ches and buying things from him than worrying over profitless
claims. He added that if the latter broke them he would in all
probability never recover what they owed him.

"They'll be here, sure, bringing as much of my pork and flour as they
can pack along," he said. "It's quite likely Jim won't have raised
thirty dollars among the crowd of them."

"Well," said Devine, "if I'm to take the trail tomorrow I'm going
right under my blanket now."

He rolled it round him and lay down on a pile of spruce twigs outside
the tent. The dew was rather heavy, but he was young and strong, and
it is a luxury to sleep in the open in that elixir-like mountain air.
He went to sleep at once, and it was evidently early morning when
Saunders awakened him, for the moon, which had not cleared the eastern
peaks when he lay down, was now high in the heavens. He sprang to his
feet, and stood a moment or two shivering a little as he looked about
him. It was very cold, and the little open space where the tent stood
was flooded with silvery light, though here and there the shadows of
the firs fell athwart it black as ink and sharp as a fretwork cut in
ebony. Then he saw Saunders close beside him, fumbling with the
magazine of his repeating-rifle.

"Not a blame ca'tridge left! You'd better take the ax along," he said.

"The ax?" queried Devine, who was a little startled as well as
puzzled.

Saunders pointed to the shadowy bush.

"Sure," he said. "It's jumpers!"

That was enough for Devine. He flashed a glance at his companion.
Saunders possessed the huckster's heart, and took pleasure in selling
indifferent pork and third-grade flour at the highest prices he could
possibly extort. The clink of the dollar was music to him; but it was
perfectly clear that he could hold his own, on occasion, with a very
tenacious hand. The man was resolutely quiet and evidently quite ready
to meet the jumpers with an empty rifle.

For the next few moments Devine stood listening with strained
attention. At first he could hear nothing except a little breeze that
sighed among the tops of the firs, but by and by he became sensible of
a stealthy rustling somewhere in the shadows. Then a branch snapped
with a sharp distinctness that set his heart beating a good deal
faster than was comfortable. Making a sign to Saunders, he strode back
to the tent and picked up the ax.

After that they set out together down the little trail that led past
the willows to the lode,