joining in, turned away with Keele and Blaney; but by the look in his
eye I knew he was playing 'Br'er Rabbit,' and lying low.

Mr. Craig just then came up, 'Hello, boys! too late for Punch and Judy,
but just in time for hot coffee and doughnuts.'

'Bon; dat's fuss rate,' said Baptiste heartily; 'where you keep him?'

'Up in the tent next the church there. The miners are all in.'

'Ah, dat so? Dat's bad news for the shantymen, heh, Sandy?' said the
little Frenchman dolefully.

'There was a clothes-basket full of doughnuts and a boiler of coffee
left as I passed just now,' said Craig encouragingly.

'Allons, mes garcons; vite! never say keel!' cried Baptiste excitedly,
stripping off the harness.

But Sandy would not leave the horses till they were carefully rubbed
down, blanketed, and fed, for he was entered for the four-horse race
and it behoved him to do his best to win. Besides, he scorned to hurry
himself for anything so unimportant as eating; that he considered hardly
worthy even of Baptiste. Mr. Craig managed to get a word with him before
he went off, and I saw Sandy solemnly and emphatically shake his head,
saying, 'Ah! we'll beat him this day,' and I gathered that he was added
to the vigilance committee.

Old man Nelson was busy with his own team. He turned slowly at Mr.
Craig's greeting, 'How is it, Nelson?' and it was with a very grave