his discovery would be plucked by other hands. There was to be no
division of the profits. Nate Griggs had coveted the whole. His
craft had secured it for himself alone. He had the legal title to
the land, the mine--all! There seemed absolutely no vulnerable
point in his scheme. With suddenly sharpened perceptions, Birt
realized that if he should now claim the discovery and the
consequent right of thirty days' notice of Nate's intention, by
virtue of the priority of entering land accorded by the statute to
the finder of a mine or valuable mineral, it would be considered a
groundless boast, actuated by envy and jealousy. He had told no one
but Nate of his discovery--and would not Nate now deny it!

However, one thing in the future was certain,--Nathan Griggs should
not escape altogether scathless. For a long time Birt sat
motionless, revolving vengeful purposes in his mind. Every moment
he grew more bitter, as he reflected upon his wrecked scheme, his
wonderful fatuity, and the double dealing of his chosen coadjutor.
But he would get even with Nate Griggs yet; he promised himself
that,--he would get even!

At last the falling darkness warned him home. When he rose his
limbs trembled, his head was in a whirl, and the familiar scene
swayed, strange and distorted, before him. He steadied himself
after a moment, finished the odd jobs he had left undone, and
presently was trudging homeward.

A heavy black cloud overhung the woods; an expectant stillness
brooded upon the sultry world; an angry storm was in the air. The
first vivid flash and simultaneous peal burst from the sky as he
reached the passage between the two rooms.