nger like this without food or shelter. I'm almost
ready to cash in myself."

The other doggedly bit on a piece of ice and said nothing. Madison
continued:

"If I gave up three square meals a day and a comfortable bed to come
out here and die in this infernal hole, it was only for her sake. We
were to get married soon. I promised to go back with a fortune, and she
said she'd wait for me----"

The figure crouching on the other side of the fire chuckled grimly:

"Wait for you, eh?" he echoed dubiously.

"Yes, wait for me--why not?" snapped John.

The other shook his head.

"She may and she may not. It depends on the gal. Where is she?"

"New York."

"Working?"

"Yes--in a fashion. She's an actress."

"Oh!"

Bill gave another derisive chuckle. Irritated, John demanded hotly:

"What's the matter?"

"Queer lot--actresses!" grinned Bill. "Never knew no good of 'em."

John's eyes flashed dangerously, and weak though he was, he sprang up
and put his hand to his hip. Before he drew his gun, his mate
apologized.

"No offense, pard. I didn't mean no harm. I guess if she's your gal,
she's all right. No offense."

Madison, mollified, sat down again. Warmly he said:

"Ah, Bill--you don't know--you don't know. She means everything to me.
I'd sooner cut my throat than think her false for one instant.
Why--she'd wait for me if it took years. I know her; you don't. She's
the best girl in the world."

Bill nodded. Sententiously he said:

"That's the right line o' talk, I guess, for a feller wot's in love,
but it's not goin' to help us find the trail. We've got to get on and
find something to eat. Jist at present, wittles is more to the point
than spooning."

Bill Branigan was an original. An Irish-American, he was earning good
wages in one of the Chicago stockyards when the gold rush to Alaska
began. Attacked like many others with the get-rich-quick fever, he went
to the Yukon, and later found his way to Goldfield, Nevada, where he
met Madison. The two men were instantly attracted to each other. Superb
specimens of hardy manhood, both were ambitious, fearless, thirsty for
adventure. Bill proposed a partnership--a risk-all, divide-all
agreement. His other scheme having failed, Madison was glad enough to
accept the offer. So with renewed hope and determination, both men
turned their faces to the setting sun, and wandered across the mountain
ranges, looking for gold. A loquacious Indian, after being generously
d