"Curse you," cried Judson, "I'll kill you yet." Several times he threw
stones at the animal, and twice he fell, bruising himself among the
loose rocks. At last he sat down.

"'"What is the matter with you," shouted Stevens. "What are you running
about and shouting in that way for?"

"'"That confounded dog of mine," answered Judson unthinkingly.

"'"Nonsense, man, there isn't any dog."

"'Judson walked slowly back to camp followed closely by the dog. The men
looked at him strangely. That night when he went to sleep the brute
came and lay down beside him. A horrid fear took possession of him and
he pushed the thing away, but it immediately crawled back again. At last
he arose and spent the rest of the night walking up and down the desert,
the dog following close at his heels.

"'When they arrived in Phoenix the doctor advised Judson to go to a
quiet place and rest, and gave him an opiate.'

"'Why don't he go back and get the gold?' asked the Eastern man.

"'Because as I have told you whenever he starts to go back the dog meets
him on the desert, and he is only free from it when he stays in
Phoenix. He says the dog is his old partner, and will never let him go
back there again. That is why he is willing to sell his secret.'

"'But how do you know if we pay him this money,' asked the Eastern man,
'that we can find the gold?'

"'Why, his map and directions together with the photographs ought to
make it sure. Anyway, I am putting up $250 of my money with your $350,
and run as much risk as you do; besides, you never would have known
about it if it hadn't been for me.'

"'Won't he take less than $600?' asked the Eastern man.

"'Not a cent; I have tried him too often. If I had $600 of my own I
never would ask any one to go in with me. It's a snap.'

"We found Judson seated in a big armchair, smoking a meerschaum pipe.
His eyes had a peculiar wild expression, and he glared at us as we
entered.

"'What do you people want?' he asked.

"'We have come to buy your claim,' said the Prospector.

"Judson laughed a strange, hard laugh.

"'Always the same--gold, gold, gold. Have you the money with you to pay
for it?' he asked.

"The Prospector produced a bag of twenty-dollar gold pieces and shook
it. 'Here it is,' he said, 'this gentleman and myself have made up the
amount--$600.'

"'Well,' shouted Judson, 'give me the money and take the cursed claim,
buried gold and all, and much good may it do you! I will go away--f