Celeste saw the cabins along the cañon valley, perched here and there upon the hills, and at last discovered the group of buildings that marked the settlement the miners were pleased to call the "City" of Last Chance.
Gathered there was a vast crowd of men, and when the stage came in sight, and three persons were seen on top, with the mounted escort hastening after, the yells of welcome began.
The roar floated down the valley, and reached the ears of Celeste Seldon, and she muttered in a low tone:
"How kind they all are. This is, indeed, a welcome to be proud of, and never can I forget it."
"They mean it, miss," said Harding and he felt just pride in his frontier home at the reception, and the manner in which Celeste received it greatly pleased him.
On flew the horses, and up the hill they dashed, to at last come to a halt before the hotel.
The din was now terrific, for the voices of the horsemen joined in with the miners about the hotel, who, with one accord, drew their revolvers and began to empty them in the air.
As there were hundreds of miners, and all were armed with a couple each of revolvers, the rattling of the fusillade may be imagined.
Celeste bowed right and left, waving her handkerchief, until Landlord Larry aided her to dismount and led her into the hotel, and the welcome was at an end.