paralytic. But Slinn's trembling fingers could scarcely unfold the
paper; and as his eyes fell upon its contents, his convulsive lips
could not articulate a word.

"P'raps I'd better read it for you," said Mulrady, gently. "You
kin follow me and stop me when I go wrong."

He took the paper, and, in dead silence, read as follows:--

"DEAR WIFE,--I've just struck gold in my tunnel, and you must get
ready to come here with the children, at once. It was after six
months' hard work; and I'm so weak I . . . It's a fortune for us
all. We should be rich even if it were only a branch vein dipping
west towards the next tunnel, instead of dipping east, according to
my theory--"

"Stop!" said Slinn, in a voice that shook the room.

Mulrady looked up.

"It's wrong, ain't it?" he asked, anxiously; "it should be EAST
towards the next tunnel."

"No! IT'S RIGHT! I am wrong! We're all wrong!"

Slinn had risen to his feet, erect and inspired. "Don't you see,"
he almost screamed, with passionate vehemence, "it's MASTERS'
ABANDONED TUNNEL your shaft has struck? Not mine! It was Masters'
pick you found! I know it now!"