ves, and bright visions danced before their eyes. There were
others who were not so easily persuaded, of whom was the aged,
wrinkled, and gray-haired chief of the band. He wished to know more,
and asked for some token to show that the white man was telling the
truth.

Pritchen was prepared for this, and at once brought forth a fair-sized
poke of gold and held it up in his hand.

"Look," he said. "Much gold; the White Chief's gold. With this I will
buy the presents in yonder store."

The various "ah, ah's" which passed from one to another revealed the
effect his words produced. But still the old man was not convinced.
Any miner might have that much gold, he told him. What else could he
show?

Pritchen did not expect this, and felt somewhat confused. He fumbled
in his pockets for some trinket to appease the suspicious chief. He
was about to abandon the search when his hand struck a note book, in a
pocket he had overlooked, on the inside of his rough jacket. He
quickly drew it forth, and from its pages produced a small photograph.
That it was the face of a young man, handsome and fair, did not
signify. It would serve his purpose, Pritchen felt sure of that.

"See," he said, holding it in his hand. "The white chief sends his
picture to the chief of the Takudhs."

This was enough. All doubt was at once removed, and as the old man
stretched out a scrawny hand for the treasure, a smile of triumph
passed over Pritchen's hard face.

"I caught the rascal at last," he said to himself as he left the lodge.
"It was mighty lucky for me that I had that photo. I had forgotten all
about it. But I must get it back some way or else there may be
trouble."

At the appointed hour of six the simple-minded Indians emerged from
their various lodges and filed silently toward Perdue's store. Here
they squatted on the floor, with their backs to the wall, awaiting
proceedings.

A number of miners entered and stood or sat chatting with one another,
apparently unconscious of the dusky figures in their midst. At length
Pritchen arrived, and after conversing for a while in a low tone with
Perdue he turned to the Indians. He told them again, through the same
interpreter, of the great chief's love for them, and his interest in
their welfare. He lengthened his speech as much as possible before
distributing the presents. These were cheap articles he had purchased
from the store during the day; bright pieces of cloth for the w