"I have a better plan," said Creedon.

"What is your plan?"

"We will go and get the dust that the lad found; we will carry that to
the town, dispose of it, get our money, make our deposits in the bank,
and then start in on the search. Possessing the knowledge that you do,
we will find a mine. I am not discouraged yet."

It was so agreed, and the party made their way back to where they had
their store of dust. Creedon had made some deerskin bags so that the
burden would not fall upon one person. The dust was all secured and they
made a start for the town.

On the night when they made their last halt before ending their trip in
the town, Brooks, the wizard tramp, took advantage of an opportunity to
talk to Desmond alone. He said:

"Lad, to-morrow we will be in the town and we will have money. I have a
proposition. It will take a year or two to develop matters in case I do
locate the mine; you cannot afford at your time of life to spend a year.
I do not need you with me now. I am a man again, thanks to you, and I
will make a confidant of Creedon. He is a manly, honest fellow, and will
watch over me. Our joint interest will make him a splendid sentinel. I
feel that we are sure to win, if not in one direction in another. With
my scientific knowledge and his practical knowledge we will win, but it
may be two or three years. This is a fascinating life for you, but you
cannot afford to lose this valuable time."

"What is it you are about to propose?"

"I can send you home with five thousand dollars and I will still have
money enough to carry on our purpose. You can clear off the farm and go
to school; you are ambitious, and in less than a year you will be
prepared to stand an examination for college, and you can go with a
cheerful heart, for if my life is spared I will win a fortune for you. I
have no use for a fortune myself; I am working for you and Amy."

"But suppose something should happen to you? Do you remember you have
not made your revelation?"

"I propose to provide for that; I will confide to you a document. It is
not to be opened until you are assured of my death, so living or dead
you shall in good time learn the great secret that I have held all these
years."

"I must think this matter over," said Desmond.

"There must be no thinking. I have decided as to what you must do."

"And you do not want me to go back at all?"

"No, I want you to go home to the State of New York; I want you to go to
cle