to travel about,
and--"

"You've got a soft thing," grumbled Brown. "You go round and have a good
time while I am tied down to this fourth-rate tavern in the woods."

"Well, it isn't much more than that," said Warner, musingly.

"Do you expect me to keep a first-class hotel?" demanded Brown,
defiantly.

"No, of course not. Brown," continued Warner, soothingly, "don't let us
quarrel; we can't afford it. Let us talk together reasonably."

"What have you to say?"

"This, that it isn't my fault if things have gone wrong. Was it my fault
that we found so little cash in that last store we broke open?"

"Nineteen dollars!" muttered Brown, contemptuously.

"Nineteen dollars, as you say. It didn't pay us for our trouble. Well, I
was as sorry as you. I fail to see how it was my fault. Better luck next
time."

"When is the next time to be?" asked Brown, somewhat placated.

"As soon as you please."

"What is it?"

"I will tell you. You remember that stagecoach full of passengers that
fooled us some time since?"

"I ought to."

"I always meant to get on the track of that Melville, who spoiled our
plot by overhearing us and giving us away to the passengers. He is very
rich, so the boy who was with him told me, and I have every reason to
rely upon his statement. Well, I want to be revenged upon him, and, at
the same time, to relieve him of the doubtless large sum of money which
he keeps with him."

"I'm with you. Where is he?"

"I have only recently ascertained--no matter how. He lives in a small
cabin, far from any other, about eight miles from the mining town of
Deer Creek."

"I know the place."

"Precisely. No one lives there with him except the boy, and it would be
easy enough to rob him. I saw a man from Deer Creek yesterday. He tells
me that Melville has bought for the boy a half share in a rich mine, and
is thought to have at least five thousand dollars in gold and bills in
his cabin."

Brown's eyes glistened with cupidity.

"That would be a big haul," he said.

"Of course, it would. Now, Brown, while you have been grumbling at me I
have been saving this little affair for our benefit--yours and mine. We
won't let any of the rest of them into it, but whatever we find we will
divide, and share alike."

"Do you mean this, captain?"

"Yes, I mean it, friend Brown. You shan't charge me with taking the
lion's share in this case. If there are five thousand dollars, as my
informant seems to think, your