"Well, pards, what has happened?" he asked as he put spurs to his horse and overtook a party of miners on the way to the hotel.
The response he received caused him to spur forward and dash rapidly on to the head of the valley.
CHAPTER V.
MASKED AND MERCILESS.
Dave Dockery had taken the place of driver on the Last Chance trail, after Bud Benton had been killed on the box by unknown parties.
Dave Dockery was as shrewd as he was brave, and bore many scars of wounds received in the discharge of his duty, his nerve and endurance, it was said, saving his life where other men would surely have been killed.
The coach out from Last Chance had gone on its dangerous run with a very large sum in gold-dust, but Dave had gotten safely through with it, and was congratulated by all who knew the chances he had taken of losing treasure and life.
He had heard with regret, after reaching his eastern destination, that he was to be put to an equal strain going back, for a large sum of money in bank-bills was to be sent back to Last Chance in payment for several mines purchased there by outsiders.
Dave was told that the box contained at least thirty thousand dollars, and so he hid it away as best he could in the coach.