“I’ll attend to that,” said McNamara.

Struve resumed: 

“Yes, gentlemen, I’ve been working pretty hard and also pretty much in the dark so far.  I’m groping for light.  When Miss Chester brought in the papers I got busy instanter.  I clouded the title to the richest placers in the region, but I’m blamed if I quite see the use of it.  We’d be thrown out of any court in the land if we took them to law.  What’s the game—­blackmail?”

“Humph!” ejaculated McNamara.  “What do you take me for?”

“Well, it does seem small for Alec McNamara, but I can’t see what else you’re up to.”

“Within a week I’ll be running every good mine in the Nome district.”

McNamara’s voice was calm but decisive, his glance keen and alert, while about him clung such a breath of power and confidence that it compelled belief even in the face of this astounding speech.

In spite of himself, Wilton Struve, lawyer, rake, and gentlemanly adventurer, felt his heart leap at what the other’s daring implied.  The proposition was utterly past belief, and yet, looking into the man’s purposeful eyes, he believed.

“That’s big—­awful big—­too big,” the younger man murmured.  “Why, man, it means you’ll handle fifty thousand dollars a day!”

Dunham shifted his feet in the silence and licked his dry lips.

“Of course it’s big, but Mr. McNamara’s the biggest man that ever came to Alaska,” he said.

“And I’ve got the biggest scheme that ever came north, backed by the biggest men in Washington,” continued the politician.  “Look here!” He displayed a type-written sheet bearing parallel lists of names and figures.  Struve gasped incredulously.

“Those are my stockholders and that is their share in the venture.  Oh, yes; we’re incorporated—­under the laws of Arizona—­secret, of course; it would never do for the names to get out.  I’m showing you this only because I want you to be satisfied who’s behind me.”

“Lord!  I’m satisfied,” said Struve, laughing nervously.  “Dunham was with you when you figured the scheme out and he met some of your friends in Washington and New York.  If he says it’s all right, that settles it.  But say, suppose anything went wrong with the company and it leaked out who those stockholders are?”

“There’s no danger.  I have the books where they will be burned at the first sign.  We’d have had our own land laws passed but for Sturtevant of Nevada, damn him.  He blocked us in the Senate.  However, my plan is this.”  He rapidly outlined his proposition to the listeners, while a light of admiration grew and shone in the reckless face of Struve.

“By heavens! you’re a wonder!” he cried, at the close, “and I’m with you body and soul.  It’s dangerous—­that’s why I like it.”

“Dangerous?” McNamara shrugged his shoulders.  “Bah!  Where is the danger?  We’ve got the law—­or rather, we are the law.  Now, let’s get to work.”