“Yes; you have your bonanza here, Reade,” declared the physician.  “Almost any ambition that money will gratify will soon be yours.  From the very appearance of this newly-opened vein I don’t believe it is one that will give out in a hurry.”

“By the way, Doe,” called Ferrers, joining them, “here’s that nugget that you wouldn’t take when I offered it to you in Dugout.  You’ve made your visit, and now the nugget is yours.”

“I don’t want it,” smiled Dr. Scott.  “I want real money, in place of the nugget, and I’ll be content to wait for it.  The owners of this mine will be welcome to run up a very considerable bill with me.”

“Then can you stay a few days?” queried Tom eagerly.  “Until good old Harry is wholly out of danger.”

“Yes; I’ll stay a few days, if you wish it, Mr. Reade.”

Finally Jim had the presence of mind to pilot the physician to the cook shack.

Quietly enough the officers from Dugout had reentered camp.  With them they had borne one long, covered object—–­the remains of Dolph Gage, who had been shot and killed while resisting arrest.  Gage’s two remaining companions had been brought in, handcuffed.  These expert sheriff’s officers from Dugout had been able to find a trail, even on the hard-frozen snow crust, and had tracked the criminals directly to their cave.

Jim Ferrers went over to where the body of Gage lay on the snow.  Gently he turned down the cloth that covered the dead man’s face.  For a few moments Ferrers gazed at the still face; then, awkwardly, after hesitating, he lifted his hat from his head.

“That man killed your brother, Jim,” murmured Tom, stepping up to his Nevada partner.  “You had other reasons for hating him.  In the old days you would have run Dolph Gage down and killed him yourself.  In these newer days you have left Gage to the hands of the law.  It is a much better way, and you will never even have to wonder whether you have done any wrong.”

“The law’s way is always best, I reckon,” returned Jim Ferrers, slowly.

That same day, after the officers had gone with their men, Jim Ferrers, finding that the crust was holding, drove fresh horses to the doctor’s cutter.  The physician remained behind to take care of Harry Hazelton, but Jim went fast toward Dugout City.  He was armed with letters from Dr. Scott that told certain dealers in Dugout what unlimited credit the partners ought to have on account of their mine.

Before Harry was sitting up vehicles had been employed to bring to Ambition Mine considerable supplies of dynamite, food and all else that was needed, including half a dozen of the latest books for the amusement of the invalid engineer.

Everything went on swiftly now.  More miners, too, were brought over, while the hard crust lasted, and a score of carpenters.  Lumber camp also.  There was a constant procession of vehicles between Dugout and Ambition Mine.  Tom did not hesitate to avail himself of his sudden credit, for every day’s work showed that the vein was not giving out.  An ore dump was piling up that meant big returns when the ore could be hauled to the smelter.