"Perhaps," said Jack, in low, musical tones, "you would be able to understand the situation better, did you know that your secret was told me by a friend of yours, who believed that, through my very isolation and loneliness, I could the better a.s.sist you."

"A friend of mine!" exclaimed Houston, in surprise, "Is it possible that my eastern friends are known to you, and that some one of them has written you?"

"No one has written me, the story was told me by a friend of yours here."

Instantly there flashed into Houston's mind the memory of Lyle's warning, and also of Miss Gladden's declaration that she had seen and talked with Jack, but how could his true position be known to either of them?

"I have but two friends here, at present," was his reply, "and they are women."

"True women are the truest friends," said Jack tersely.

"But how can either of them know anything regarding my work here?"

"I will tell you," and very briefly Jack gave Houston an account of how his plans had first become known to Lyle, and of her subsequent interview with himself, begging his a.s.sistance in Houston's behalf.

Houston was inexpressibly astonished and touched to find that the beautiful girl, whom he had considered friendless and helpless, and whom he had defended through a sense of chivalry, had, in return, served him so n.o.bly and so opportunely. He resolved to see her and express to her his appreciation of what she had done, as early as possible.

"I think," said Jack, in conclusion, "you will admit that by this means I have obtained a thorough understanding of what you wish to accomplish."

"You understand it perfectly," Houston answered.

"You will also admit that, after the years of experience that I have had in these particular mines, I must be thoroughly conversant with affairs in connection therewith, and could probably render you just the a.s.sistance you will need."

"Most certainly you could," responded Houston quickly, "I know of no one in the entire camp who could a.s.sist us so well as you."

"Then," said Jack, "the next and only consideration is, whether you have that degree of confidence in me, that you would feel warranted in trusting me implicitly,--"

"Enough said," said Houston, interrupting him hastily but cordially, "I have that confidence in you, that, even if you had not sought this interview, sooner or later, I would have come to you for a.s.sistance."

"Indeed!" exclaimed Jack, in surprise, "may I ask why?"

Houston hesitated a moment, and then replied:

"I believe, though we have met so recently, we may speak together as friends, or as brothers; you spoke a while ago of the faculty of perception; please credit me with possessing it in some degree myself, and while I do not wish to be personal or intrusive in my remarks, I am sure you will allow me to say, that if there is any degree of incongruity between my appearance and the position I hold, it certainly exists in a much greater degree in your own case. I, of course, know nothing of your past life; I wish to know nothing of it, except so far as you yourself would tell me, should you ever choose to do so, but this much I do know, and have known from the first, that you are vastly superior to your surroundings here. You claim,--and you are correct,--that I have had the advantages of excellent birth and breeding, of culture and wealth, but you are not one whit behind me in any of these things. Added to all this is the experience which you have acc.u.mulated in these late years, in this particular branch of work; surely it was not strange that I felt your acquaintance would be invaluable, could I but secure your friendship sufficiently for you to be interested in my plans."

The moon had risen, flooding the little room with a soft, pale light, but Jack was sitting in the shadow, and Houston could not see the effect produced by his words. He wondered a little that Jack made no response, and, after waiting in silence for a moment or two, continued:

"There is one other consideration which you have not mentioned, and which must not be omitted, and that is compensation."

A sudden movement on Jack's part caused Houston to pause for an instant, but nothing was said, and he proceeded:

"I could not think of asking you to share the difficulties and dangers of this work without abundant compensation. Mr. Cameron, my uncle, who is interested--"

"Stop!" said Jack, putting up one hand as if to ward off a blow; his voice was hoa.r.s.e, almost stern, and vibrated with some strange, deep emotion; "If you ever speak to me again of compensation, I will utterly refuse to help you in any way."

"I beg your pardon," said Houston, in a low, gentle tone, "I intended no offense, and I shall certainly respect your wishes."

