Any one unused to the gold trail would have lain awake shivering that night, and in all probability would have found it very difficult to set out again the next morning, for a horrible ache in the hip is, as a rule, not the least unpleasant result of such experiences; but these men slept, and took up the trail almost fresh with the first of the daylight. It was by no means the first time they had slept out in the open in the frost or rain, and fed on wet, unwarmed food.
In due time they reached the settlement on the railroad; and, after delivering the remaining bags of ore to the station-agent and leaving the freighter with his horses, Weston went back along the trail with Devine. Descending the gully in clear daylight, they reached the Grenfell camp without misadventure.
It was some time later when the freighter, coming up by the other route, with provisions, brought them a letter. It was from the manager of the reducing plant, who stated that the yield of the ore sent him for treatment was eminently satisfactory, and he enclosed a certificate with particulars, as they had requested. Probably with a view to further business he also offered to purchase any of the Grenfell shares they might have to dispose of.
Saunders’ eyes gleamed as he handed the certificate around.
“I guess that’s going to send our stock up with a bang,” he said. “We’ll put it right into Wannop’s hands, so he can get a notice of the new mineral field into the papers. The smelter man doesn’t seem to know that the last news we had was that the Grenfell stock was tumbling down, but when he’s open to buy it’s a sure thing that he figures it will soon stand at a big premium.”
Then he waved his hand impressively.
“After what Weston has told us, boys, you want to get hold of the significance of that. People have been selling our stock way down, on the notion that before they had to deliver they could cover at a still lower figure. Now, they can’t buy it. We’re going to smash them flat.”
They celebrated the occasion that night with the most elaborate meal Devine could prepare, and invited as many as possible of their neighbors, who also had struck what promised to be payable milling ore. As it happened, their satisfaction was fully warranted, for a few days after Weston’s letter arrived in Montreal two gentlemen connected with western mines called on Wannop. Stirling was sitting in the latter’s office at the time, and he made no sign of retiring when they entered.
“We should like a few minutes’ conversation with you about the Grenfell stock,” said one of the strangers. “Naturally, we’d prefer to have it alone.”
Wannop looked at Stirling, who smiled and answered the man.