| PROLOGUE | CHAPTER I | CHAPTER II | CHAPTER III |
| CHAPTER IV | CHAPTER V | CHAPTER VI |
There was no mistake this time: he had struck gold at last!
It had lain there before him a moment ago—a misshapen piece ofbrown-stained quartz, interspersed with dull yellow metal; yieldingenough to have allowed the points of his pick to penetrate itshoneycombed recesses, yet heavy enough to drop from the point of hispick as he endeavored to lift it from the red earth.
He was seeing all this plainly, although he found himself, he knew notwhy, at some distance from the scene of his discovery, his heartfoolishly beating, his breath impotently hurried. Yet he was walkingslowly and vaguely; conscious of stopping and staring at the landscape,which no longer looked familiar to him. He was hoping for someinstinct or force of habit to recall him to himself; yet when he saw aneighbor at work in an adjacent claim, he hesitated, and then turnedhis back upon him. Yet only a moment before he had thought of runningto him, saying, "By Jingo! I've struck it," or "D—n it, old man, I'vegot it"; but that moment had passed, and now it seemed to him that hecould scarce raise his voice, or, if he did, the ejaculation wouldappear forced and artificial. Neither could he go over to him coollyand tell his good fortune; and, partly from this strange shyness, andpartly with a hope that another survey of the treasure might restorehim to natural expression, he walked back to his tunnel.
Yes; it was there! No mere "pocket" or "deposit," but a part of theactual vein he had been so long seeking. It was there, sure enough,lying beside the pick and the debris of the "face" of the vein that hehad exposed sufficiently, after the first shock of discovery, to assurehimself of the fact and the permanence of his fortune. It was there,and with it the refutation of his enemies' sneers, the corroboration ofhis friends' belief, the practical demonstration of his own theories,the reward of his patient labors. It was there, sure enough. But,somehow, he not only failed to recall the first joy of discovery, butwas conscious of a vague sense of responsibility and unrest. It was,no doubt, an enormous fortune to a man in his circumstances: perhaps itmeant a couple of hundred thousand dollars, or more, judging from the