investigation into the priority of the mineral's discovery might
invalidate the entry. Once more Birt was tortured by the terror of
arrest--he might yet suffer a prosecution from malignity, which had
hitherto been withheld from policy. If only the mystery of the lost
grant could be solved!

The conversation of the elders had returned to the subject of the
investigations around the "lick" and the terms for Birt's services.
As so much time had been consumed with the pyrites, the professor
concluded with some vexation that they could hardly arrange all the
preliminaries and get to work this afternoon.

"I dare say we had best begin to-morrow morning," he said at last.

"Birt can't go a-diggin' no-ways, this evenin'," put in the
officious Rufe, who stood, according to his wont, listening with his
mouth and eyes wide open, "'kase ez I kem home by the tanyard Jube
Perkins hollered ter me ter tell Birt ter come thar right quick. I
furgot it till this minit," he added, with a shade of embarrassment
that might pass for apology.

Birt felt a prophetic thrill. This summons promised developments of
importance. Only a few hours ago he was discharged under suspicion
of dishonesty; why this sudden recall? He did not know whether hope
or fear was paramount. He trembled with eager expectancy. He
seized his hat, and strode out of the house without waiting to hear
more of the professor's plans or the details of the wages.

He had reached the fence before he discovered Tennessee close at his
heels. He cast his troubled eyes down upon her, and met her