Thus the plan was made.
No doubt it would have been successful.
But Lester Vane had in his heart a dark and dreadful purpose. His selfish, covetous nature would not admit of a generous division of the treasure.
His whole soul was filled with the one purpose to appropriate the whole wealth to himself, and with it to return to New York and win the heart of Mabel Dane.
But to do this it was necessary to dispose of Harding.
He saw but one way to do this.
Lester Vane was cold, calculating and unscrupulous. He determined to murder his companion outright.
With his mind made up to do this, he suddenly halted Harding near the brow of the precipice, and coolly informed him of the fact.
He believed that as he was much stronger he could easily overcome the weaker man.
Harding was horrified with the discovery that his companion was this kind of a man.