a collapsed balloon, and what's more, we're in no prospects of
immediate relief."

Filmore, the younger, groaned aloud in agony of spirit.

"Curse the Black Hills and all who have been fools enough to inhabit
them, anyhow!" he growled, savagely; "just let me get back in the land
of civilization again, and you can bet your bottom dollar I'll know
enough to stay there."

"Bah! this little rough experience will do you good. If we only had a
square meal or two and a basket of sherry, I should feel quite at
home. Nothing but a fair prospect of increasing our individual
finances would ever have lured me into this outlandish place. But
money, you know, is the root of all--"

"Evil!" broke in the other, "and after three months' wild-goose-chase
you are just as destitute of the desired root as you were at first."

"True, but we have at least discovered one of the shrubs at the bottom
of which grows the root."

"You refer to Deadwood Dick?"

"I do. He is here in the valley, and he must never leave it alive.
While we have the chance we must strike the blow that will forever
silence his tongue."

"Yes; but what about the girl? She will be just as much in the way, if
not a good deal more so."

"We can manage her all right when the proper time arrives. Dick is our
game, now."

"He may prove altogether too much game. But, now that we are counting
eggs, how much of the 'lay' is to be mine, when this boy and girl are
finished?" he queried.

"How much? Well, that depends upon circumstances. The girl _may_ fall
to you."

"The girl? Bah! I'd rather be excused."

* * * * *

The day passed without incident in the mines. The work went steadily
on, the sounds of the crusher making strange music for the mountain
echoes to mock.

Occasionally the crack of a rifle announced that either a road-agent
or a Ute miner had risked a shot at a mountain sheep, bird, or deer.
Generally their aim was attended with success, though sometimes they
were unable to procure the slaughtered game.

Redburn, on account of his clear-headedness and business tact, had
full charge of both mines, the "General" working under him in the
shaft, and Fearless Frank in the quartz mine.

When questioned about his duel with Harris by Redburn, McKenzie had
very little to say; he seemed pained when approached on the subject;
would answer no questions concerning the past; was reserved and at
times singularly haughty.

During