d of man. I will forestall you as to finance. See,
in this pouch is some twenty pounds of gold dust, which the great chief
gave me for 'pin money,' and in the strong box of the express company is
one hundred pounds of the same kind of dust. This is earnest money. This
deposit, made of his own accord, warrants my belief in his ability to
produce the property. Coupled with this was the watchfulness over me by
both Yamanatz and Chiquita, and but for their care and warning I should
not be here now."

As Jack unrolled the buckskin pouch of nuggets and grains of dull, rich
gold, the look on his father's face changed from one of intense scorn to
deference, from sarcasm to a fawning smile. The avarice in his nature
manifested itself in so apparent a manner that Jack was tempted to make
one little fling, but restrained himself.

"My son, what you have uttered about the Indian being deprived of his
land is the old story. Every once in a while it comes out in a little
different cover, but are we to blame for the actions of our ancestors?
They came here to live, to escape the tyranny of rulers whom they
renounced, and in the seeking of a new world were obliged to treat with
these pagans. Is it not far better to have this country populated with a
race of God-fearing, civilized, labor-giving people, a people who by
their master minds and master hands today provide the world with food,
with clothing, with machinery that other nations may become enlightened
and as progressive as we are?"

"Yes," interrupted Jack, "and with our own machinery send back goods and
experienced laborers to compete with the skilled labor we have educated
up to the necessary standard. You would add also, that this class of
citizens, with its Saturday night carousals and Monday's line of police
court criminals, is superior to the noble red man, who knew not fire
water nor knavery until these civilized, God-fearing people taught it to
them."

"Well, Jack, are you going to head a tribe of Utes to drive us back
across the big sea?"

"No, father, I guess I shall have all the work of philanthropy I need in
piloting this young heathen through the 'hell gate' of learning into the
whirling vortex of society and accomplishments," laughingly answered
Jack.

"When will you start on this quest?" timidly asked his mother.

"Not later than the first of March, for I must be at Rock Creek soon
after that time, and part of the trip is via the snow shoe route."

Just t