of the pressing horde behind.

What would be the temper of this gold-frenzied army if thrown into
quarantine within sight of their goal? The impatient hundreds
would have to lie packed in their floating prison, submitting to
the foul disease. Long they must lie thus, till a month should
have passed after the disappearance of the last symptom. If the
disease recurred sporadically, that might mean endless weeks of
maddening idleness. It might even be impossible to impose the
necessary restraint; there would be violence, perhaps mutiny.

The fear of the sickness was nothing to Dextry and Glenister, but
of their mine they thought with terror. What would happen in their
absence, where conditions were as unsettled as in this new land;
where titles were held only by physical possession of the
premises? During the long winter of their absence, ice had held
their treasure inviolate, but with the warming summer the jewel
they had fought for so wearily would lie naked and exposed to the
first comer. The Midas lay in the valley of the richest creek,
where men had schemed and fought and slain for the right to
inches. It was the fruit of cheerless, barren years of toil, and
if they could not guard it--they knew the result.

The girl interrupted their distressing reflections.

"Don't blame these men, sir," she begged the captain. "I am the
only one at fault. Oh! I HAD to get away. I have papers here that
must be delivered quickly." She laid a hand upon her bosom. "They
couldn't be trusted to the unsettled mail service. It's almost
life and death. And I assure you there is no need of putting me in