the day Anita and Alice took a stroll through the valley, but
the latter had been warned, and fought shy of the quartz mine; so
there was no encounter between Anita and Fearless Frank.

Deadwood Dick joined them as they were returning to the cabin, loaded
down with flowers--flowers of almost every color and perfume.

"This is a beautiful day," he remarked, pulling up a daisy, as he
walked gracefully along. "One rarely sees so many beauties centered in
one little valley like this--beautiful landscape and mountain scenery,
beautiful flowers beneath smiling skies, and lovely women, the chief
center of attraction among all."

"Indeed!" and Alice gave him a coquettish smile; "you are flattering,
sir road-agent. You, at least, are not beautiful, in that horrible
black suit and villainous mask. You remind me of a picture I have seen
somewhere of the devil in disguise; all that is lacking is the horns,
tail and cloven-foot."

Dick broke out into a burst of laughter--it was one of those wild,
terrible laughs of his, so peculiar to hear from one who was evidently
young in years.

Both of the girls were terrified, and would have fled had he not
detained them.

"Ha, ha!" he said, stepping in front of them, "do not be frightened;
don't go, ladies. That's only the way I express my amusement at
anything."

"Then, for mercy's sake, don't get amused again," said Alice,
deprecatingly. "Why, dear me, I thought the Old Nick and all his
couriers had pounced down upon us."

"Well, how do you know but what he has? _I_ may be his Satanic
majesty, or one of his envoys."

"I hardly think so; you are too much an earthly being for that. Come,
now, take off that detestable mask and let me see what you look like."

"No, indeed! I would not remove this mask, except on conditions, for
all the gold yon toiling miners are finding, which, I am satisfied, is
no small amount."

"You spoke of conditions. What are they?"

"Some time, perhaps, I will tell you, lady, but not now. See! my men
are signaling to me, and I must go. Adieu, ladies;" and in another
moment he had wheeled, and was striding back toward camp.

In their concealment the two Filmores witnessed this meeting between
Dick and the two girls.

"So there are females here, eh?" grunted the elder, musingly. "From
observation I should say that Prince Dick was a comparative stranger
here."

"That is my opinion," groaned Clarence, his thoughts reverting to his
empty stomach. "Did y