hem with his foot on the lower step.

But he heard them and their eager talk; and, pausing a bit, the more
completely to surprise them by an intended halloo, he forgot that and
all else save what they were saying.

"It was ten to one she was never found. 'Pears like a miracle to me,
that old Pedro was led to find that very cave just when he did. My
wife claims it was a miracle, same as used to be in Bible days, and
you can't talk her out of it. You know how women are," said one
ranchman, who had aided in the search for Jessica.

"Well, first and last, them Trents have done a heap for this section
of our 'native.' And they're square folks, every identical of them.
Even the little tacker, that boy Ned. There's more in his head than he
gets credit for, and one these days he'll show there is. He's a master
hand with a gun, baby as he is, and if he'd had one handy I wager he'd
have put some shot into the ugly carcass of that Ferd---- But he
hadn't the iron and he didn't," added another smoker.

"It was a prime spread Mis' Trent gave us. Must have took about all
the provisions she had in store, but nothing was too good for them
that helped her in her trouble. Or tried to help, same thing; since it
was her own man, Pedro, found the child. Away down in the bottom of a
pit in the depth of an unknown cave! Think of it, somebody! It just
makes my hair rise on end, known' there is such a fool and scoundrel
joined in one dwarf's body--Hello! hel--lo!"

The last speaker's words ended in a sort of screech of astonishment
and recognition, as a hard hand was laid upon his shoulder, and
Ephraim Marsh demanded, fiercely:

"What's that you say, neighbor?"

"Why, hello, Marsh! Where'd you drop from?" cried one, rising and
extending a hand in greeting.

"You're a sight to cure sick folks!" shouted another, pressing to
"Forty-niner's" side, and slapping the veteran's shoulder in high good
will.

But Ephraim had no feeling at present, save anxiety to know what their
discussion had meant; and, all talking, they laid a succinct history
of the last few days before him. He listened in increasing alarm and
amazement and his old limbs tottered beneath him, so that he called
out, hastily:

"Give me a seat, somebody, quick, before I fall. I--I--to think of my
little gell--my own sweet-faced, lovin' little gell----Oh, I can't
believe it! I can't and I won't. It's some plaguey Californy yarn'
you're passin' the time with. Atlantic! But you