plendiferous drift," "mica twist" (recalling
a popular species of tobacco), "iron pirates," and "discomposed quartz"
as part of what he not inaptly called a "tautological formation," and
were happy. Nor was our contentment marred by the fact that the
well-known scientific authority with whom the stranger had been
intimate,--to the point of "sleeping together" during a survey,--and
whom he described as a bent old man with spectacles, must have aged
considerably since one of our party saw him three years before as a
keen young fellow of twenty-five. Inaccuracies like those were only
the carelessness of genius. "That's my opinion, gentlemen," he
concluded, negligently rising, and with pointed preoccupation whipping
the dust of Eureka Gulch from his clothes with his handkerchief, "but
of course it ain't nothin' to me."

Captain Jim, who had followed every word with deep and trustful
absorption, here repeated, "It ain't nothing to him, boys," with a
confidential implication of the gratuitous blessing we had received,
and then added, with loyal encouragement to him, "It ain't nothing to
you, Lacy, in course," and laid his hand on his shoulder with infinite
tenderness.

We, however, endeavored to make it something to Mr. Lacy Bassett. He
was spontaneously offered a share in the company and a part of Captain
Jim's tent. He accepted both after a few deprecating and muttered
asides to Captain Jim, which the latter afterwards explained to us was
the giving up of several other important enterprises for our sake.
When he finally strolled away with Rowley to look over the gulch,
Captain Jim reluctantly tore himself away from him only for the
pleasure of reiterating his praise to us as if in strictest confidence
and as an entirely novel proceeding.

"You see, boys, I didn't like to say it afore HIM, we bein' old
friends; but, between us, that young feller ez worth thousands to the
camp. Mebbee," he continued with grave naivete, "I ain't said much
about him afore, mebbee, bein' old friends and accustomed to him--you
know how it is, boys,--I haven't appreciated him as much ez I ought,
and ez you do. In fact, I don't ezakly remember how I kem to ask him
down yer. It came to me suddent, one day only a week ago Friday night,
thar under that buckeye; I was thinkin' o' one of his sayins, and sez
I--thar's Lacy, if he was here he'd set the hull thing right. It was
the ghost of a chance my findin' him free, but I did. And there HE