ike
that. You'll get well soon, an we'll cut this infernal place
altogether; we'll go home and work with the old folk. Dan, dear Dan!
speak to me--"

He stopped abruptly, and rose with a stony stare of hopelessness, for
Dan's spirit had returned to God who gave it.

Without a word Jacob set to work to lay out the body, and Jack quietly
assisted him. Having finished, the former put the recovered bag of gold
in his pocket, stuck a revolver in his belt, and took up the door key of
the hut.

"Come, Jacob," said Jack, purposely taking no notice of these actions,
"you'll go home and spend the night with me. Dear Dan wants no tending
now. We will return together, and see to his remains to-morrow. Come."

Buckley looked undecided.

"You haven't your flask, have you?" he asked eagerly.

Jack felt in his pockets, and with something like joy found that his
flask was not there. "No," said he, "I haven't got it. But come,
Jacob, you want rest. I'll give you something better than spirits to
drink when we reach the tent. Come."

The man submitted. They went out and, locking the door, walked quickly
and silently away.

Many and anxious were the thoughts that chased each other through the
busy brain of our hero during that dreary midnight walk. Before it was
ended, he had almost resolved upon a plan of action, which was further
matured while he prepared a can of strong hot coffee for poor Jacob
Buckley.

"This is how the matter stands," he said to Captain Samson next morning,
during a private conversation, while Buckley and the others were at
breakfast in the tent. "I, who am not a teetotaller, and who last night
became a gambler, have pledged myself to do what I can to save Jacob
Buckley from drink and gaming. To attempt that _here_ would be useless.
Well, we are at our lowest ebb just now. To continue working here is
equally useless. I will therefore leave you for a time, take Buckley
and Wilkins with me, and go on a prospecting tour into the mountains.
There it will be impossible to drink or gamble; time may cure Buckley,
and perhaps we may find gold! Of course," he added, with a sad smile,
"if we do, we'll return and let you know."

The captain approved of this plan. Jacob Buckley and Watty Wilkins at
once agreed to go, and immediately after Daniel's burial, the
prospecters set out. The entire party, including Polly, convoyed them
as far as Redman's Gap, where, wishing them good-speed, they parted
co