d cigar, placed a new one in his mouth,
and started for the door. "Come on," he added, "I'll identify you over
at the postoffice and show you where you sleep."

CHAPTER XIV

MOVING A SHACK

Less than a week had passed since Bostwick's arrival in Goldite, but
excitement was rife in the air. Despite the angered protests of half a
thousand mining men, the Easterner, with four of the shrewdest
prospectors in the State, had traversed the entire mineral region of
the reservation in the utmost security and assurance. Five hundred men
had been forced to remain at the border, at the points of official
guns. A few desperate adventurers had crept through the guard, but
nearly all were presently captured and ejected from the place, while
Bostwick--granted special privileges--was assuming this inside track.

The day for the opening of the lands was less than two weeks off--and
the news leaked out and spread like a wind that the "Laughing Water"
claim had suddenly promised amazing wealth as a placer where Van and
his partners were taking out the gold by the simplest, most primitive
of methods.

The rush for the region came like a stampede of cattle. An army of men
went swarming over the ridges and overran the country like a plague of
ants. They trooped across the border of the reservation, so close to
the "Laughing Water" claim, they staked out all the visible world,
above, below, and all about Van's property, they tore down each others'
monuments, including a number where Van had located new, protective
claims, and they builded a tent town over night, not a mile from his
first discovery.

At the claim in the cove the fortunate holders of a private treasury of
gold had lost no time. In the absence of better lumber, for which they
had no money, Van and his partners had torn down the shaft-house, made
it into sluices, and turned in the water from the stream. That was all
the plant required. They had then commenced to shovel the gravel into
the trough-like boxes, and the gold had begun to lodge behind the
riffles.

The cove became a theatre of curiosity, envy, and covetous longings.
Men came there by motor, on horses, mules, and on foot to take one
delirious look and rush madly about to improve what chances still
remained. The fame of it swept like prairie fire, far and wide. The
new-made town began at once to spread and encroach upon all who were
careless of their holdings. Lawlessness was rampant.

At the