urs was chock full o' grit--an' that grit was
gold-dust. Guess that dust didn't grow in them furs; an' I 'lows foxes
don't fancy a bed o' such stuff. Say, boys, you've struck gold in this
layout o' yours. That's what's brought me out in this all-fired storm."

The two brothers exchanged rapid glances and then Ralph spoke for them
both.

"You're smart, Victor. That's so. We've been workin' a patch o' pay-dirt
for nigh on to twelve month. But it's worked out; clear out to the
bedrock. It wa'n't jest a great find, though I 'lows, while it lasted,
we took a tidy wage out o' it--"

"An' what might you call a 'tidy wage'?" asked the Breed, in a tone of
disappointment. He knew these men so well that he did not doubt their
statement; but he was loth to relinquish his dream. He had come there to
make an arrangement with them. If they had a gold working he considered
that, provided he could be of use to them, there would be ample room for
him in it. This had been the object of his hazardous journey. And now he
was told that it had worked out. He loved gold, and the news came as a
great blow to him.

He watched Ralph keenly while he awaited his reply, sitting up in his
eagerness.

"Seventy-fi' dollars a day," Ralph spoke without enthusiasm.

Victor's eyes sparkled.

"Each?" he asked.

"No, on shares."

There was another long silence while the voice of the storm was loud
without. Victor Gagnon was thinking hard, but his face was calm, his
expression almost indifferent. More coffee was drunk, and the smoke
continued to rise.

"I 'lows you should know if it's worked out, sure."

The sharp eyes seemed to go through Ralph.

"Dead sure. We ain't drawn a cent's worth o' colour out o' it fer nine
months solid."

"'Tain't worth prospectin' fer the reef?"

"Can't say. I ain't much when it comes to prospectin' gold. I knows the
colour when I sees it."

Nick joined in the conversation at this point.

"Guess you'd a notion you fancied bein' in it," he said, smiling over at
the Breed.

Victor laughed a little harshly.

"That's jest what."

The two brothers nodded. This they had understood.

"I'd have found all the plant fer big work," went on the trader eagerly.
"I'd have found the cash to do everything. I'd have found the labour.
An' us three 'ud have made a great syndicate. We'd 'a' run it dead
secret. Wi' me in it we could 'a' sent our gold down to the bank by the
dogs, an', bein' as my shack's so far from here, n