in his mind as he had been the day
before.

"Where is Ike Furner?" he asked, suddenly. "Say, I've got to be on my
way, if I am going to get those nuggets of gold."

"Tom, take it easy," begged Dick. "Don't you remember me?" And he
looked his brother full in the eyes.

"Sure I know you, Dick," was the wondering answer. "Why do you ask me
such a question? Let me see, what was I saying?" Tom put his hand to
his forehead. "Hang it all, it's slipped my mind entirely," he groaned.

"Never mind, Tom, let it go. You just think of Sam and me, and the
folks at home. And don't forget Nellie," Dick added, in a whisper.

"Nellie!" gasped the sufferer. "Oh, yes, Nellie! As if I could ever
forget her! Say, Dick, how soon will I see her, do you suppose?"

"I'll send for her as soon as we get home, Tom."

"And when will that be?"

"Oh, not so very long. Now do keep quiet. And don't think of anything
but just home and Nellie," he added, pleadingly.

"All right, I'll do just as you want me to," returned Tom, and then
laid back and was silent.

Sam had listened to what was going on and now he and Dick walked to the
far end of the cabin, to talk in whispers.

"He isn't over it yet, Sam. And it almost looks as if he never would
get over it, that is, altogether." Dick's face showed his deep concern.

"Oh, Dick, don't say that! He's got to get over it! Oh, if only we
could get some first class doctor to do something!"

"Well, we've got to get to some city first--Dawson or some other place."

"Here is news!" cried Jack Wumble, coming forward at that instant.
"Tony tells me that there will be a party going through to Dawson
inside of a week or ten days. He advises that we wait till they go and
go with 'em."

"It will be much safer," said Tony Bings "It's a fearful journey
alone--in sech weather."

"Who are those folks who are going?" asked Dick.

"One of the men who run the Yukon Supply Depot at Crovet, twenty-four
miles from here. He will come along with four or five of his helpers,
and most likely a dog train, and he always stops here."

"That will be all right--but a week or ten days--that's a long time to
wait," and Dick sighed.

After that Tony Bings told his story, how he had come to that
neighborhood and "struck it rich," as he confided to Jack Wumble. He
was very enthusiastic about the diggings back of his cabin, and in the
end got Wumble to promise to join him in his hunt for gold in the
Spr