1894

“Beneath yon rocky peak that hides

In fleecy clouds its snow-flecked crest;

Beneath those crimson crags abides

The fairest queen of all the West.”


CONTENTS

[ PREFACE. ]

[ PARTIAL LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. ]

[ CHAPTER I.—VANCE GILDER. ]

[ CHAPTER II.—THE OLD MINER. ]

[ CHAPTER III.—THE BANNER FORCE. ]

[ CHAPTER IV—A SUPPER PARTY. ]

[ CHAPTER V.—AN ODD CHARACTER. ]

[ CHAPTER VI—THE TOWN BOOMER. ]

[ CHAPTER VII.—A VISIT TO WATERVILLE ]

[ CHAPTER VIII.—AT THE MINE ]

[ CHAPTER IX.—THE STAGE DRIVER. ]

[ CHAPTER X.—PROPERTY HAS GONE UP. ]

[ CHAPTER XI.—OWNER OF THE PEACOCK MINE. ]

[ CHAPTER XII—TROUT FISHING. ]

[ CHAPTER XIII.—THE STAGE RIDE. ]

[ CHAPTER XIV.—THE TOWN COMPANY’S MEETING. ]

[ CHAPTER XV.—MISS VIRGINIA BONIFIELD. ]

[ CHAPTER XVI.—THE OLD COLONEL’S DISAPPOINTMENT. ]

[ CHAPTER XVII.—An AWAKENING. ]

[ CHAPTER XVIII.—VANCE RETURNS TO WATERVILLE. ]

[ CHAPTER XIX.—THE INDIGNATION MEETING ]

[ CHAPTER XX.—THE STAGE IS ROBBED. ]

[ CHAPTER XXI.—REACHING THE 400 FOOT LEVEL. ]

[ CHAPTER XXII.—STARTING THE BOOM. ]

[ CHAPTER XXIII.—RUFUS GRIM S AMBITION. ]

[ CHAPTER XXIV.—THE GOLDEN MAUSOLEUM. ]

[ CHAPTER XXV.—CROSS-CUTTING IN THE MINE. ]

[ CHAPTER XXVI.—A STARTLING EDITORIAL. ]

[ CHAPTER XXVII.—AT LAST! ]