l
and watchful as usual. Shefford told the Indian they would be climbing
out soon, and then he sat down to wait and let his gaze rove over the
valley.

He might have sat there a long while, so sad and reflective and
wondering was his thought, but it seemed a very short time till Fay came
in sight with her free, swift grace, and Lassiter and Jane some distance
behind. Jane carried a small bundle and Lassiter had a sack over his
shoulder that appeared no inconsiderable burden.

"Them beans shore is heavy," he drawled, as he deposited the sack upon
the ground.

Shefford curiously took hold of the sack and was amazed to find that a
second and hard muscular effort was required to lift it.

"Beans?" he queried.

"Shore," replied Lassiter.

"That's the heaviest sack of beans I ever saw. Why--it's not possible
it can be.... Lassiter, we've a long, rough trail. We've got to pack
light--"

"Wal, I ain't a-goin' to leave this here sack behind. Reckon I've been
all of twelve years in fillin' it," he declared, mildly.

Shefford could only stare at him.

"Fay may need them beans," went on Lassiter.

"Why?"

"Because they're gold."

"Gold!" ejaculated Shefford.

"Shore. An' they represent some work. Twelve years of diggin' an'
washin'!"

Shefford laughed constrainedly. "Well, Lassiter, that alters the case
considerably. A sack of gold nuggets or grains, or beans, as you call
them, certainly must not be left behind.... Come, now, we'll tackle this
climbing job."

He called up to the Indian and, grasping the rope, began to walk up the
first slant, and then by dint of hand-over-hand effort and climbing
with knees and feet he succeeded, with Nas Ta Bega's help, in making the
ledge. Then he let down the rope to haul up the sack and bundle. That
done, he directed Fay to fasten the noose round her as he had fixed it
before. When she had complied he called to her to hold herself out from
the wall while he and Nas Ta Bega hauled her up.

"Hold the rope tight," replied Fay, "I'll walk up."

And to Shefford's amaze and admiration, she virtually walked up that
almost perpendicular wall by slipping her hands along the rope and
stepping as she pulled herself up. There, if never before, he saw the
fruit of her years of experience on steep slopes. Only such experience
could have made the feat possible.

Jane had to be hauled up, and the task was a painful one for her.
Lassiter's turn came then, and he showed more strength an