year. You see I was snowbound away up in the
mountains; fortunately I had plenty of dried meat, and I was compelled
to wait until I was thawed out."

Brooks commenced making the coffee, and while doing so the woodsman
asked:

"Are you regular hunters?"

"No."

"Ever in the mountains before?"

"Never."

"You've been taking great chances."

"We have?"

"Yes."

"How so?"

"The mountains are full of bad Indian fugitives, and they are very ugly.
Some are parts of a raiding gang of bucks, and others are rascals who
have made a kick out at the reservation. I've met twenty of them in the
last ten days; they are in squads of twos and threes, and they are full
of fight."

"We have met some of them."

"And you managed to escape?"

"We had a fight with one party."

"You did?"

"Yes."

"How did you come out?"

"Ahead, I reckon, or we would not be here."

The conversation was between the woodsman and Desmond.

"What brought you into the mountains--are you tourists?"

"No."

"On business?"

"Yes."

"Surveyors?"

"No."

"I thought not; no use to survey out this way. I suppose you are looking
for a lost mine."

"Well, we might take in a lost mine or find a new one, it don't matter."

"Ah! I see; well, so far you've been lucky, but you've been taking
desperate chances."

"Oh! that's a way we have."

CHAPTER II.

A RECOGNITION--THE WOODSMAN'S DISCLOSURES--A
CHANCE AFTER ALL--THE BIVOUAC--DESMOND'S
DISCOVERY--SAVAGES GALORE.

The coffee was soon prepared and Brooks produced some dried meat and a
few crackers, and the three men, so strangely met, sat down to enjoy
their meal. The woodsman was offered the first cup of coffee, and as he
drank it down, all hot and steaming, he smacked his lips and exclaimed:

"Well, that was good; that cup of coffee makes us friends. I may do you
a good turn."

"Good enough; we are ready for a good turn. We've had rather hard luck
so far."

"So you are after a mine, eh?"

"Yes."

"You are regular prospectors?"

"Yes."

"You have to strike a surface ledge to make any money. Don't think a
claim would amount to much out here unless you found a nest of them so
as to attract a crowd, and a town, and a mill, and all that. According
to my idea the mines out here all need capital to work 'em in case you
should strike one."

Regardless of possibilities, as the night was a little chilly, Brooks
had created quite a blaze, and by the light of the fire