"Nobody knows except father and Poleon and the two new men—"
"What is it?"
"I teased the news out of mother, and then came right here."
He laughed. "But what—may I ask—"
"Lee has made a strike—a wonderful strike—richer than the Klondike."
"So? The old man's luck has changed. I'm right glad of that," said the soldier.
"I came as fast as I could, because to-morrow everybody will know about it, and it will be too late."
"Too late for what?"
"For us to get in on it, of course. Oh, but won't there be a stampede! Why, all the people bound for Dawson on the next boat will pile off here, then the news will go up-river and down-river, and thousands of others will come pouring in from everywhere, and this will be a city. Then we will stake our town lots and sell them for ever so much money, and go around with our noses in the air, and they will say to each other:
"'Who is that beautiful lady with the fine clothes?' and somebody will answer: