to talk it over with some one. Glancing up he caught sight of
the glitter of silver and the satin sheen of a horse. Star was coming
down through the trees, resplendent in his silver and carved leather
trappings, glossy as a bird, stepping proudly and daintily under the
curbing of his heavy Spanish bit. In the saddle lounged the tall, homely
figure of old California John, clad in faded blue overalls, the brim of
his disreputable, ancient hat flopped down over his lean brown face, and
his kindly blue eyes. Bob signalled him.

"John!" he called, "come here! I want to talk with you!"

The stately, beautiful horse turned without any apparent guiding motion
from his master, stepped the intervening space and stopped. California
John swung from the saddle. Star, his head high, his nostril wide, his
eye fixed vaguely on some distant vision, stood like an image.

"I want a good talk with you," repeated Bob.

They sat on the same log whereon Oldham and Bob had conferred.

"John," said Bob, "Oldham has been here, and I don't know what to do."

California John listened without a single word of comment while Bob
detailed all the ins and outs of the situation. When he had finished,
the old man slowly drew forth his pipe, filled it, and lit it.

"Son," said he, "I'm an old man, and I've lived in this state since the
early gold days. That means I've seen a lot of things. In all that time
the two most valuable idees I've dug up are these: in the first place,
it don't never do to go off half-cock; and in the second place, if you
want to know about a thing, go to headquarters for it."

He removed his pipe and blew a cloud.

"Half of that's for me and the other half's for you," he resumed. "I
ain't going to give you my notions until I've thought them over a
little; that's for me. As for you, if I was you, I'd just amble over and
talk the whole matter over with Mr. Welton and see what he thinks about
his end of it."

XX

This advice seemed so good that Bob acted upon it at his earliest
opportunity. He found Welton riding his old brindle mule in from the
bull donkey where he had been inspecting the work. The lumberman's red,
jolly face lit up with a smile of real affection as he recognized Bob,
an expression quickly changed, however, as he caught sight of the young
man's countenance.

"What's up, Bobby?" he inquired with concern; "anything happened?"

"Nothing yet; but I want to talk with you."

Welton immediately dis