ause he had never had such
interested listeners. Jim's eyes shone, and when the subject touched on
mining, he got up and went into the shack, coming back a moment later
with some bits of stones lying on his palm. He held these out to Silent
Pete who accepted them with sudden interest. Until he finally exclaimed:

"Glory! Where?"

Jim walked a little distance from that point of the mesa and the others
followed him wondering. Then digging away some earth from the small
hillock where he had paused, pointed downward.

Silent Pete gazed without speaking for a full moment. Then he stooped
and gathered a few fragments of insignificant stone, while Dorothy
watched him wondering. Presently the hunter looked up--his face
transformed--the brilliancy of youth restored to his faded eyes.

"Silver! by gum! And--and--_all the land this side that shack belongs to
San Leon_! Of all the dum luck--Let's go home! Let's go home!"

He couldn't move fast enough. The youngsters followed him at an equal
pace so excited that they scarcely knew what they were doing. Jim had
found silver! Jim had discovered a mine! This meant untold wealth to
their beloved host!

There was no thought in their minds of a possible mistake. It could not
be. It was all as clear as daylight to Dorothy, whose reverent heart
always traced "leadings" in that chain of events which we call life.

Jim had been "led" to all and through all that had happened. If he
hadn't wandered here--no use thinking about that. He _had_ wandered, he
_had_ found the silver, it _had_ been ordered, even the pain and
suffering and grief. Oh! to get back to where they could send the good
news flying to the absent owner of San Leon!

"Let's go home!" cried the girl, running to the Zaraza's side and trying
to saddle her.

But Jim would not let her do that, though he did not seek to hinder her
from going, and when she had sprung to her seat upon the filly's back,
he held out his hand, saying:

"I'll come soon's I can, Dolly Doodles! This is a big day for me!"

"Why--why--aren't you coming too? You can ride part of the way and I
part."

"No, girlie. I promised Alaric I'd take care of Jose and the sheep. I've
got to--duty, you know."

"Oh! Duty! I hate duty! Oh! Jim, you ought to be the one, the very one
to carry the good news straight to 'Boss Dan!' It should be you to send
this glorious message!"

But Jim shook his stubborn head.

"I'd like to--shucks! But I ain't never seen how