the Consolidated
Virginia and the C. & C. shafts; they saw a new great quartz mill being
erected, but they saw something else which pleased them much more, which
was that the more the great ore body was sunk and drifted upon, the
bigger it grew. In the early winter of 1874-5, the stock began to climb
up. It jumped to $80, then $85; then, almost in a day, to $115, and so
on up to $220. The strain on the minds of the two young miners was very
great, but they held on. There was another little lull, and then towards
spring it started up again.

When it reached $480, Browning said to Sedgwick: "Bless my soul, Jim, I
have not slept for three nights. I have been thinking that hundreds of
people have been waiting for the stock to touch $500, and when it does,
they will unload and break it down. Had we not better sell? It will give
us as much money as we can manage."

"I guess you are right, Jack" said Sedgwick. "I believe it will still go
a good deal higher, but if it does, let those who buy our stocks make it.
As you said, it will bring us as much money as we can manage. It takes a
brave man to sell on a rising market. Let us be brave."

So they gave the order for the sale of the stock, but that day it jumped
to $520, and when the returns were made, they found to their credit,
$1,040,000. The stock touched $900 per share a few days later.

The result well-nigh paralyzed them. "At $4 per day, this is not bad,
Browning," said Sedgwick.

"This secures the hill farm of old Jasper--three hundred acres at forty
dollars per acre--does it not, Sedgwick?" said Browning.

They ordered $10,000 to be placed to the credit of the hospitals and
bought exchange on New York and London for $1,000,000. The rest they took
with them in money.

In dividing there was a little dispute. Browning insisted that he was
entitled to only forty-six and two-thirds per cent. of the amount, as his
money was as seven to eight of Jim's.

"Why will you bother me with those vulgar fractions, Browning? Try to be
a gentleman," said Sedgwick. "We share alike on this business, remember
that; and say what a country this is to get rich in at four dollars a
day!"

So it was settled. Their friends were told they had made a little stake,
and were going home; the good-byes were spoken, and the young men turned
their faces eastward.

CHAPTER IV.

SMILES AND TEARS.

While riding through Nevada, Browning, after a long look from the car
window, said: