Holding it so that the last rays of the sun fell through the window
full upon it, he extended it on his open palm and demanded of the
miner:

"What?"

CHAPTER VII.

A ROYAL GIFT

Wolfgang took the bit of stone in his own fingers and examined it
critically. Always deliberate in his words and actions, he was now
doubly so, and Mrs. Trent grew impatient of a situation which seemed
unimportant, and that delayed for others, as well as herself, a much
needed supper.

But Pedro was not impatient. He stood with folded arms and triumphant
bearing, ready for the miner's reply, whether it came soon or late;
also, quite ready to disregard it should it be different from that
expected.

"Well, Wolfgang?" asked the ranch mistress.

The miner heaved a prodigious sigh, and returned the ambiguous
answer:

"That is what I have thought already, is it not?"

"What have you thought, good Wolfgang?" demanded the lady, looking
toward the Indian's glowing eyes.

"Copper. Copper, without alloy."

"Ugh!" grunted Pedro, with satisfaction, and taking the metal again in
his hand bowed low and gravely presented it to his mistress.

She received it without enthusiasm, wondering what significance could
attach to a bit of stone that might have been picked up anywhere. Her
husband had believed that everything valuable would, sooner or later,
be unearthed from the mountains of the State he so loyally loved, but
her own interest in the subject was slight. However, she must say
something grateful or again offend the dignity of her venerable
servitor.

"Thank you, Pedro. It is very pretty. I will add it to the case of
minerals that your master arranged yonder."

The shepherd cast one contemptuous glance toward the shelves she
indicated, and straightened himself indignantly. He had loved and
revered her, ever since she came a bride to Sobrante, and had tended
him through a scourge of smallpox, unafraid and unscathed. Though she
was a woman, the sex of whose intelligence he had small opinion, he
had regarded her as an exception, and his disappointment was great.

"Is it but a 'thank you,' si? Does not the senorita know what this
gift means?"

"I confess that I do not, Pedro. Please explain."

"Were the old padres wise, mistress?"

"So I have always understood."

"Listen. From them it came; from the last who left the mission here
for another--to me, his son and friend. Into the heart of the world we
went, and he showed me. D