embling finger at a certain point on the paper, "has been blocked up
by a mountain slide. The other turns very abruptly, still to the east.
Three mountain peaks, kept in perfect line, will lead you across this
blockade to the source of the Lost River."

"Mr. Mowbray," said Shock, "Perault tells us you only made short
excursions from this point where we are now."

"Listen," said the old man. "I made this discovery last year. I have
breathed it to no one. My claim is yet unstaked, but here," said he,
taking another small buckskin bag from his breast, "here is what I
found."

He tried in vain with his trembling fingers to undo the knot. Shock
took the bag from him and opened it up.

"Empty it out," said the old man, his eyes glittering with fever and
excitement.

Shock poured forth gold dust and nuggets.

"There," he sighed. "I found these at that spot. Empty the other bag,"
he said to Shock. "These are the ones given me by the Indian so many
years ago. The same gold, the same rock, the same nuggets. There is my
Lost River. I thought to stake my claim this summer. I ought to have
staked it last year, but a terrible storm drove me out of the mountains
and I could not complete my work."

The old man ceased his tale, and lay back upon his couch with closed
eyes, and breathing quickly. The doctor and Shock stood looking at each
other in amazement and perplexity.

"Is he quite himself?" said Shock, in a low voice.

The old man caught the question and opened his eyes.

"Doctor, I am quite sane. You know I am quite sane. I am excited, I
confess, but I am quite sane. For thirteen years and more I have sought
for those little pieces of metal and rock, but, thank God! I have found
them, not for myself, but for my girl. I ruined her life--I now redeem.
And now, Mr. Macgregor, will you undertake a charge for me? Will you
swear to be true, to faithfully carry out the request I am to make?"

Shock hesitated.

"Do not disappoint me," said the old man, taking hold of Shock's hand
eagerly with his two hands so thin and worn and trembling. "Promise
me," he said.

"I promise," said Shock solemnly.

"I want you to follow this trail, to stake out this claim, to register
it in your name for my daughter, and to develop or dispose of this mine
in the way that may seem best to yourself. I trust you entirely. I have
watched you carefully through these months, and have regained my faith
in my fellow men and my faith in God through