e--legs--of
'em. But--they--rode--hard, an'--"

His voice died down to a whistling gasp and his eyes closed. He was
sinking fast. Minky forced more brandy between his lips. And presently
the drooping eyelids widened, and a momentary strength lifted the
weakening body.

"They follered," he mumbled, "but--I--don't--know--how--many.
'Bout--three. Three--miles--back--I--I--lost--'em--"

His eyes were glazing and staring painfully. And as his last words
hovered on his lips they were drowned by the gurgling and rattling in
his throat. Suddenly a shudder passed through his frame. He started,
his eyes staring wildly.

"I'm--done!" he gasped. His arms shot up convulsively, his legs flung
out. And then all his weight dropped back on to the storekeeper's
supporting arm. The next moment his body seemed to heave as with a
deep, restful sigh, and his head lolled helplessly forward. He was
dead.

CHAPTER XXIII

A BATH AND--

Scipio started and looked up as a joyous greeting from the children
outside warned him of the approach of a visitor. He was rather glad of
the interruption, too. He found the Bible offered him such an enormous
field of research. It was worse than enormous; it was overwhelming.
The Bible was really more than he could study in the few minutes he
had allowed himself. As yet he had not found even one single mention
of the few subjects he still retained a vague recollection of.

As he glanced at the doorway it was darkened by a familiar figure.
Sunny Oak, as ragged, disreputable and unclean as usual, smiled
himself into the room.

"Howdy, Zip?" he greeted genially. "Guessed I'd git around, seem' it
was Sunday. Y'see, folks don't work any Sunday. I'd sure say it's a
real blessin' folks is 'lowed to rest one day in seven. Talkin' o'
work, I heerd tell you've took a pardner to your claim. Wild Bill's
smart. He ain't bluffed you any?"

The loafer seated himself in the other chair with an air of utter
weariness. He might just have finished a spell of the most arduous
labor, instead of having merely strolled across the dumps. Scipio
smiled faintly.

"He hasn't bluffed me any," he said gently. "Seems to me he wouldn't
bluff me. Yes, he's in on ha'f my claim. Y'see, he thinks ther's gold
in sight, an'--an' I know ther' ain't. That's what's troubling me. I
kind of feel mean some."

Sunny yawned luxuriously.

"Don't you worry any," he said easily. "Bill's mighty wide. If he's
come in on your claim he'