Now, we see these two successful men standing and gazing at the result of their joint labors, each financially happy; each growing rich as the day rolls away.

The miners are in a prosperous condition, and everything moves off with that ease and order that speaks of shrewd management and constant attention to business.

The gold taken from the shaft is much finer than that extracted from the quartz.

The quartz yielded about eighteen dollars to the ton, which the “General” declared to be as well as “a feller c’u’d expect, considerin’ things, more or less!”

Therefore, it will be seen by those who have any knowledge whatever of gold mining that, after paying off the expenses, our friends were not doing so badly, after all.

“Yes, yes!” the “General” was remarking, as he gazed at the string of mules that alternately issued from and re-entered the fissure on the opposite side of the valley; “yes, yes, boyee, things ar’ workin’ as I like ter see ’em at last.  The shaft’ll more’n pay expenses if she holds her head ‘bove water, as I opine she will, an’ w’at ar’ squeezed out uv the quartz ar’ cleer ’intment fer us.”

“True; the shaft is more than paying off the hands,” replied Redburn, seating himself upon a bowlder, and staring vacantly at the dense column of smoke ejected from the smoke-stack in the roof of the crusher building.

“I was looking up accounts last evening, and after deducting what you paid for the machinery, and what wages are due the Utes, we have about a thousand dollars clear of all, to be divided between three of us.”

“Exactly.  Now, that’s w’at I call fair to middling.  Of course thar’ll be more or less expense, heerafter, but et’ll be a consider’ble less o’ more than more o’ less.  Another munth’ll tell a larger finanshell tale, I opine”

“Right again, unless something happens more than we think for now.  If we get through another month, however, without being nosed out, why we may consider ourselves all-fired lucky.”

“Jes’ so!  Jes’ so! but we’ll hev ter take our chances.  One natteral advantage, we kin shute ’em as fast as they come—­”

“Ho!” Redburn interrupted, suddenly, leaping to his feet; “they say the devil’s couriers are ever around when you are talking of them.  Look! invaders already.”

He pointed toward the east, where the passage led out of the valley into the gorge beyond.

Out of this passage two persons on horseback had just issued, and now they came to a halt, evidently surprised at the scene which lay spread out before them.

No sooner did the “General” clap his eyes on the pair than he uttered a cry of astonishment, mingled with joy.

“It’s thet scarlet chap, Fearless Frank!” he announced, hopping about like a pig on a hot griddle “w’at I war tellin’ ye about; the same cuss w’at desarted Charity Joe’s train, ter look fer sum critter w’at war screechin’ fer help.  I went wi’ the lad fer a ways, but my jackass harpened to be more or less indispositioned—­consider’bly more o’ less than less o’ more—­an’ so I made up my mind not ter continny his route.  Ther last I see’d o’ the lad he disappeared over sum kind o’ a precypice, an’ calkylatin’ as how he war done fer, I rej’ined Charity Joseph, ar’ kim on.”