"The bank at San Francisco has an agent here," said Jim. "Colonel, won't
you fetch him?"

The colonel took a lively double-quick, and soon returned with a
business-looking man.

"Mr. Green," said Jim, "please tell me how much I have in your bank?"

The clerk looked over a small book he extracted from his pocket, and
replied, briefly:

"Over two thousand ounces."

"Please give these gentlemen a check, made whatever way they like it,
for the equivalent of thirty thousand dollars. I'll sign it," said Jim.

The clerk and one of the detectives retired to an adjacent hut, and soon
called Jim. Jim joined them, and immediately he and the officer returned
to the prisoner.

"It's all right, Maxley," said the officer; "let him go."

The officer removed the handcuffs, and Ethelbert Brown was free. His
first motion was to seize Jim's hand.

"Hockson, tell me why you helped those detectives," said he.

"Revenge!" replied Jim.