"Yes; it concerns her and her father."
Tom at once picked up his pail, and soon returned with it full to the brim.
"Come with me, pard," he quietly remarked. "We'd better talk it out under cover."
When once within the tent Tom placed the pail of water upon the ground, and turned to his companion.
"Sit down, pard, an' let's have yer story. Speak low, as it's better not to let every ninny hear what ye've got to say."
Quickly and briefly Dick related his experiences during the past night, to all of which Tom listened with much interest. When the story was ended the prospector sat for a while thinking deeply. He scratched his head in a characteristic manner. At length he rose, and reached for his frying-pan.
"We'll have some breakfast, pard, eh?" he began. "Ye surely must need some grub by this time. I brought down a fine sheep out on the hills yesterday, an' a nice juicy piece 'ill do ye much good, I'm thinkin', fer ye look about tuckered out."
"I've hardly thought about eating," Dick replied with a laugh, "so worked up have I been over this affair."
"An' good reason, pard. I'm jist at a loss to express my feelin's at present, so must do somethin' with my hands. It'll all come back soon, an' then I'll tell ye jist what I think about them skunks."
"But I'm much puzzled," Dick mused.