n was at fault. Eric's theories as to our delayed
news from our expedition are sound; they work out; they prove themselves.
The same is true of his very direct and lucid statement as to the nature
and cause of the difficulties which now beset us. I now make the direct
appeal to you, Eric: As a candid man or mouse, what would you do next?"

Tall Eric bent his brows darkly at the gambler.

"If you mean that I fear the man Johnson at all, why do you not use
tongue and lips to say that same? I am not greatly chafed by an open
enemy, but I am no great hand to sit down under a mock."

"It was your own word--the mice," said Dewing. "But this time you take me
wrongly. I meant no mockery. I ask you, in good faith, for your opinion.
What ought to be done to retrieve the false step?"

"Could we find this treasure-trove by a painstaking search of the hills?"
asked Zurich doubtfully. "It's a biggish country."

"Man," said Eric, "I've prospected out there for fifteen years and I've
scarce made a beginning. If we're to find Johnson's strike before Johnson
makes a path to it, we have a month, at most. Find it, says you? Sure, we
might find it. But if we do it will be by blind fool-hog luck and not by
painstakin' search. Do you search, if you like. My word would be to try
negotiations. Make a compromise with Johnson. And if your prudence does
not like the errand, I will even take it upon myself."

"What is there to compromise? We have nothing to contribute."

"We have safety to sell," said Eric. "Seek out the man and state the case
baldly: 'Sir, we have protection to sell, without which your knowledge is
worthless, or near it. Protection from ourselves and all others. Make
treaty with us; allot to us, jointly, some share, which you shall name
yourself, and we will deal justly by you. So shall you avoid delay. You
may avoid some risk. _Quien sabe?_ If you refuse we shall truly endeavor
to be interestin'; and you may get nothing.' That's what I would say."

"A share, to be named by Johnson and then be divided between ten? Well, I
guess not!" declared Zurich. "To begin with, we'll find a way to stop Kid
Mitchell from any Eastern trip. Capital is shy; I'm not much afraid of
what Johnson can do. But this boy has the inside track."

"With my usual astuteness," remarked Something Dewing, "I had divined as
much. And there is another string to our bow if we make a complete
failure of this mine business--as would seem to be promised by the