y
will watch their ore sheds a little closer and leave it to us to make
the first move in the imagined blackmailing scheme--all of which will
give us more time."

"That's all right; but we can't bet on the 'hang on,'" was Gifford's
demurrer. "They may think they've got the straight of it now, but
there's no law against their changing their minds mighty suddenly.
Suppose Everton shows up his bit of a sample, and they both take a
second whirl at the thing and pull down a guess that it isn't stolen
Lawrenceburg ore, after all? We've got to improve upon this
pick-a-back ore shipment of ours, some way, and do it mighty quick."

This was the biting fact; we all accepted it as our most pressing need
and fell to discussing ways and means. There was already a full
wagon-load of the sacked ore hidden under the sleeping-shack, and at
the rate the lode was widening we could confidently figure on getting
out as much more every second day, or oftener. There was a good wagon
road to town from the Lawrenceburg plant, but of course we dared not
use it so long as we were making any attempt to maintain secrecy. The
alternative was a long haul down our own gulch, around the end of the
spur, and across the slope of the mountain-side below. Even this, the
only other practicable route, would be in plain sight from the
Lawrenceburg workings, once the team should pass out upon the bare
lower hillside.

Moreover, we were obliged to consider the risk involved in taking at
least one other man--the driver of the team--into our confidence.
Since the hauling would have to be done in the night, an honest man
would suspect crookedness, and the other kind would blackmail us to a
finish. Gifford spoke of this, saying that it was a choice between the
devil and the deep blue sea.

None the less, we were all agreed that the wagon-hiring hazard would
have to be taken, and at the close of the talk Barrett went to town to
make the arrangement. It was after dark when he returned. His mission
had been miraculously successful: he had not only found a trustworthy
teamster who was willing, for a good, round sum, to risk his horses on
the mountain at night; he had also interviewed the superintendent of
the sampling works and concluded a deal by the terms of which the
company--as a personal favor to Barrett--agreed to treat a limited
quantity of our highest-grade ore in wagon-load lots, making cash
settlements therefor.

It lacked only an hour of midn