“Did you have any luck?” asked Oliver.
He was interested in the man, and besides wanted a chance to study the stranger.
“I had some luck the first years,—located the Alice and sold her for fifteen thousand dollars,—but towards the last I lost every dollar I had, and then I went to work for the colonel.”
“And you know all about his affairs?” asked Mr. Whyland.
The man ran his hand through his matted hair.
“I don’t know you, and I don’t want to get into any trouble,” he said. “I told the young man I knew some things he wanted to know.”
“Well, you will get into no trouble with us, I can assure you,” replied Mr. Whyland. “If you know the location of the Aurora mine and will tell us, I will pay you well.”
“I can take you straight to the Aurora inside of a week,” replied Cottle in a low voice.
“Is it a valuable mine?”