ay you go to sleep this morning before long."

"Not I. Impossible," said Abel, with a touch of contempt in his tone.

But Tregelly was the better judge of human nature, and before an hour
had passed away, weariness, the darkness, and the warmth of the fire had
combined to conquer, and Abel sank sidewise on the rough packing-case
which formed his easy chair, and slept soundly till the short daylight
had passed, and they were well on towards the evening of another day.

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

THE RED GLOW.

Weary month after month passed by, with the indefatigable adventurers
leading the life of labourers working in a terrible climate to win just
a bare existence from the soil.

"I would not care so much if we could feel safe," said Dallas; "but big
as the country is, that scoundrel seems to be always on our track."

"He do, he do, my son," said Tregelly. "He means paying us off."

"Well, we are doing no more now than when we started, while others are
making fortunes. Let's strike right up into the mountains, make a bold
stroke for fortune, and give that scoundrel the slip."

The start was made, the little party striking right away into one or
other of the lonely valleys running northward; but it was always the
same--the gold was no more plentiful, and again and again they had ample
proof that their enemy, who seemed to have a charmed life, was still
following them.

Constant disappointment had been their portion, and a general feeling of
being utterly worn out was dulling their efforts, when toward the close
of a dreary day Tregelly exclaimed:

"Look here, my sons; I think we've seen the end of that red-headed
ruffian at last."

"I wish I could think so," said Dallas.

"No," said Abel; "we shall see him again. I feel that he'll be the
death of us all."

"Bah! you're in the dumps again," said Tregelly. "I feel that we must
have completely given the scoundrel the slip by our last move. I'm not
one of your grumbling sort, am I?"

"No, Bob, no," said Dallas sadly. "I envy you the calm patience and
perseverance you possess."

The Cornishman laughed.

"Did possess, my son. I did have a lot, but it's all used up to the
last scrap, and I'm regularly done."

Abel looked at him in surprise, but Dallas seemed too dejected to notice
anything, and sat forward, haggard and staring, with his eyes fixed upon
their struggling fire.

"Well, don't you believe me?" said Tregelly.

"I always believe what