ited horses to go where they would, and
pushed their way through to the group that seemed to be the center of
all this wild demonstration.

And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with joy, and old Dan Higgins,
holding a handful of precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad
themselves.

They kissed and hugged Meggy till she cried aloud for mercy. They kissed
and hugged old Dan, and he took it as though he had been used to being
made much of by pretty girls all his life.

Twenty years had fallen from the old man's age. No matter that he had
wasted the best part of his life in a vain hunt for gold. His dream had
been realized at last. There was a fortune in his grasp, and he felt
again the thrill that had coursed through his veins when, as a young
man, heart high with aspirations, he had started on his quest.

He was young again! Young! It seemed as though the sight of those golden
nuggets--his own--had renewed the fires of youth.

Nimbly he sprang upon an empty powder keg and addressed his frenzied
audience.

"Friends and fellow gold hunters," he yelled, and there was a roar of
appreciation. "They is a few words I'd like to say afore we go back to
wrestlin' some more gold outen them rocks. An' these is them. Ef I'm a
happy man to-day an' a rich one, then it's all due to these four young
gals here. They set me on the trail o' this new thing when I was purty
near tuckered out. You all knows 'em an' loves 'em. Now give 'em a
cheer. Hearty, now, hearty----"

Then arose such a roar that the Outdoor Girls' hearts swelled near to
bursting and they felt the tears sting their eyes. That moment would be
something to remember all their lives.

The roar gradually subsided and the miners wandered back to their own
operations again, followed by scattered groups of curious onlookers.
They worked with redoubled energy, with redoubled hope. Gold had been
found. More gold would be found. It was a thrilling, glorious race to
see who would be the next to announce good fortune.

Left to themselves, the girls crowded around Meggy, questioning her,
congratulating her, demanding to know how it had all happened and when.

"My--my mouth is so dry I can hardly speak," said Meggy, quivering with
nervous reaction. "I--I can't jest make up my mind that it has happened
yet."

"We know," said Betty, soothingly. "You needn't tell us about it if you
don't want to."

"But I do--I've got to!" cried Meggy tensely. "Why, it seems like a
dr