"I said I was; I am more than an engineer, I am a mineralogist and a
geologist."

"Hold on, don't overcome a fellow out here in the mountains; if you are
a civil engineer that is enough for me. Hang your mineralogy and
geology; what I want is a man who can estimate. No doubt about the ledge
I've struck; the question is, how much will it cost to mine it; how much
is there of it? You see I've had some experience here in the mountains,
and sometimes we strike what is called a pocket; we might find gold for
a few feet one way and another, and then strike dead rock and no gold. I
ain't a mineralogist or geologist or a civil engineer, and I am afraid
my find won't amount to much, but it is worth investigation, and as you
are able to estimate we will make a start. To-morrow I will take you to
my ledge and then we will know whether we are millionaires or
tramps--eh? mountain tramps--but I am grateful for this food and coffee,
and now if you'll give me a little tobacco I'll be the most contented
man in the mountains, whether my mine turns out a hit or a misthrow."

So tobacco was produced; Brooks himself was an inveterate smoker, and
since being in the mountains Desmond had taken to the weed, and there
was promise that some day he might become an inveterate.

The three men had a jolly time, but in a quiet way. Creedon was a good
story teller; he had had many weird experiences in the mountains. He had
acted as guide to a great many parties, he had engaged in about fifty
fights with Indians during his residence in the great West, and had met
a great many very notable characters.

When the men concluded to lie down to sleep for the night they
extinguished their fire, and each man found a crevice into which he