this time the success of the city
was assured, emigration continued, the mines showed no signs of
diminution, and the town soon aspired to the dignity of a city, despite
its remoteness from the river, the railroad and the telegraph. Exceeding
even California in the richness of its gold mines, Montana shows a
wonderful yield of silver, which is obtained with an ease which makes
mining a pleasurable and sure source of incalculable profit. In addition
to the precious metals, copper is also found in abundance, and forms an
important feature of the mineral wealth of this territory.

Montana is easily reached during the season of navigation by steamboats
on the Missouri river from St. Louis, from which point, without
obstruction or transshipment, the river is navigable to Fort Benton,
situated almost in the center of the territory, a distance of more than
twenty-five hundred miles. Here, too, there is a large and constant
supply of water, a matter of great difficulty and scarcity in other
mining districts. As the range of the Rocky Mountains in this vicinity
does not present that broken and rugged character which marks the other
ranges, the land is especially adapted for agricultural purposes, and
timber of all kinds abounds in sufficient quantities for all the
purposes of home consumption. Possessing these manifold and important
advantages, it is not strange that the country is not materially
dependent upon the railroads for its growth and present development.

These facts Manning gleaned in a conversation with the proprietor of the
hotel, while he was making his preparations to commence his search for
the man whose crime had led him such a long chase, and whose detection
now seemed hopefully imminent.

CHAPTER XXII.

In Helena--A Fruitless Quest--Jerry Taylor's Bagnio--Reliable
Tidings--A Midnight Ride--Arrival at Butte City.

After obtaining much valuable information with reference to the various
localities of the city, from the landlord of the hotel, Manning sallied
forth upon his quest. With untiring energy he prosecuted his inquiries,
only to meet with repeated disappointments and rebuffs; all day long he
labored assiduously, visiting a hundred brothels, saloons and hotels,
and yet without discovering a trace of Duncan or his white-faced
quadruped. Could it be possible that the honest-faced miner had played
him false, and designedly thrown him off the scent? Might not the
saloon-keeper at Bozeman have given