also turned his head, and he was surprised to see, standing not far away, a tall and powerfully-built Indian.  Where he had come from Reynolds had not the least idea, but there he was, clad in a soft buckskin suit, motionless, and heeding no one except the young girl sitting by Curly’s side.  His placid face relaxed a little, however, as Glen moved swiftly to where he was standing and spoke to him in a low voice.  The Indian merely nodded in reply, and without even glancing around upon the curious watchers in the room, he at once followed the girl as she passed out of the building through a side door which opened upon the street.

CHAPTER V

COMRADES OF THE TRAIL

There was no wild stampede to the Big Draw mining camp on Scupper Creek, where gold had been discovered.  There had been so many such reports in the past which proved but flurries, that many of the old-timers became sceptical, and waited for further developments.  There were some, however, who were always on the lookout for anything new, and the hope of making a strike induced them to hasten away at the least information of any discovery.  These drifted forth in little groups by the way of the river and mountain passes.  Among such there were always newcomers, men from the outside, as well as miners who had left the country years before.

It was with the latest arrivals that Reynolds made his way into Big Draw.  He was accustomed to life in the open, and his recent experience of camp life in France served him in good stead now.  He had just himself to look after, and, accordingly, he did not need a large outfit.  He also learned that provisions could be procured at the mining camp, where a store had been established.  He, therefore, took with him only what was absolutely necessary, such as a small tent, a few cooking utensils, a good rifle, and sufficient food to last him for several days.  A steamer would carry him part of the way, while the rest of the journey would be made overland on foot.

After her departure from the dance that night, Reynolds saw nothing more of Glen.  He found that she had left the hotel, but where she had gone he did not know.  He inquired of the clerk, and was answered with a curt “Don’t know.”  He wondered who the Indian could be.  There seemed to be a mutual understanding between him and the girl, at any rate, and they must have departed together.  During the remainder of his stay in town he had wandered about the streets, with the faint hope that he might again see the girl, or learn something as to her whereabouts.

Frontier Samson had also disappeared, and no one seemed to know anything about him.  Reynolds did not mind asking about the old prospector, as it was different from enquiring about Glen.  In fact, the girl had become so real to him and such a vital part of his very existence that should he speak of her to others he might betray his deep concern.