She had the instinct of the born huntress, although she was far too highly civilised to have recognised it before. She wondered if his capitulation meant her own deliverance, too ignorant in the ways of love to guess that whether this were a passing or a permanent phase depended on the man.
While Gregory hurried on to tell her of all he should be able to do for Montana with the millions at present locked in the vaults of his hill, she had a full moment of honesty, and confessed that she had come out here to make Gregory Compton love her. And he did! It was a mighty personality to conquer; and the victory had been won long since! But the disappointment passed in a cynical smile. That he had no intention of declaring himself her lover was as patent as his inhuman power of self-control. Here were barricades to storm if barricades she wanted? What difference? And did she?
He sprang to his feet and stood at the foot of the shaft, looking up.
“They’re coming down,” he said.
Joshua Mann emerged a moment later.
“Apex bunch being rounded up to go below,” he said. “Our men are on the way.”
“Steam on the air line?”
“You bet!”
“Let’s get to work.” He turned to Ora. “Stay here till I come back,” he said peremptorily. “I can’t take you up in the skip now.”
“I am quite comfortable,” said Ora, coolly. “How many men will come down?”