alking. But what did Antonio say about my
old 'Forty-niner'?"

"That much went with that old man besides his boots."

"Of course. The feet that were in them, I suppose. Silly Wolfgang, to
be so impressed by a sillier Antonio. The boys say his Spanish maxims
have little sense in them. That proves it."

"This deed of yours. He said: 'Where Ephraim, the wicked, goes, goes
their deed to the land.' And more."

"What more? The cruel, cruel man!"

"That it mattered not already. He would come back, the master. It was
his, had always been. My friend--your father--well, it was not we who
listened. Nor for once would Elsa make the cup of coffee she was asked.
Not a morsel got he here, save that the little boy ran after him and gave
him his own bit swiebach lest he faint by the way. And that was the last
word of Antonio Bernal."

Jessica's laughter was past. On her face there was a trouble it grieved
her old friend to see, and he hastened to comfort her.

"If one goes, some are left already. Come now to one whose eyes will
be cured by a sight of your pretty face."

"To Ephraim?"

"Even so."

He took her hand to lead her, like the tender babe he still considered
her, and they passed behind the cabin, toward the rickety shaft leading
into the mine. At its very mouth stood old Stiffleg, and in her delight
the girl gave him, too, one of her abounding hugs, which called a comment
from the miner.

"Beasts or humans, all one to your lips. Well, no matter. It's nature.
Some are made that foolish way. As for me--old horses----"

"Wolfgang Winkler, shame! Now, sir, you'll wait till you ask before I
kiss you again!"

"Then I ask right quick. Now! Eh? No? Well, before you go then, to
prove you bear no malice; and because I'll show you a new vein I didn't
show Antonio. Ach! He'll mine his own coal when once he comes--'the
master'--as he said! And so I think, though I know not, will all the
others say. Sobrante will not be Sobrante with us all gone. So?"

"You'll not be gone. It is my mother's."

"He is big and strong. He can plot evil, I believe."

Wolfgang spoke as if he were disclosing a mystery and not a fact well
known to all who really knew the Senor Bernal.

"I will be stronger. He shall not hurt my mother. I will fight the world
for her and for my brother!"

The miner had been arranging the rope upon the windlass and now held the
rude little car steady with his foot.

"Step in."

"Is he below? Down in the mine?