d to lease the
claims he held for her. It would prove an inexpensive way to develop
her holdings, he said, and she would run no risk; moreover, it would be
rapid, and insure a quick return, for a lease so near to proven
territory was in great demand. After some discussion this was arranged,
and Meade, as trustee, allotted her ground in tracts, as Lee had done.
Poleon followed suit; but the trader chose to prospect his own claims,
and to that end called in a train of stiff-backed Indian packers, moved
a substantial outfit to the creek, and thereafter spent much of his
time in the hills, leaving the store to Doret. He seemed anxious to get
away from the camp and hide himself in the woods. Stark was almost
constantly occupied at his saloon, for it was a mint, and ran day and
night. Runnion was busy with the erection of a substantial structure of
squared logs, larger than the trading-post, destined as a dance-hall,
theatre, and gambling-house. Flambeau, the slumbrous, had indeed
aroused itself, stretched its limbs, and sprung into vigorous, virile,
feverish being, and the wise prophets were predicting another Dawson
for it, notwithstanding that many blank spots had been found as the
creek of Lee's finding bared its bedrock to the miners. These but
enhanced the value of the rich finds, however, for a single stroke of
good-fortune will more than offset a dozen disappointments. The truth
is, the stream was very spotted, and Leo had by chance hit upon one of
the bars where the metal had lodged, while others above and below
uncovered a bed-rock as barren as a clean-swept floor. In places they
cross-cut from rim to rim, drove tunnels and drains and drifts, sunk
shafts and opened trenches without finding a color that would ring when
dropped in the pan; but that was an old, old story, and they were used
to it.

During these stirring weeks of unsleeping activity Burrell saw little
of Necia, for he had many things to occupy him, and she was detained
much in the store, now that her father was away. When they met for a
moment they were sure to be interrupted, while in and around the house
Alluna seemed to be always near her. Even so, she was very happy; for
she was sustained by the constant hectic excitement that was in the air
and by her brief moments with Meade, which served to gladden her and
make of the days one long, delicious, hopeful procession of undisturbed
dreams and fancies. He was the same fond lover as on that adventurous