away. As a matter of fact, he said enough to be suspicious. Since he was
delirious, he probably didn't know you were there, and it might be
prudent not to let him know. It's possible he thought Father Lucien knew
too much, and saw his opportunity of getting rid of him."

Thirlwell started. "It is possible! I'm glad I told you about my watch
at the shack. I didn't at first; the things I suspected looked
ridiculous."

"In future you had better tell me all you can. My opinion is, that you
have undertaken a very tough job. For all that, I'm getting curious
about the lode, and would rather like to have a stake in the venture, if
Miss Strange agrees when she comes up."

"She won't agree unless she finds the ore. Then, of course, she'd need
help and money."

"Very well," said Scott, and they talked about something else.

For some weeks they said nothing more about the silver vein. Part of the
roof of the main heading in the mine came down, and they had afterwards
to contend with a dangerous flow of water. Extra timbering was needed
and the men risked their lives as they wedged the props under the
cracking beams, while now and then they worked for a shift with buckets
to help the clanging pump. Their clothes were always wet, and they were
generally smeared with mud when they came up to eat and sleep. The
miners grumbled, and Scott and Thirlwell felt the mental and physical
strain. They were highly strung and often irritable, while when they sat
by the stove when work was over they only talked about the difficulties
they had struggled with all day and others that must be met in the