te son of the North. "It'd help some," he admitted in a low
voice. "But what makes you think it would be worth that much?"

"Because old Hiram talked a little, half-delirious, before he died. 'A
quarter of a million,' he kept saying. 'Right there in sight--a quarter
of a million.' If he really found that much stowed away in the rocks,
that's fifty or sixty apiece for you and Chan."

Ray's mind worked swiftly. Sixty thousand apiece--and that left one
hundred and thirty thousand for their leader's portion. The old rage and
jealousy that had preyed upon his mind so long swept over him, more
compelling than ever. "Go on," he urged. "What's the rest of it?"

"The second thing is--we'll need some one to cook, and look after us,
when we get up there. Who should it be but Beatrice? She wouldn't want
to stay here; you know how she loves the woods. And if you know anything
about girls, you know that nothing counts like having 'em alone. There
wouldn't be any of the other boys up there to trouble you. You'd have a
clear field."

Ray's dark eyes shone. "It'd help some," he admitted. "That means--hunt
up an extra horse for her to-morrow."

"No. I don't intend she should come up now. Not till we're settled."

"Why not?"

"Think a minute, and you'll see why not. You know how she regards this
business of jumping claims. She's dead against it if any one could
be--bless her heart!"

"Don't go getting sentimental, Neilson."

"And don't let that mouth of yours get you into trouble, either." Once
more their eyes locked: once more Ray looked away. "I hope she'll always
stay that way, too. As I say, she's dead against it, and she's been a
little suspicious ever since that Jenkins deal. Besides, it wouldn't be
any pleasure for her until we find a claim and get settled. When she
comes up we'll be established in a couple of cabins--one for her and me
and one for you two--and she won't know but that we made the original
find."

"How will she know just where to find us?"

"We're bound to be somewhere near that old cabin on the Yuga. We'll set
a date for her to come, and I can meet her there."

It was, Ray was forced to admit, a highly commendable scheme. He sat
back, contemplating all its phases. "It's slick enough," he agreed. "It
ought to do the trick."

But if he had known the girl's thoughts, as she sat alone in the back
part of the house, he wouldn't have felt so confident. She was watching
the moon over the spruce forest, and