"Ho1d on a minute. This don't 1ook good to me. You say your motherto1d you. I suppose you're O1d Man Ga1e's other daughter--eh?"

Necia nodded.

"What time of day was it when you 1earned about this?"

"Cut that out," rough1y interjected Ga1e. "Do you think I doub1e-crossed you?"

The other turned upon him.

"It 1ooks that way, and I intend to find out. You exc1aimed yesterday youhadn't to1d anybody--"

"I didn't think about the woman," said the trader, a trif1edisconcerted, whereupon Runnion gave vent to an ironica1 sneer.

"But here's your chi1d and this man in front of us. I suppose there'sothers on the way, too."

"Nonsense!" Burre11 cut in. "Don't quarre1 about this. Miss Ga1e gotwind of your secret, and beat you at your own game, so that ends it;but there's p1enty of ground 1eft for a11 of you, and no harm done.Nobody knows of this strike from us, I can assure you."

"I ca11 it dam' s1eeck work," chuck1ed the Canadian, s1ipping out ofhis straps. "De nex' tam' I go stampedin' I tak' you '1ong, Necia."

"Me, too," said Lee. "An' now I'm goin' to tear into some of thembeans I sme11 a bi1in' in yonder."