ak in on the Miners' Meeting;
and then Slogger Meacham, a huge mountain of a man, came ambling down
the street. He slouched down on the store platform and leered about him
evilly, but Denver had retreated to his cave under the cliff and the
Slogger returned to the mine. Then they came down in a body, Chatwourth
and Meacham and all the jumpers; but though his mine was left open
Denver refrained from going near it, for their purpose was becoming very
plain. They were trying to inveigle him into openly opposing them, after
which they would have a pretext for resorting to actual violence. But
their plans went no further for he remained in retirement and the
Miners' Meeting adjourned. Soon the street was deserted, except for
their own numbers, and they returned to the mine with shrill whoops.

From his lookout above Denver watched them with a smile, for his nerve
had come back to him now. Now that Murray had made his strike, and
increased the value of the Silver Treasure by a thousand per cent over
night, Denver's mind had swung back like a needle to the pole to his
former belief in the prophecy. He had doubted it twice and renounced it
twice, but each time as if by an act of Providence he was rebuked for
his lack of faith. Now he _knew_ it was so--that the mine would be
restored and that only his dearest friend could kill him. So he smiled
almost pityingly at the loud-mouthed jumpers and went boldly down the
trail.

The hush of evening was in the air when he knocked at Bunker Hill's door
and after a look about Old Bunk went back into the house and brought out
a heavy pistol. It was an old-fashioned six-shooter of the Indian-tamer
type--a single action, wooden-handled forty-five--and Bunker fingered it
lovingly as he handed it over to Denver.

"For self-defense, understand," he said beneath his breath, "and look
out, that bunch is sure ranicky."

"Much obliged," responded Denver and tested the action before he slipped
the gun in its belt. He was starting for his cave, when from his cabin
up the street the Professor came out and beckoned him.

"What do you want?" called Denver; then, receiving no answer, he strode
impatiently up the street.

"Come in," urged the Professor touching his nose for secrecy, "come in,
I vant to show you some-t'ing."

"Well, show it to me here," answered Denver but the Professor drew him
inside the house.

"You look oudt vat you do," he warned mysteriously, "dem joompers are
liable to see