"There was no offense," replied Jack, more calmly, "but you spoke a few moments since of friendship; that word, to a man living the life I have lived, means volumes; whatever I do, let it be done for friendship's sake."

"So let it be!" responded Houston solemnly, strangely moved by Jack's manner.

For a long time they talked of the work before them, and Houston spoke of the expected arrival of Van Dorn within the next day or two, who was to remain until the end.

"The end is not far distant," said Jack, "for after his coming I can give you nearly all the additional proof needed," and he then proceeded to give information concerning matters of which Houston had not, as yet, obtained even a clue. An arrangement was made whereby Houston and Van Dorn, after the arrival of the latter, were to meet Jack at the cabin, and perfect their plans for the brief campaign before them.

At last, as Houston rose to take his leave, he said: "I hope you will pardon the remark, but while I have not the least doubt of your friendship toward me in this, I cannot overcome the impression that you also have some personal interest in this matter."

"Possibly," replied Jack, gravely, still standing in the shadow as Houston stepped forth into the moonlight, "but not in the way in which you think."

CHAPTER XXIX.

The camping party had returned to Silver City, and the old house among the mountains slowly subsided into its former quiet. Lyle's time had been so occupied by the numerous demands made upon her by the departing guests, that Houston had found no opportunity for speaking with her, as he had planned the previous evening.

When the day's work was completed, he, with Miss Gladden and Lyle, sat in the little porch, watching a brief but furious mountain storm, which had suddenly sprung up, preventing them from taking their customary evening stroll.

To the ordinary beauty of the scene around them was added the grandeur of the tempest, forming a spectacle not easily forgotten. Around the summits of the lofty peaks the fierce lightnings were playing, sometimes darting back and forth like the swords of mighty giants, flashing in mortal combat; sometimes descending swiftly in fiery chains, then seeming to wrap the whole universe in sheets of flame; while the crash and roll of the thunder echoed and re-echoed from peak to peak, the lingering reverberations still muttering and rumbling in the distance, as the fierce cannonading was again renewed. The wind rushed, roaring and shrieking, down the canyon, while the rain fell in gusty, fitful torrents.

At the end of half an hour, only a few stray drops were falling, the sun suddenly burst forth in a flood of golden light, and against the dark background of the storm-cloud, a rainbow spanned the eastern horizon, its glorious tints seeming almost to rival the gorgeous colors of the western sky.

Soon after the storm had pa.s.sed, Haight was seen approaching the house. As he came up, he handed a telegraphic dispatch to Houston, saying:

"Just got a wire from the boss for you and Morgan; did you know anything about this kind of an arrangement?"

Houston opened the telegram, and read:

"Van Dorn up to-morrow to set up machinery on trial; may not be able to come myself for a day or two. Have Morgan and Houston give him all help they can spare, but not to interfere with work.

Blaisdell."

Houston read the message carefully, then said to Haight, who stood awaiting his reply:

"I knew nothing of their having made any definite arrangement. I remember hearing Van Dorn say something to Mr. Blaisdell, just before they all went away, about bringing one of his machines out here, but Blaisdell didn't seem to give him any encouragement at that time."

"He evidently has roped the old man in on it, at last," said Haight, seating himself.

"It looks like it," Houston answered indifferently.

"What is the machine anyway?" Haight inquired. "Is it any good?"

"I cannot tell you," replied Houston, "because I know absolutely nothing about it, except that it is for the reduction of ores. I heard Van Dorn allude to it two or three times while he was here, and he seemed quite enthusiastic about it, which I thought was, of course, perfectly natural. Where is Morgan?" Houston continued, "have you told him?"

Haight shook his head; "Morgan is at the Y, I suppose, as usual, and n.o.body will see him before sometime to-morrow. Have you noticed that fellow lately, Mr. Houston? Half the time he don't seem to know what he's about."

"I have noticed that he scarcely appears like himself, of late,"

Houston replied; "he seems to have some serious trouble."