ld. There's more
there than you'd think."

"But that's yours," said Abel.

"Nay, nay, my son; we'll put it all together. You've got some, and
there's a lot yonder outside when the soft weather comes and we can wash
it out; so that's settled. Wonder whether working in that hot damp
shaft'll give us rheumatiz by-and-by."

"I hope not, Bob," said Dallas, yawning. "I've often thought of
something of the kind. One thing is certain, that if we don't find much
more gold than we have got so far we shall have earned our fortunes."

"Fortunes!" cried Abel contemptuously; "why, at the rate we have been
going on, if we get enough to pay for our journey home, as well as for
our provisions, that will be about all."

"And except for the pleasant trip, my sons, we might as well have
stopped at home."

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

A STRANGE DISCOVERY.

Dallas stared the next morning when he opened his eyes, for the fire was
burning brightly and Abel was bustling about in the lit-up hut, with
nothing but a slight limp to tell of the old frost-bite in his foot.

"Come," he said cheerfully; "breakfast is nearly ready."

"Where's Bob Tregelly?" cried Dallas.

"Scraping the ice off the sledge to make it run easily. It's a glorious
morning."

"Night," said Dallas sourly, for he was half asleep. "I'm not going to
call it morning till there's daylight. Snowing?"

"No. Keen frost, and the stars are brilliant."

"Bother the stars!" grumbled Dallas, rolling out of his warm couch of
blankets and skins. "I want the sun to come back and take the raw edge
off all this chilly place. But I say, you have given up going with us
to-day--to-night, I mean?"

"Given up? No. I feel that it is time I made an effort, and I shall be
better and stronger if I do."

"But you can't wear your boots, you know, and it will not be safe for
you to trust to a bandaged sandal."

"Can't wear my boots?" said Abel. "Well, at any rate, I've got them
on."

"But they must hurt you horribly."

"Not in the least," said Abel, and his cousin was silent while he
completed his exceedingly simple toilet--one that he would not have
thought possible in the old days.

By the time he had finished, the door opened, and Tregelly stooped to
pass under the lintel.

"Morning, my son," he cried; "I've been greasing the runners of the
sledge a bit, and rubbing up the chest-strap. The thing wants using.
I've oiled the guns and six-shooters too. Beautiful m