horse and seizing me by the arm, cried:
"You're not joking, are you, Phil? For goodness' sake, don't fool me,
boys. It's a matter of life and death to me, almost!"

His anxiety was plainly expressed in his eager eyes and trembling hand,
and I was glad to note the look of relief which came over his face when
I replied:

"I'm not fooling, Mr. Yetmore. We've found it all right--this evening.
Come in and have some supper, and we'll tell you all about it."

Yetmore did not decline a second time, but forgetting even to tie up his
horse, which Joe did for him, he followed me at once into the kitchen,
where, hardly noticing Peter, to whom I introduced him, and neglecting
entirely the food placed before him, he sat down and instantly
exclaimed:

"Now, Phil! Quick! Go ahead! Go ahead! Don't keep me waiting, there's a
good fellow! How did you find the ore? Where is it? What have you done
with it?"

Not to prolong his suspense, I at once related to him as briefly as
possible the whole incident, winding up with the statement that we
proposed to go and bring in the sacks by daylight on the morrow.

At this conclusion Yetmore sprang to his feet.

"Boys," said he, in a tremulous voice, "you've done me an immense
service; now do me one more favor: lend me your big gun. I'll ride right
up to the 'bubble' and stand guard over the ore till morning. If I
should lose it a second time I believe it would turn my head."

That he was desperately in earnest was plain to be seen: his voice was
shaky, and his hand, I noticed, was shaky, too, when he held it out
entreating us to lend him our big gun.

I was about to say he might take it, and welcome, when Joe pulled me by
the sleeve and whispered in my ear; I nodded my acquiescence; upon which
my companion, turning to Yetmore, said:

"We can do better than that, Mr. Yetmore. We'll hitch up the little
mules and go and bring away the ore to-night."

I have no doubt that to our anxious visitor the time seemed interminable
while Joe and I were finishing our supper, but at length we rose from
the table, and within a few minutes thereafter we were off; Yetmore
himself sitting in the bed of the wagon with the big shotgun across his
knees.

As it was then quite dark, and as we did not wish to attract any
possible notice by carrying a light, we were obliged to take it very
slowly, one or other of us now and then descending from the wagon and
walking ahead as a pilot. In due time, however, we