 He had
met it and frustrated it in almost as brutal a fashion： the gold
was already tarnished with blood。 To his surprise； yet relief； he
found his partners unconscious of the outrage； still sleeping with
the physical immobility of over…excited and tired men。 Should he
awaken them？ No！ He should have to awaken also their suspicions
and desire for revenge。 There was no danger of a further attack；
there was no fear that the culprit would disclose himself； and to…
morrow they would be far away。 Let oblivion rest upon that night's
stain on the honor of Heavy Tree Hill。
He rolled a small barrel before the opening； smoothed the dislodged
earth； replaced the pan with its treasure； and trusted that in the
bustle of the early morning departure his partners might not notice
any change。 Stopping before the bunk of Stacy he glanced at the
sleeping man。 He was lying on his back； but breathing heavily； and
his hands were moving towards his chest as if； indeed； his strange
fancy of the golden incubus were being realized。 Demorest would
have wakened him； but presently； with a sigh of relief； the sleeper
turned over on his side。 It was pleasanter to look at Barker；
whose damp curls were matted over his smooth； boyish forehead； and
whose lips were parted in a smile under the silken wings of his
brown mustache。 He； too； seemed to be trying to speak； and
remembering some previous revelations which had amused them；
Demorest leaned over him fraternally with an answering smile；
waiting for the beloved one's name to pass the young man's lips。
But he only murmured； 〃Threehundredthousand dollars！〃 The
elder man turned away with a grave face。 The influence of the
treasure was paramount。
When he had placed one of the chairs against the unprotected door
at an angle which would prevent any easy or noiseless intrusion；
Demorest threw himself on his bunk without undressing； and turned
his face towards the single window of the cabin that looked towards
the east。 He did not apprehend another covert attempt against the
gold。 He did not fear a robbery with force and arms； although he
was satisfied that there was more than one concerned in it； but
this he attributed only to the encumbering weight of their expected
booty。 He simply waited for the dawn。 It was some time before his
eyes were greeted with the vague opaline brightness of the
firmament which meant the vanishing of the pallid snow…line before
the coming day。 A bird twittered on the roof。 The air was chill；
he drew his blanket around him。 Then he closed his eyes； he
fancied only for a moment； but when he opened them the door was
standing open in the strong daylight。 He sprang to his feet； but
the next moment he saw it was only Stacy who had passed out； and
was returning fully dressed； bringing water from the spring to fill
the kettle。 But Stacy's face was so grave that； recalling his
disturbed sleep； Demorest laughingly inquired if he had been
haunted by the treasure。 But to his surprise Stacy put down the
kettle； and； with a hurried glance at the still sleeping Barker；
said in a low voice：
〃I want you to do something for me without asking why。 Later I
will tell you。〃
Demorest looked at him fixedly。 〃What is it？〃 he said。
〃The pack…mules will be here in a few moments。 Don't wait to close
up or put away anything here； but clap that gold in the saddle…
bags； and take Barker with you and 'lite' out for Boomville AT
ONCE。 I will overtake you later。〃
〃Is there no time to discuss this？〃 asked Demorest。
〃No；〃 said Stacy bluntly。 〃Call me a crank； say I'm in a blue
funk〃his compressed lips and sharp black eyes did not lend
themselves much to that hypothesis〃only get out of this with that
stuff； and take Barker