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had last spoken； that the same sun had swung silently above him and the
unchanged landscape； and there had been no interruption nor diversion to
his monotonous thought。 The wilderness annihilates time and space with
the grim pathos of patience。
Nevertheless he smiled。 〃Ye don't seem to have got through coming
down yet；〃 he continued； as a few small boulders； loosened in their rapid
descent； came more deliberately rolling and plunging after the travelers
along the gravelly bottom。 Then he turned away with the horses； and；
after they were watered； he reentered the house。 His guests had evidently
not waited for his ministration。 They had already taken one or two
bottles from the shelves behind a wide bar and helped themselves； and；
glasses in hand； were now satisfying the more imminent cravings of
hunger with biscuits from a barrel and slices of smoked herring from a box。
Their equally singular host； accepting their conduct as not unusual； joined
the circle they had comfortably drawn round the fireplace； and
meditatively kicking a brand back at the fire； said； without looking at
them：
〃Well？〃
〃Well！〃 returned the leader； leaning back in his chair after carefully
unloosing the buckle of his belt； but with his eyes also on the fire；〃well！
we've prospected every yard of outcrop along the Divide； and there ain't
the ghost of a silver indication anywhere。〃
〃Not a smell；〃 added the close…shaven guest； without raising his eyes。
They all remained silent； looking at the fire； as if it were the one thing
they had taken into their confidence。 Collinson also addressed himself to
the blaze as he said presently： 〃It allus seemed to me that thar was
something shiny about that ledge just round the shoulder of the spur； over
the long canyon。〃
The leader ejaculated a short laugh。 〃Shiny； eh？ shiny！ Ye think
THAT a sign？ Why； you might as well reckon that because Key's head；
over thar； is gray and silvery that he's got sabe and experience。〃 As he
spoke he looked towards the man with a pleasant voice。 The fire shining
full upon him revealed the singular fact that while his face was still young；
and his mustache quite dark； his hair was perfectly gray。 The object of
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this attention； far from being disconcerted by the comparison； added with
a smile：
〃Or that he had any silver in his pocket。〃
Another lapse of silence followed。 The wind tore round the house
and rumbled in the short； adobe chimney。
〃No； gentlemen；〃 said the leader reflectively； 〃this sort o' thing is
played out。 I don't take no more stock in that cock…and…bull story about
the lost Mexican mine。 I don't catch on to that Sunday…school yarn about
the pious； scientific sharp who collected leaves and vegetables all over the
Divide； all the while he scientifically knew that the range was solid silver；
only he wouldn't soil his fingers with God…forsaken lucre。 I ain't saying
anything agin that fine…spun theory that Key believes in about volcanic
upheavals that set up on end argentiferous rock； but I simply say that I
don't see itwith the naked eye。 And I reckon it's about time； boys； as
the game's up； that we handed in our checks； and left the board。〃
There was another silence around the fire； another whirl and turmoil
without。 There was no attempt to combat the opinions of their leader；
possibly the same sense of disappointed hopes was felt by all； only they
preferred to let the man of greater experience voice it。 He went on：
〃We've had our little game； boys； ever since we left Rawlin's a week
ago； we've had our ups and downs； we've been starved and parched；
snowed up and half drowned； shot at by road…agents and horse…thieves；
kicked by mules and played with by grizzlies。 We've had a heap o' fun；
boys； for our money； but I reckon the picnic is about over。 So we'll shake
hands to…morrow all round and call it square； and go on our ways
separately。〃
〃And what do you think you'll do； Uncle Dick？〃 said his close… shaven
companion listlessly。
〃I'll make tracks for a square meal； a bed that a man can comfortably
take off his boots and die in； and some violet…scented soap。 Civilization's
good enough for me！ I even reckon I wouldn't mind 'the sound of the
church…going bell' ef there was a theatre handy； as there likely would be。
But the wilderness is played out。〃
〃You'll be back to it again in six months； Uncle Dick；〃 retorted the
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other quickly。
Uncle Dick did not reply。 It was a peculiarity of the party that in
their isolated companionship they had already exhausted discussion and
argument。 A silence followed； in which they all looked at the fire as if it
was its turn to make a suggestion。
〃Collinson；〃 said the pleasant voice abruptly； 〃who lives in the hollow
this side of the Divide； about two miles from the first spur above the big
canyon？〃
〃Nary soul！〃
〃Are you sure？〃
〃Sartin！ Thar ain't no one but me betwixt Bald Top and Skinner's
twenty…five miles。〃
〃Of course； YOU'D know if any one had come there lately？〃 persisted
the pleasant voice。
〃I reckon。 It ain't a week ago that I tramped the whole distance that
you fellers just rode over。〃
〃There ain't；〃 said the leader deliberately； 〃any enchanted castle or
cabin that goes waltzing round the road with revolving windows and fairy
princesses looking out of 'em？〃
But Collinson； recognizing this as purely irrelevant humor； with
possibly a trap or pitfall in it； moved away from the fireplace without a
word； and retired to the adjoining kitchen to prepare supper。 Presently he
reappeared。
〃The pork bar'l's empty； boys； so I'll hev to fix ye up with jerked beef；
potatoes； and flapjacks。 Ye see； thar ain't anybody ben over from
Skinner's store for a week。〃
〃All right； only hurry up！〃 said Uncle D