truth that I knew the wielders of the
steel must still be here, and in all likelihood were white men. Strong
in that faith I called aloud and you answered, but I did not dream that
one whom I knew long ago, and one, moreover, whom I knew to be honest
and true, was here. It is a lesson to us that hope should never be
wholly lost."

All were silent for a little space, feeling deeply the truth of the
man's words and manner, and then, when Brady finished his last elk steak
and his last cup of coffee, Boyd said:

"I think, Mr. Brady, that you've had a terrible time and that you need
sleep. You can roll in dry blankets in the corner there, and we'll
arrange your packs for you. Will reports that your animals have made
friends with ours, as you and we have surely made friends, and there's
nothing left for you now but to take a big sleep."

"That I'll surely do," said Brady, smiling a solemn smile, "but first
promise me one thing."

"What is that?"

"Don't call me Mr. Brady. It doesn't sound right coming from men of my
own age. To you I'm Steve, just as I am to our friend Thomas."

"All right, Steve, but into the blankets with you. Even a fur hunter can
catch pneumonia, if he's just bent on doing it."

Brady rolled himself in the blankets and soon slept. The hunter, the
Little Giant and Will drew to the other side of the cavern, and before a
word was spoken every one of the three was conscious of what was in the
minds of the others. Will was the first to speak.

"He's the man," he said.

"We shorely need him," said the Little Giant.

"I don't think we could do better," said Boyd.

"It's luck, big luck, that we found him or he found us," continued the
Little Giant. "When these solemn, prayin' men are real, they're real all
over. He's as brave as a lion, he'll hang on like a grizzly bear, an'
he's as honest as they ever make 'em. He's a fightin' man from start to
finish. From what you say thar must be more'n a million in that mine,
an' in huntin' fur it an' keepin' it after we find it, Steve Brady is
wuth at least a quarter o' a million to us."

"All of that," said the hunter. "But the mine really belongs to Will,
here, and it's for him to bring in a new partner."

"It belongs to us all now," said the lad, "though I'll admit I was the
original owner. I think Mr. Brady will just round out our band. I'm for
offering him a full partnership."

"Then you do the talkin'," said the Little Giant. "It's right that it
shou