a big tract of downs in
Devonshire. I could, by draining it and running it my way, make it double
in value in three years."

"And I," said Sedgwick, "have been nursing just such another dream, which
is to make $30,000 to go back and cancel the mortgage of $5,000 on the
old home place, and then to buy old Jasper's farm on the hill. It is a
daisy. It contains 300 acres and is worth $40 an acre. If I could do
that, I believe I could reconcile the old gent, and make him think I was
not so mightily out of the way after all when I fought at college and ran
away. But $30,000--good Lord! when will a man get $30,000 working for $4
a day on the Comstock?"

"It is a close, hard game," said Browning. Then there was silence, the
candle burned out, and in a moment more both miners were asleep.

CHAPTER III.

MAKING MONEY AT $4 PER DAY.

The men awoke early, and, as Sedgwick had predicted, by six o'clock, the
superintendent of the mine came down and went to the end of the drift.
On his return to the lower station of the shaft, Sedgwick approached him,
and holding out the bit of lagging, said in a low voice: "Mr. Mackay,
there are a few words written on that. Will you not kindly carry them to
the surface and read them?" Mr. Mackay took it and put it in the pocket
of the gray shirt which he always wore in the mine, saying jokingly:
"Tobacco needed on your watch?" "Worse, even," answered Sedgwick, and
walked away.

When the men were allowed to go above ground, five days later, they found
that Consolidated Virginia had jumped from $4 to $11 per share. Sedgwick
and Browning went straight to the bank and asked how their accounts
stood. They found that $2,800 from one credit, and $3,200 from the other
had been withdrawn. They looked at each other and smiled, but said
nothing. Passing outside, they exchanged opinions and both concluded that
if Mackay had bought the stock promptly, it must have doubled already.
But both agreed that they would say nothing; rather, would let matters
drift. So days and weeks rolled by, until finally the stock touched $30
per share, when one morning each received a note to call at the bank.

They went together, and were informed that 2,000 (old) shares of
Consolidated Virginia had been placed to their credit, and that it was
at their discretion to realize upon it, or permit it to remain longer.
The news fairly took their breath away.

"How about making $30,000 at $4 per day, Jim?" said Browning.