arch every cabin," suggested one.

"No, that won't do," replied another. "The thief may search his own
shack, and laugh up his sleeve at us."

"But we could divvy up," insisted the other. "Several go in a bunch,
and then there'd be no danger."

Caribou Sol listened attentively to the various remarks which were
made. Seeing that no solution of the difficulty was being reached, but
rather a greater complication, he slowly rose and looked around.

"B'ys," he commenced, "if yez don't mind listenin' to an old man, one
who has been through the mill, and seen sich things afore, I'd like to
offer a suggestion."

"Go ahead, Sol," responded several, for they knew the old man only
spoke when he had something important to say.

"Now, I've been in several camps sich as this, where there's no one
sich as magistrate or policeman to enforce law an' order. Then the
miners had to take matters inter their own hands."

"How did they do it?" asked one.

"Ye may be sure they didn't leave it fer every ninny to take up
valuable time waggin' his tongue, an' sayin' nothin'. They ginerally
got down to bizness as soon as the camp was formed, an' appinted
several of the leadin' men to dispense law as they saw fit. Sometimes
they were called 'The Vigilance Committee,' an' right good work they
did, too. They had their eyes peeled fer bizness, ye bet yer life."

"Tell us, Sol, how they chose them," asked Perdue.

"Sometimes by vote, either by ballot or show of hands."

"Was it ever left to the chairman to appoint them?" continued Perdue.
"I should think that's a much easier way, and I suggest that we do the
same."

"Hear, hear!" came the response. "Go ahead, Bill. Name yer men, and
let's get this business fixed up."

Pritchen's eye gleamed with a triumphant light at this turn of affairs.
He made a show of refusing such an important task, but the men would
not listen.

"Come, man," said Perdue, "stick to yer job. Ye kin do it, and all
'ill be satisfied."

"Well, if you want me to do it," replied Pritchen, "you'll have to put
up with my choice. I'll do the best I can, and I want no back jaw when
it's done."

"All right, Bill, never fear. Go ahead."

Pritchen looked slowly round the room as if weighing each man carefully
in his mind.

"Mickie O'Toole," he said, "will you stand by and help with this job?"

"Sure," came the reply. "To the very last."

"And find the rope too, Mickie?" laughed one.

"If you're the tha