ut crowning a high
eminence in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Ben Stanton, whom he addressed, was a boy of sixteen, with a pleasant
face and a manly bearing.

"No, Jake," he answered with a smile, "I didn't meet a newsboy."

"There ain't many in this neighborhood, I reckon," said Bradley. "I tell
you, Ben, I'd give an ounce of dust for a New York or Boston paper. Who
knows what may have happened since we've been confined here in this
lonely mountain-hut? Uncle Sam may have gone to war, for aught we know.
P'r'haps the British may be bombarding New York this moment."

"I guess not," said Ben, smiling.

"I don't think it likely myself," said Bradley, filling his pipe.
"Still, there may be some astonishin' news if we could only get hold of
it."

"I don't think we can complain, Jake," said Ben, turning to a pleasanter
subject. "We've made considerable money out of Mr. Dewey's claim."

"That's so. The three weeks we've spent here haven't been thrown away,
by a long chalk. We shall be pretty well paid for accommodatin' Dick
Dewey by stayin' and takin' care of him."

"How much gold-dust do you think we're got, Mr. Bradley?"

"What!" exclaimed Bradley, taking the pipe from his mouth; "hadn't you
better call me the Honorable Mr. Bradley, and done with it? Don't you
feel acquainted with me yet, that you put the handle on to my name?"

"Excuse me, Jake," said Ben; "that's what I meant to say, but I was
thinking of Mr. Dewey and that's how I happened to call you Mister."

"That's a different matter. Dick's got a kind of dignity, so that it
seems natural to call him Mister; but as for me, I'm Jake Bradley, not a
bad sort of fellow, but I don't wear store-clo'es, and I'd rather be
called Jake by them as know me well."

"All right, Jake; but you haven't answered my question."

"What about?"

"The gold-dust."

"Oh yes. Well, I should say that the dust we've got out must be worth
nigh on to five hundred dollars."

"So much as that?" asked Ben, his eyes sparkling.

"Yes, all of that. That claim of Dewey's is a splendid one, and no
mistake. I think we ought to pay him a commission for allowing us to
work it."

"I think so too, Jake."

They were sitting outside the rude hut which had been roughly put
together on the summit of the mountain. The door was open, and what they
said could be heard by the occupant, who was stretched on a hard pallet
in one corner of the cabin.

"Come in, you two," he called ou