e that he would reveal the place. 'Why don't you dig it
up naow, yourself?'

'I only found it a month ago, and I made a purty good haul of it, as
it was. When that old boss of mine went down with the steamer, he
carried a powerful heft of gold with him, and if anybody finds his
carcass, it'll be the most vallyable one they ever come across.'

'Jingo! if I'd know'd that, I'd taken a hunt for him myself.'

'Howsumever, that's neither yar nor thar. You both done me a good turn
when I got into trouble on the river, and I mud' up my mind to do what
I could toward payin' it back the first chance I got. I didn't say
nothin' of it when we was on our way, 'cause I was afeard it would
make you too crazy to go back ag'in: but if you'll come back this way
next spring I'll make the trip with you.'

'Why not go naow?' eagerly inquired Hopkins.

'It's too late in the season. I don't want to be thar when thar's too
much snow onto the ground, and then I must stay yar till I git well
over that whack I got on the boat.'

It is hardly necessary to say that the offer of the kind-hearted
trapper was accepted with the utmost enthusiasm. Mickey and Ethan were
more anxious to go out upon the prairies than they had been a year and
a half before, when they started so full of fife and hope for that
vast wilderness, and had come back with such discouragement and
disgust.

It was arranged that as soon as the succeeding spring had fairly set
in, they would set out on their return for St. Louis, where the
trapper would meet and accompany them to the wonderful gold region of
which he had spoken.

Before continuing their journey homeward, Baldy presented each with a
complete outfit, paid their passage to their homes, and gave them a
snug sum over. Like the Indian, he never could forget a kindness shown
him, nor do too great a favor to those who had so signally benefited
him.

So the separation took place again; and, on the following spring
Mickey and Ethan appeared in St. Louis, where they had no difficulty
in finding their old friend, the trapper.

He had recovered entirely from his prostrating blow, and was expecting
them, anxious and glad to join in the promised search for gold. As the
fair weather had really begun, there was no time lost in unnecessary
delay. The purse of Baldy Bicknell was deep, and he had not the common
habit of intoxication, which takes so much substance from a man. He
purchased a horse and accouterments for each of