solemn spaces, still kept over their temple a silent and awful watch.

Out on the trail they met Perault in a frenzy of anxious excitement.

"Tank de Bon Dieu!" he cried brokenly, with hands uplifted. "Come wit'
me, queek! queek!"

"Perault, tell us how your boss is." The doctor's voice was quiet and
authoritative. "And tell us how long he has been ill, and how it came
on. Be very particular. Take plenty of time."

Perault's Gallic temperament responded to the doctor's quiet tone and
manner.

"Oui. Bon," he said, settling down. "Listen to me. We come nice and
slow to dis place, an' den we go up dat gulch for little prospect. Good
ting, too. Good mine dere, sure. But old boss he can't stay. He must
go, go, go. Den we go up 'noder gulch, tree, four day more, for 'noder
mine. Pretty good, too. Den one night we comin' back to camp, old boss
feel good. Skeep along lak small sheep. By gar, he's feel too good!
He's fall in crik. Dat's noting. No! Good fire, plenty blanket make dat
all right. But dat night I hear de ole boss groan, and cry, and turn
overe and overe. Light de fire; give him one big drink wheesky. No
good. He's go bad all dat night. Nex' day he's het noting. Nex' day
he's worser and worser. Wat I can do I can't tell. Den de Bon Dieu he
send along dat half-breed. De ole boss he write letter, an' you come
here queek."

"Thank you, Perault. A very lucid explanation, indeed. Now, we shall
see the patient; and you, Miss Marion, had better remain here by the
fire for a few moments."

The doctor passed with Shock into the Old Prospector's tent.

"Mr. Macgregor," cried the old man, stretching out both hands eagerly
to him, "I'm glad you have come. I feared you would not be in time. But
now," sinking back upon his balsam bed, "now all will be--well."

"Mr. Mowbray," said Shock, "I have brought the doctor with me. Let him
examine you now, and then we shall soon have you on your feet again."

The old gentleman smiled up into Shock's face, a smile quiet and
content.

"No," he said between short breaths, "I have taken the long trail. My
quest is over. It is not for me."

"Let the doctor have a look at you," entreated Shock.

"Most certainly," said the Old Prospector, in his wonted calm voice.
"Let the doctor examine me. I am not a man to throw away any hope,
however slight."

As the doctor proceeded with his examination his face grew more and
more grave. At length he said, "It is idle for me to try to conce