Now I can write.
"In the years I have spent on these mountains, I felt sure I would
strike gold, as every sign in rock and sand formation, of the sides of
the peaks, are favorable to gold deposits. To-day I proved my mining
education to be of some worth, for it helped to guide me to a ledge,
where the red-gold is so rich that it seems to run deep into the rocks,
yet quite easy to mine.
"I had great difficulty in reaching the place and, afterwards, when
darkness fell over the place, I had to trust to the horse to find a
spot to camp. I left my claims staked out and marked as we used to do
in the Klondike, and to-morrow morning I shall ride directly to Oak
Creek to file the papers and have an assay on the ore. I am now writing
by the light of the camp-fire with grizzlies prowling about and
panthers howling to get at me and the horse. But my ring of fire is
security for us.
"I haven't the slightest idea of where this camp is but I will scout
around in the morning and then write you again after I return from my
trip to Oak Creek.
"You must understand how happy I am, to be able to pay off my
obligations and take my rightful place in the world with my family. God
grant that this blessing of wealth bestowed upon me after all these
years of separation and disgrace, charged against me, who am innocent,
will be the last of my sufferings. I have never heard from the
traitorous friend who caused me this ruin, and now it matters little!"
Polly looked up at this point and said:
"He must have finished this after the land-slide, Daddy.
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