The men stared at the speaker, and there was a murmur, almost of doubt, and wonder.  They knew what that promise meant, and it implied the opening of mines and mills, a market for all they could raise on the spot, and the quadrupling in value of every ranch.  Alton sat quietly imperturbable at the head of the table.

“And you believe the thing’s going to be?” said somebody.

“I think,” said Alton quietly, “I have just told you so.”

There was another murmur, of strong and patient men’s unexpressed exultation, and Seaforth noticed that they had accepted his comrade’s statement, without further question, implicitly.  They were in some respects simple, and the complex life of the cities was unknown to most of them, but they had seen human nature stripped of its veneer in the bush and understood it well.  It was a delicate compliment they had paid Alton, and the little flush in his face showed that he realized it.

“It’s great news,” said somebody.

Alton nodded.  “Yes,” he said.  “Now I can’t tell you exactly why I know this thing will come, and you wouldn’t be any worse off if I were wrong.  Further, you see I might have gone ahead and brought you up without speaking a word to you.”

A man got up from a barrel.  “No, sir,” he said.  “I’m not going to disturb this meeting, but that’s just what you couldn’t do.  It wouldn’t be like Somasco Harry.”

There was grave applause, but the glint in the steady eyes was pleasant to see, and Seaforth felt a curious thrill as he glanced at his partner.  Alton, however, proceeded quietly.

“I needn’t tell you what it means,” he said.  “It may mean anything, including a wooden city.  You know it as well as I do, but I’m going to tell you this.  Unless you hold tight to your own, and do a little for yourselves, when the good time comes you’ll be left out in the cold.  There’s a man who sees this better than you or I feeling for a grip on the Somasco valley, and there’ll be very little left for the rest of us if he gets it.”

“Hallam of the Tyee,” a growl ran down the table.

Alton nodded.  “Yes,” said he.  “Now you have seen poor men frozen out of their ranches and claims by men with money in other parts of this country as well as across the frontier, and there’s usually only one end to the battle when the man without the dollars kicks against the man with plenty.  Stay right where you are with mortgages held open, timber rights that are lapsing because you’ve done nothing, and undeveloped mineral claims, and the man who sits scheming while you’re resting will squeeze you out one by one.”