They came nearer and, pressing back the lid, she shook out a few small stones.

“Specimens!” she said in a strained voice, holding out two or three to Thirlwell.  “Don’t you think they’re very like the piece I gave you?”

Thirlwell examined the stones and handed them to Scott, who nodded.

“This stuff and the specimen Thirlwell showed me came from the same vein.”

“There’s something else,” Agatha resumed, taking out a folded paper.  Her hand shook as she opened it and the tears gathered in her eyes.  Then she gave Thirlwell the paper.

“Will you read it for me?  I can’t see very well.”

The paper was spotted with mildew, torn at the bottom, and cut at the folds, but holding it carefully, he read—­

“The Agatha Mine; frontage on the lode staked by Gordon Strange.”

Compass bearings, calculated distances, and landmarks were given next, and then the writing stopped an inch or two from the bottom of the sheet.

“Your father found the lode,” Thirlwell said, very quietly.

Agatha looked up with a curious smile.  “Yes; I feel as if he had sent me this.  I have come into my inheritance and it is easier than I thought!” She paused and added:  “Once or twice I was afraid and nearly let it go.”

CHAPTER XXIV

AGATHA RESUMES HER JOURNEY

There was silence for a minute or two after Agatha had spoken, and then Father Lucien said, “Now we know what Driscoll looked for.  Few secrets can be kept.”

Thirlwell gave him a warning glance that Agatha did not note.  She was gazing across the river, her face towards the North, as if she had forgotten the others, but she presently roused herself.

“Can we start to-morrow?” she asked.

“No,” said Thirlwell firmly, “you must rest for two or three days, and there are a number of things to be got.”

“I don’t think I can rest until I have seen the lode.”

“You will have to try.  It may be some time yet before we find the spot.  For one thing, the directions aren’t complete.  You see they stop—­”

Agatha took the paper.  “Yes; I hadn’t noticed that.  It begins very clearly and then breaks off.  I wonder why.”

Thirlwell said nothing.  It looked as if Strange had been interrupted; the shakiness of the last few lines hinted that they had been written in haste.  There was a space between the last and the bottom of the paper.  Perhaps Driscoll had joined him and he had distrusted the man, who might have come into the camp while he was writing.  Then, when he afterwards sealed the box, he had forgotten that he had not finished what he meant to say; but, if the supposition were correct, this was not remarkable.  Strange might have taken some liquor with him.  But Agatha must not suspect.

“The paper states the claim was staked,” she resumed.  “So far as that goes, it makes the ore mine.  George must have a share, but I mean to work the lode.”