"Do come, your Highness," Natalie urged, from the shelter of the elder woman's arms.
"You're more than kind," said O'Neil, and together the four turned their faces to the shore.
V
WHEREIN WE SEE CURTIS GORDON AND OTHERS
Curtis Gordon's respect for his guest increased as they walked up the dock, for, before they had taken many steps, out from the crowd which had gathered to watch the ship's arrival stepped one of his foremen. This fellow shook hands warmly with O'Neil, whereupon others followed, one by one—miners, day laborers, "rough-necks" of many nationalities. They doffed their hats-something they never did for Gordon—and stretched out grimy hands, their faces lighting up with smiles. O'Neil accepted their greetings with genuine pleasure and called them by name.
"We just heard you was shipwrecked," said Gordon's foreman, anxiously. "You wasn't hurt, was you?"
"Not in the least."
"God be praised! There's a lot of the old gang at work here."
"So I see."
"Here's Shorty, that you may remember from the North Pass." The speaker dragged from the crowd a red-faced, perspiring ruffian who had hung back with the bashfulness of a small boy. "He's the fellow you dug out of the slide at twenty-eight."