From side to side he wormed along his erratic way, swinging from one ghostly bush-clump to another, ever following the rambling line of safe footholds, gradually descending toward the lower edge of the enshrouding mist. After a time the bare rock ended and he came into dense forest where the footing was secure. Down through this he passed with swinging strides. The rain ceased, and the wind died to a breath. Faster and faster he pressed on, warmer now, but eager to reach his house and dry out. Then suddenly he slowed.
Dead ahead opened a cleared space, and beyond, vague in the gray-white blur, were the faint outlines of a rough shack. Scanning the place as he moved on, he became sure that it was one which he had not seen in his previous wanderings. The exterior of the house was decidedly uninviting, but from its lopsided chimney smoke was drifting thinly away into the fog. His stride lengthened again. Since the inhabitants of this house were up, he would stop there and ask for some hot coffee.
But the quick decision was as quickly reversed. As he neared the door it stealthily opened. Out stole Lou Brackett.
“Morning,” he sang out, speeding up again. “Lovely day.”
She started, turned her head, looked behind, advanced with hand uplifted for silence. He paused.
“Don’t talk so loud,” she implored as she reached him. “Snake, he’s a-sleepin’, but ye might waken him up. What ye want round here?”
“Nothing. Just going home. Been up above and got wet.” Smiling a little, he added: “I wanted to see where the sun hit the wall first in the morning, but it isn’t hitting to-day.”
Into the black eyes came a sudden light. She laid a plump, not over-clean hand on his wet shoulder.
“Ye’re a-huntin’ the mine! I bet ye’ll find it, too, if ye jest keep a-lookin’ long ’nough. Ye ain’t got nawthin’ else to do—keep a-huntin’! An’ when ye git to it ’member ye promised me some o’ the silver. Will ye? An’ don’t tell nobody. Jest me an’ you—we can git outen here together then.”
The broad hint brought a tart retort to his tongue, but he swallowed it. Instead he asked: “So you still want to leave? Why don’t you go, then?”