know what a hunch is?" His
employer nodded his comprehension. "Well, I've got one. I ain't never
asked favors of you before, but this once I want you to lay over here
till to-morrow. Seems to me my fruit ranch is 'most in sight. I can
damn near smell the oranges a-ripenin'."

"Certainly," Corliss agreed. "But better still, I'll run on down to
Dawson, and you can come in when you've finished hunching."

"Say!" Del objected. "I said it was a hunch; and I want to ring you in
on it, savve? You're all right, and you've learned a hell of a lot out
of books. You're a regular high-roller when it comes to the
laboratory, and all that; but it takes yours truly to get down and read
the face of nature without spectacles. Now I've got a theory--"

Corliss threw up his hands in affected dismay, and the pocket-miner
began to grow angry.

"That's right! Laugh! But it's built right up on your own pet theory
of erosion and changed riverbeds. And I didn't pocket among the
Mexicans two years for nothin'. Where d'you s'pose this Eldorado gold
came from?--rough, and no signs of washin'? Eh? There's where you
need your spectacles. Books have made you short-sighted. But never
mind how. 'Tisn't exactly pockets, neither, but I know what I'm
spelling about. I ain't been keepin' tab on traces for my health. I
can tell you mining sharps more about the lay of Eldorado Creek in one
minute than you could figure out in a month of Sundays. But never
mind, no offence. You lay over with me till to-morrow, and you can buy
a ranch 'longside of mine, sure." "Well, all right. I can rest up and
look over my notes while you're hunting your ancient river-bed."

"Didn't I tell you it was a hunch?" Del reproachfully demanded.

"And haven't I agreed to stop over? What more do you want?"

"To give you a fruit ranch, that's what! Just to go with me and nose
round a bit, that's all."

"I do not want any of your impossible fruit ranches. I'm tired and
worried; can't you leave me alone? I think I am more than fair when I
humor you to the extent of stopping over. You may waste your time
nosing around, but I shall stay in camp. Understand?"

"Burn my body, but you're grateful! By the Jumpin' Methuselah, I'll
quit my job in two minutes if you don't fire me. Me a-layin' 'wake
nights and workin' up my theory, and calculatin' on lettin' you in, and
you a-snorin' and Frona-this and Frona-that--"

"That'll do! Stop it!"

"The hell