that Steering was
beginning to see very clearly indeed, as he went through the papers.
They were couched in good, clear English, the succinct English that
Carington used, with admirable changes here and there, which brought out
Carington's points still more clearly. "I am familiar with these," said
Steering, looking up presently. "You seem to have let it stand about as
we drafted it in the New York office. What changes you have made I
like."

"Oh, God bless you! you can rely upon liking the things of this kind
that I do." Madeira's assumption was comprehensive and bland. There was
absolutely no sense in going against that manner of his at this stage of
developments. Steering began to ask questions and to wait.

"Now, according to what we set forth here,"--Steering tapped the
paper,--"the object and purpose of our corporation will be the mining of
zinc and lead ore in the Canaan Tigmores. We are projecting upon the
hypothesis that there is ore in the Tigmores, but we can't go too far
upon hypothesis. There in New York it seemed worth while to take up the
idea that, as there was ore all around through southwestern Missouri,
there might be ore in the Canaan Tigmores. Then, being equipped for
theorising only, Carington and I passed easily into the consideration of
the possibilities _if_ there were ore in the Canaan Tigmores. You say
that we are ready to organise, but it looks to me just now as though
before we organise it might be in order to solidify hypothesis into
fact. I don't think organisation is the next step at all; the next
step, according to my notion, is to get off paper into the ground.
Question now is, _is_ there any ore in the Canaan Tigmores?"

"Question now is," interrupted Madeira baldly, "are there enough fools
in the United States to donate us a fortune while we are finding out
whether there is or isn't ore in the Canaan Tigmores? Oh, God bless you,
my boy, you must bear in mind that gold isn't the only thing that can be
minted! You can mint a man's thirst for gold, if you are up to it. The
Southwest is zinc crazy right now. The time is as ripe as a nut----"

"Well, one minute--what's your private opinion about the chance for ore
in the Canaan Tigmores, Mr. Madeira?"

"I d'n know a thing about it. And God bless you, I don't care a thing
about it. I know that old Bruce Grierson butted his brains out on the
Tigmore rocks, on the jack-trail, for twenty years, and I know, that all
over the country,--not