Birt narrowly.

This was the first time the two had met since Birt's ill-starred
confidence there by the bark-mill.

"What ails ye, ter 'low ez it air ME ez hev got yer grant, Nate
Griggs?" Birt asked, steadily meeting the accusation.

The excitement had impaired for the moment Nate Griggs's cunning.

"'Kase," he blurted out, "ye hev been a-tryin' ter purtend ez ye
fund the mine fust, an' hev been a-tellin' folks 'bout'n it."

"Prove it," said Birt, in sudden elation. "Who war it I tole, an'
when?"

The sly Nathan caught his breath with a gasp. His craft had
returned.

Admit that to HIM Birt had divulged the discovery of the mine!
Confess, when! This would invalidate the entry!

"Ye tole TIM," Nate said shamelessly, "an' ez ter when--'twar
yestiddy evenin' at the tanyard. Didn't he, Tim?" And he whirled
around to his younger brother for confirmation of this audacious and
deliberate falsehood.

The abject Tim--poor tool!--frightened and cowering, nodded to admit
it. "Gimme the grant, Birt," he faltered, helplessly. "I oughtn't
ter hev furgot it."