e men what nerve is."

Ruth nodded, then 'bon voyage' was said, and the signal was given. The
cage ascended at first quickly, then more slowly, swaying up and down a
little on the cable, and climbing higher and higher through the air to
the mountain-side. What Boldrick thought when he saw the two ascending
towards him, he expressed to Mr. Devlin later in the day in vigorous
language: what occurred at his but Ruth Devlin told me afterwards. When
the cage reached him, he helped the two passengers out, and took them to
his hut. With Ruth he had always been a favourite, and he welcomed her
with admiring and affectionate respect.

"Never b'lieved you could have done it, Miss Devlin--never! Not but what
I knew you weren't afraid of anything on the earth below, or the waters
under the earth; but when you get swinging there over the world, and not
high enough to get a hold on heaven, it makes you feel as if things
was droppin' away from you like. But, by gracious! you did it like an
eagle--you and your friend."

By this time he was introduced, and at the name of Mrs. Falchion,
he cocked his head, and looked quizzically, as if trying to remember
something, then drew his hand once or twice across his forehead. After a
moment he said: "Strange, now, ma'am, how your name strikes me. It isn't
a common name, and I've heerd it before somewhere--somewhere. It isn't
your face that I've seen before--for I'd have remembered it if it was a
thousand years ago," he added admiringly. "But I've heard some one use
it; and I can't tell where."

She looked curiously at him, and said: "Don't try to remember, and it
will come to you in good time. But show us everything about your place
before we go back, won't you, please?"

He showed them his hut, where he lived, quite alone. It was supplied
with bare necessaries, and with a counter, behind which were cups and a
few bottles. In reference to this, Boldrick said: "Temperance drinks for
the muleteers, tobacco and tea and sugar and postage stamps and things.
They don't gargle their throats with anything stronger than coffee at
this tavern."

Then he took them to the cave in which puma, bear, and wapiti skins were
piled, together with a few stores and the kits of travellers who had
left their belongings in Boldrick's keeping till they should come
again. After Mrs. Falchion and Ruth had seen all, they came out upon
the mountain-side and waved their handkerchiefs to us, who were still
watching fro