where you're mistaken, my friends; I haven't had anything to
eat for two days, and when a stranger offered me a swallow of whiskey
to keep up my strength, I took it, as a medicine. If it hadn't been for
that, I'd have flunked right in the street--sure as you live. What are
you doing, if I may ask, in Juneau?"

"We are listening to you just now, but we are on our way to the gold
fields," replied Roswell.

"Not alone?"

"We are going with two men, one of whom has been there before."

"That's more sensible. Let me give you a little advice--"

"We really do not feel the need of it," interposed Roswell, who liked
the man less each minute. "You must excuse us, as we wish to join them
at the hotel. Good-day."

"See here," said the fellow angrily, as he laid his hand on the arm of
Frank; "ain't you going to stake me a bit?"

The lad shook off his grasp.

"Even if we wished to do so, we could not, for our friend at the hotel
has all the funds that belong to our party. Perhaps if you go there,
and he believes the story, Mr. Graham may do something for you, but Tim
McCabe has not the means with which to help anybody."

At mention of the Irishman's name the fellow showed some agitation.
Then, seeing that he was about to lose the expected aid, he uttered a
savage expression and exclaimed:

"I don't believe a word you say."

"It is no concern of ours whether you believe it or not," replied
Roswell, as he and Frank started down the street toward their hotel.
The fellow was amazed at the defiance of the lads, and stood staring at
them and muttering angrily to himself. Could he have carried out his
promptings, he would have robbed both, but was restrained by several
reasons.

In the first place, Juneau, despite the influx of miners, is a
law-abiding city, and the man's arrest and punishment would have
followed speedily. Moreover, it would not have been an altogether "sure
thing" for him to attack the youths. They were exceptionally tall,
active and strong, and would have given him trouble without appeal to
the firearms which they carried.

They looked round and smiled, but he did not follow them. When they
reached the hotel they related the incident.

"Would ye oblige me with a description of the spalpeen?" said Tim
McCabe, after they had finished. Roswell did as requested.

"Be the powers, it's him!" exclaimed Tim. "I 'spected it when ye told
the yarn which I've heerd he has been telling round town."

"Whom do you