men, who sat
half seen amidst the smoke watching them.

"That's the whole of us," said Seaforth, who noticed his comrade's
glance. "We can't get on."

"How long have you been here?" said Alton, with significant quietness.

"Two days. It's unfortunate you didn't come earlier, Harry, because we
could have got right through a week ago. Was it the leg that kept you?"

"No," said Alton, with a little mirthless laugh, "it wasn't the leg. I
should have come, but one can't always do two things at once, and I had
to choose. I've a good deal to tell you."

Seaforth glanced sharply at his comrade. "I fancied you had. You are
not the man I left at Vancouver, Harry. Well, you will be hungry, and
supper's almost ready."

It was several hours later, and the men in the bigger tent were fast
asleep, when Seaforth and Alton sat swathed in clammy blankets under a
little canvas shelter. The drip from the great branches above beat
upon it, and the red light of the snapping fire shone in upon the men.
Neither of them had spoken for some time, but at last Alton laid down
his pipe.

"This is a thing I wouldn't tell to any man if it could be helped, but
as you will hear it told the wrong way when you get back to the city,
you have got to know," he said. "I'd have been where I was wanted if
it hadn't happened, and now I can't help feeling I have given you and
the rest away. It hurts me, Charley, but what could I do? It would
have been worse to let two women suffer for my condemned folly."

Seaforth was in no mood for laughter, but his eyes twinkled faintly.
"Two of them? You have been getting on tolerably fast down there,
Harry."

Alton stopped him with a gesture. "My temper's not what it was a few
weeks ago," he said. "Now, you sit still and listen to me."

He had scarcely commenced his story when the smile died out of
Seaforth's eyes. He seemed to listen with breathless intentness, and
his voice shook a little as he said, "And you asked her to marry you.
Did you think for a moment that she would?"

Alton appeared to consider. "I didn't think at all," he said. "It
seemed the one thing I could do, and I did it."

"The city hasn't made much difference in you," said Seaforth, watching
his comrade intently. "It must have been a load off your mind when she
refused you?"

Alton straightened himself a little. "I don't like the way you put it,
Charley. Whoever gets Miss Townshead will have a treasure. The girl's
g