."

CHAPTER XIX

THE MINE--AND THE DEPARTURE

Larry Kildene went around behind the stall where he kept his own horse
and returned with a hollow tube of burnt clay about a foot long. Into
this he thrust a pine knot heavy with pitch, and, carrying a bunch of
matches in his hand, he led the way back of the fodder.

"I made these clay handles for my torches myself. They are my
invention, and I am quite proud of them. You can hold this burning
knot until it is quite consumed, and that's a convenience." He stooped
and crept under the fodder, and then Harry King saw why he kept more
there than his horse could eat, and never let the store run low. It
was to conceal the opening of a long, low passage that might at first
be taken for a natural cave under the projecting mass of rock above
them, which formed one side and part of the roof of the shed.
Quivering with excitement, although sad at heart, Harry King followed
his guide, who went rapidly forward, talking and explaining as he
went. Under his feet the way was rough and made frequent turns, and
for the most part seemed to climb upward.

"There you see it. I discovered a vein of ore back there at the place
we entered, and assayed it and found it rich, and see how I worked
it out! Here it seemed to end, and then I was still sane enough to
think I had enough gold for my life; I left the digging for a
while, and went to find my boy. I learned that he was living and had
gone into the army with his cousin, and I knew we would be of little
use to each other then, but reasoned that the time was to come when
the war would be over, and then he would have to find a place for
himself, and his father's gold would help. However it was--I saw I
must wait. Sit here a bit on this ledge, I want to tell you, but not
in self-justification, mind you, not that.

"I had been in India, and had had my fill of wars and fighting. I
had no mind to it. I went off and bought stores and seed, and
thought I would make more of my garden and not show myself again in
Leauvite until my boy was back. It was in my thought, if the lad
survived the army, to send for him and give him gold to hold his
head above--well--to start him in life, and let him know his
father,--but when I returned, the great madness came on me.

"I had built the shed and stabled my horse there, and purposely
located my cabin below. The trail up here from the plain is a blind
one, because of the wash from the hills at times,