There was a movement amongst his audience which clearly displayed the impression, the effect of the magic of gold upon these men of the gold city. A voice came back at him out of one of the hoods.
“He comes from the Lias River.”
“I’ve heard that, too.”
“An’ the Lias River runs right back into the mountains, hundreds of miles,” said the same voice.
“Sure.” The man at the stove nodded his cowled head. “That’s so. It runs right back into Canadian territory. If that feller has made a big strike, and I know he has, Beacon should know it. No feller’s entitled to more than his claim. Beacon should know the place. Beacon should have a right to jump in, too. There’s decent men and women with as much right as Cy Liskard, and maybe more, to handle the wealth of this territory, and it’s up to us to hand them the chance. We ask ’em to live clean and wholesome. Well, we’ve the right to show ’em how, and help ’em. We must send a bunch to the Lias River and locate this strike. We must respect Liskard’s claim, whether it’s in Alaskan or Canadian Territory, but we want its secret for the folks of Beacon. Well?”
Discussion followed promptly. It came in the quick, hot fashion of men whose main outlook on life is bounded by the precious metal that first brought their city into being. And the discussion tended to complete agreement with the man whose guidance they had accepted.
The leader listened closely to every argument his council put forth. He agreed to, or negatived, each argument with calm impartiality, and when, at last, nothing further was forthcoming from his Counsellors, he leant again against his supporting stove, and raised up one warning hand in sign that the debate was finished.
“I put the proposition,” he said formally, “we appoint a bunch of the boys to investigate on the lines we’ve laid down. There must be no other action taken. The man must be shadowed to his destination. His movements must be watched, and when the discovery is complete, or sufficient has been ascertained of the whereabouts of his strike, full report must be made to this council. Then we will decide on procedure. There are gold men amongst us, but our oath must prevail. The result of this investigation is for the community of Beacon Glory, regardless of all individual personal interests. Is it agreed?”
The prompt show of hands was unanimous. Finally the “Chief Light of the Aurora” himself raised his right hand.
One by one the hands were lowered and the leader spoke again: