ture in your announcement, my dear? I am not
going back East at all.'

There might have been no discussion of the matter had he ended there.
But seeing the various expressions called by his words to the faces
about the table, he added the challenge:

'Why should I go? Haven't I already demonstrated that I know what I am
doing? Isn't this the place for me?'

Helen answered him first and energetically. He should go, she cried
hotly, because he had demonstrated nothing at all save that he was a
lamb in a den of wolves. He was a university man and not a mountaineer
or desert Indian; he knew books and he did not know men; it was his
duty to himself and to his daughter to return home. The girl's colour
deepened and grew hot with her rapid speech, and Sanchia, sitting back,
watching and listening, lost never a word. Before Longstreet could
shape a reply John Carr added his voice to Helen's plea. He said all
that he had said once before to-day; he elaborated his argument, which
to him appeared unanswerable. When he had done, always speaking
quietly, he turned to Howard.

'Don't you think I am right, Al?' he asked.

'No!' replied Howard emphatically. 'I don't. Mr. Longstreet does know
his business. He has located one mine in this short time. It was not
chance; it was science. There is more gold left in these hills. Give
him time and a free swing, and he'll find it.'

Carr appeared amazed.

'I can't imagine what makes you talk like that, Al,' he said shortly.
'It's rather a serious thing with the Longstreets which way they move
now. You are deliberately encouraging him to buck a game which he
ought to leave to another type of man.'

'Deliberately is the right word,' said Howard. 'And I can't quite
understand what makes you seek to discourage him and pack him off to
the East again.'

Carr was silent. Sanchia's eyes, very bright, grew brighter with a
keen look of understanding. Very innocently she spoke.

'Are you thinking of going East, too, Mr. Carr?' she asked.

'Yes,' snapped Carr. 'I am. What of it?'

'Oh, nothing,' said Sanchia. But she laughed. Then as Longstreet was
opening his mouth to make his own statement, she cut in, turning to
him, speaking directly to him, in some subtle way giving the impression
that she was quite oblivious of anyone but of him and herself.

'You mustn't go,' she said softly. She studied his face and then put a
light hand on his arm. Helen stiffened. 'How sh