no, sir."

"Oh, pray don't mention that," exclaimed Ernest Wilton, pained at the
interpretation put upon his reticence in accepting the offer of the
position made him. "Nothing was further from my thoughts. I am too
well acquainted with the open-handedness of the mining fraternity in the
Golden State and elsewhere to dream of haggling about terms as to the
payment of my poor services."

"What, then?" said Seth. "We don't want to bind you down to any fixed
sort o' 'greement, if yu'd rather not."

"I was only considering," replied Ernest, vexed at his own hesitancy,
"whether I could fairly give up the party with whom I started from
Oregon, as I was under a species of engagement, as it were, although
there was no absolutely signed and sealed undertaking. It wouldn't be
right, I think, to leave them altogether without notice."

"Nary mind the half-hearted lot," said Noah Webster, at this juncture
putting his spoke in the wheel. "Didn't they leave yer out alone in the
mountains? I wouldn't give a red cent for sich pardners, I guess, boss.
Raal mean skunks I calls 'em, and no mistake, sirree!"

"But I promised to stay with these fellows till we got over to the
settlements on this side," said Ernest Wilton, smiling at Noah's
characteristic vehemence against those half-hearted companions of his
who had held back while he had gone forward by himself, "and I like to
keep my word when I can, you know--at all events I ought to send and let
them know where I am."

"We sha'n't quarrel about that," said Mr Rawlings kindly, to put the
other at his ease, for some of the rough miners did not appear to like
the Englishman's hanging back from jumping at their leader's offer.--"A
man who is so anxious to keep his word, even with people who left him in
the lurch, will be all the more likely to act straightforwardly towards
us. Don't, however, let that fret you, for you will be able to
communicate as easily with your friends, and more so, by stopping here
with us, as by going on to the nearest frontier township. As soon as
the snow has melted, and the roads become passable again, there will be
plentiful supply of half-breeds, like Moose there, and other gentry with
nothing particular to do, come hanging round us, who will gladly carry
any message or letter for you across the hills--for a leetle
consideration, of course!" added Mr Rawlings, with his bluff, hearty
laugh.

"Ay, that there'll be," said Seth Allport. "Don't you tr