st when you're a-pourin' from his bag
into your'n. It'll be ez good's a theatre, to bring the boys up to see
how 'twas done. Lord! I wish he'd hurry up!"

Grump placed a hand upon each bag, and the colonel felt for his trigger.
Grump's left hand opened wide the mouth of Pet's bag, and his right hand
raised his own; in a moment he had poured out all his own gold into
Pet's bag, tied it, and replaced it under Pet's head.

The colonel retired quietly for a hundred yards, or more, then he
started for the saloon like a man inspired by a three-days' thirst. As
he entered the saloon the crowd arose.

"Any feller ken say I lie," meekly spoke the colonel, "an' I won't
shoot, _I_ wouldn't believe it ef I hedn't seen it with my own eyes.
Grump's poured all his gold into the Pet's pouch!"

The whole party, in chorus, condemned their optical organs to
supernatural warmth; some, more energetic than the rest, signified that
the operation should extend to their lungs and lives. But the doubter of
the party again spoke:

"Mind yer," said he, "to-morrow he'll be complainin' that the Pet stole
it, an' then he'll claim all in the Pet's pouch."

The colonel looked doubtful; several voices expressed dissent; Bozen,
reviving his proposition to drink to Grump, found opinion about equally
balanced, but conservative. It was agreed, however, that all the boys
should "hang around" the express agent next day, and should, if Grump
made the Pet any trouble, dispose of him promptly, and give the Pet a
clear title to all of Grump's rights and properties.

The agent came, and one by one the boys deposited their dust, saw it
weighed, and took their receipts. Presently there was a stir near the
door, and Grump and Pet entered. Pet's gold was weighed, his mother's
name given, and a receipt tendered.

"Thinks he's goin' to hev conviction in writin'," whispered the doubter
to the colonel.

But the agent finished his business, took the stage, and departed. Grump
started to the door to see the last of it. The doubter was there before
him, and saw a big tear in the corner of each of Grump's eyes.

* * * * *

A few days after Grump went to Placerville for a new pick for the
Pet--the old one was too heavy for a light man, Grump said. Pet himself
felt rather lonesome working on his neighbor's claim, so he sauntered
down the creek, and got a kind word from almost every man. His
ridiculous anatomy had escaped the grave so