through a side door which opened upon the street.

CHAPTER V

COMRADES OF THE TRAIL

There was no wild stampede to the Big Draw mining camp on Scupper
Creek, where gold had been discovered. There had been so many such
reports in the past which proved but flurries, that many of the
old-timers became sceptical, and waited for further developments.
There were some, however, who were always on the lookout for anything
new, and the hope of making a strike induced them to hasten away at the
least information of any discovery. These drifted forth in little
groups by the way of the river and mountain passes. Among such there
were always newcomers, men from the outside, as well as miners who had
left the country years before.

It was with the latest arrivals that Reynolds made his way into Big
Draw. He was accustomed to life in the open, and his recent experience
of camp life in France served him in good stead now. He had just
himself to look after, and, accordingly, he did not need a large
outfit. He also learned that provisions could be procured at the
mining camp, where a store had been established. He, therefore, took
with him only what was absolutely necessary, such as a small tent, a
few cooking utensils, a good rifle, and sufficient food to last him for
several days. A steamer would carry him part of the way, while the
rest of the journey would be made overland on foot.

After her departure from the dance that night, Reynolds saw nothing
more of Glen. He found that she had left the hotel, but where she had
gone he did not know. He inquired of the clerk, and was answered with
a curt "Don't know." He wondered who the Indian could be. There
seemed to be a mutual understanding between him and the girl, at any
rate, and they must have departed together. During the remainder of
his stay in town he had wandered about the streets, with the faint hope
that he might again see the girl, or learn something as to her
whereabouts.

Frontier Samson had also disappeared, and no one seemed to know
anything about him. Reynolds did not mind asking about the old
prospector, as it was different from enquiring about Glen. In fact,
the girl had become so real to him and such a vital part of his very
existence that should he speak of her to others he might betray his
deep concern.

During the voyage down river he thought much about her and tried to
imagine who she really was and what had become of her. The idea eve