The shack was built of pine logs, notched where they crossed at the corners, and the seams were caulked with clay and moss.  A big stove, now empty, stood at one end, its pipe running obliquely across the room before it pierced the iron roof, so as to radiate as much heat as possible.  Plans, drawing instruments, and some books on mining, occupied a shelf on the wall; guns, fishing rods, and surveying tools a corner, and a plain, uncovered table the middle of the room.  Besides this, there were two or three cheap folding chairs.

The door and window were open, although the mosquitoes were numerous, and the roar of the Shadow River and a smell of wood smoke came in.  When he looked out, Thirlwell could see the ragged tops of the stunted pines cut against a pale-green glow.  By and by Scott knocked out his pipe and stretched his legs.  There was another partner, but he only visited the mine at intervals and had left it while Thirlwell was away.

“Brinsmead has gone to Nevada and probably won’t come back,” Scott remarked.  “He has a plausible manner, but seems to have done no better in New York than you did in Montreal; it looks as if machinery agents are very shy about giving credit to the owners of half-developed mines.  Anyhow, when he heard of a field for his talents in a Western town he didn’t hesitate.  Now he tells me that he finds the prospect of earning some money instead of spending it a refreshing change.”

“It’s lucky he didn’t take his capital out of the Clermont,” Thirlwell replied.

Scott laughed.  “He couldn’t take it out.  Nobody would buy his share, and my fortune’s represented by a shaft in danger of flooding and some cheap and antiquated boring plant.  In fact, if we don’t strike pay-dirt soon, the Clermont will go broke, and I imagine that’s why Brinsmead skipped.  After floating one or two small mines successfully, he has some reputation to lose, while I’m, of course, not an engineer or a business man.”  He paused and looked hard at Thirlwell.  “I’d like you to stay and see me through, but wouldn’t blame you if you quit.”

“My reputation is not worth much and can be risked.  Besides, I imagine we’ll get down to the deep vein before the funds run out.”

“I hope so!  You’re not a quitter, and we’ll hold on while we can, but I think we’ll talk about something else.  Well, I’ve examined the specimen of ore you brought back.  It looks like high-grade stuff and certainly carries enough metal to pay for smelting.”

“What do you think about Strange’s tale?”

Scott knitted his brows.  “I did think the man a drunken crank and the lode an illusion that had grown on him by degrees until he really believed in the ore.  When you get the tanking habit such things happen.  One specimen certainly doesn’t prove very much; but since Strange gave it to his daughter a long time before we knew him, I’m willing to revise my judgment.”

“Miss Strange is persuaded that he did find the lode.  She tells me he led a very industrious and sober life at home.”