were surprised to see Jeems become angry at
Juarez's innocent interruption. It was the first time that the boys
had ever seen Jeems Howell anything but good-natured, no matter what
happened, or what prank was played on him. But, as Jo remarked later,
"Human nature is a mighty uncertain business, and everybody has got a
cranky spot in 'em if you just happen to strike it at the explosive
time." Which is a mighty true observation, which you can prove to your
own satisfaction any day in the week. The writer being example No. 1,
and you, indulgent reader, example No. 2.

Jim and Juarez, by their combined and genial efforts, pulled Jeems out
of the sulks and on to his own sunny level once more. Then he took up
his narrative again.

"Well, boys, it don't seem that I have got any right to criticize that
black hound's temper, considering my own."

"Anybody is apt to get riled once in a lifetime, Jeems," said Jim,
"even Tom here has been known to act up occasionally." Tom joined in
the laugh because he had a notoriously quick temper, and complete
serenity was restored.

"That hound would never make friends with anyone except me," continued
Jeems, "and I could always depend on his watchfulness to warn me of
the approach of any marauder. It was a wild country, and with bad
Indians and worse white men you always had to be on your guard. Still
on this night I tell ye of, the storm was so wild and fierce that I
did not believe anyone would be abroad who had any sort of a place to
stay in.

"Before turning in, I stepped outside to see how things were going.
The hound followed close on my heels. I closed the door tight and
stood in the darkness with my old gray hat pulled down close around my
head. I could scarcely see. The snow was swirling from the ledge above
my cabin, and was blown out in great sheets into the night.

"Then the hound began to growl kind of low, and his hair was
bristling, but he did not show any sudden desire to take a jump down
the mountain side, as he would under ordinary circumstances, and I
didn't urge him because I thought he showed mighty good sense."

CHAPTER IV

THE LOST MINE

"'Anybody down thar?' I yelled, but my voice was blown down my throat,
and you couldn't have heard it six feet away, as the wind was doing
all the talking that night. So I stepped back into my cabin, followed
by the dog, who kept growling to himself like a man with a grouch.

"No sooner was I inside than I let the