ther's property, but understood that he could not be
hurried. So she merely suggested that Wolfgang bring his family around
to the living room immediately after sunset, when, doubtless, he would
receive his own again.

At that time, also, she meant to have John Benton present, to hear
what Pedro had to say about this copper find, and to comfort him in
his disappointment, for between these two there had always been close
friendship.

However, to her surprise, John attempted no comfort. He was instantly
and heartily on the shepherd's side, and demanded, excitedly:

"Begging pardon for plain words, as you are a woman with growing
children, can you sit there calm as molasses and say 'you wish you
could do something about it,' yet say no more. 'Wish!' Why, land of
Goshen! this ain't a wishin' sort of business, this ain't! It's
'Hurray for old Sobrante! Hurray, hurray, hurray!' Call 'em in,
captain, dearie! Call in the whole crowd! That was the luckiest
gettin' lost anybody ever had! Oh, won't somebody call 'em in?"

To the group about the table it seemed that the sensible carpenter had
suddenly gone mad. Nobody had ever heard him so address the mistress
whom he loved, and his excited prancing around the room, alternately
hugging and examining the mineral in his hand, added to the
impression. While the captain departed to summon the other "boys,"
Aunt Sally attempted to reduce her hilarious son to sanity by a sharp
box on the ear, and the sharper reprimand:

"You, John Benton! Do you mean to bring my gray hairs with sorrer to
the grave? What's the reason of these goings on, I'd like to know? I
never was so disgraced in all my life, never. Now, quit! Quit to once,
or----"

He paid no heed to her, but laid his hand on Pedro's shoulder and
shook it vigorously, demanding:

"What kind of a feller are you, anyway? Why in the name of sense
didn't you tell this thing while the boss was alive? Shucks! Half of
you is Indian, and that means dirt. Known it all this time, and kept
it hid! You'd ought to be drawn and quartered, that's what you had!"

Mrs. Benton advanced with threatening hand, and from force of habit he
retreated before her, and sank into the nearest chair; so that, when
his mates entered, they found him sitting with bent head and
down-hanging hands, as limp and inert as if his vitality had been
sapped by the news he had heard.

"What's up?" asked "Marty," making his respectful salutation to the
mistress, but l