The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-12-23
CHAPTER XI.-CoSTINuED.

but Bowers found IL no easy task TO
retrace his steps. II was now very
dark, and as Rider had not dared TO
light a fire there was nothing 10 guide
his companion, who stumbled about as
best he could, not daring to shout for
fear he might alarm the party he had
just been watching. He became hope
lessly lost at last and was about TO give
up the search until daylight when he
heard horse stamping.
Confident there was no one but Rider
near him, he called softly, and to his in
tense delight the sailor answered from
a point not 20 yards away:
SIS that you, Bowers?"
Eyes" was the surly reply, as the big
miner reached his side, "and I've had n
nice time gittin' here, too. I'm starved"
'Shall l light fre?' asked Rider.
-'I've got it all ready, but was skit-
fish about lighting it till found out
what you had seen"
"You don't light no fire here, "growled
the other. "We've got ter put up with
cold grub tonight. We've been regular
done for, we haye!"
NHdlS the matter
Matter enuff! In the fust place, that
Tarbox chap we see start for Dyea has
met a party an turned back. One o.
Their men is named Avery"
"Averyl"
The mates teeth chartered as he
gasped:
"But saw him buried at seal"
4 A
in Their world! Didn't that letter say
somethin' bout a man named Bill that
was 10 come? Course ii did! Mebbe it's
the old chaps brother or cousin or
somethin'.
''Then there's two young chaps that
looked like sailors an young gal that
/ take ter be Ayery's darter by the way
she stayed round him. They've routed
out the chap as wrote the letter an
they've all gone into camp under big
cliff not more'n mile from where we're
sittin' this mint"
'"The young men must be Scott and
the second mate" said Rider, land
don't you see these papers are no good
TO us after all our trouble? We can't
do anything now but give the thing up
and make for the Klondike. We've got
good out"
"Make for nothin'i" was the savage
interruption. Then men hev got a
gold mine right round here somewheres
and I've as much right there as they
hev IL / can only find it. I'd like ter
see 'em drive me off. You can 60 to the
Klondike If yer like, but yer don't take
any o. this stuff with yer. SeeY'
Like most DULLES, obed Rider was
easily cowed by bigger bully than
himself. and he dared not make the re-
ply which came TO his lips. Instead he
said:
"But / can't join these men after talk
ing these papers from Scott. There'd
be trouble"
"I didn't say / was goin' to jine EN-.
Look here, Rider, are yer scared or not?
Here we are, two stout chaps with plen-
Nv OF grub an the horses. We knows
lest whar them fellers are now, an
they don't know whar we be. IL we
keeps our eyes open thar's sure ter be
n chance for business. VIII yer stick
ter me or not?"
Rider had little choice. He dared not
demand half the outfit his own money
had purchased, and was forced to sub
init, so with show of sincerity he ex-
claimed:
"Of course I'll stick, Bowersl"
GAIL right. Now, you keep watch the
fust half OF Their night an call me for
Their last. We've got ter be movin'
bright an early"
In five minutes the hardened rascal
was snoring, while Rider stood guard.
lie had no stomach for Bowers com
pany now, and would gladly have left
him, but the miner had gained such an
ascendancy over him that he dared not
attempt to leave him now that he was
asleep. He had meant 10 assault Tom
Scott and take his papers, but his Gu
,idity was inhamed, and he had been
drinking then. He was sober now, and
the evident intention OF his comrade to
attempt 10 bully or rob five armed men
was quite another matter. Still, there
was no help for IL. and he tried steel
his cowardly heart TO It's work,
Bowers relieved him at midnight, and
as soon as the frat streak Of daylight
could be seen he aroused the mate and
said;
I'm of again. Stay here and keep In
under this hill an much as you can till
get back"
Once moye he made his way TO tho
howldsr and took up his station. From