The Border Legion

Gulden put the nugget under his coat and strode out, accompanied by

Budd and Jones. They hurried away. The others went in couples. Soon

only Bate Wood and Handy Oliver were left with Kells.

"Now you fellows go," said Kells. "Be sure to round up the gang down

there and wait for me."

When they had gone he called for Jim and Joan to come out.

All this tune Joan's hand had been gripped in Jim's, and Joan had

been so absorbed that she had forgotten the fact. He released her

and faced her, silent, pale. Then he went out. Joan swiftly

followed.

Kells was buckling on his spurs. "You heard?" he said, the moment he

saw Jim's face.

"Yes," replied Jim.

"So much the better. We've got to rustle. ... Joan, put on that long

coat of Cleve's. Take off your mask. ... Jim, get what gold you

have, and hurry. If we're gone when you come back hurry down the

road. I want you with me."

Cleve stalked out, and Joan ran into her room and put on the long

coat. She had little time to choose what possessions she could take;

and that choice fell upon the little saddle-bag, into which she

hurriedly stuffed comb and brush and soap--all it would hold. Then

she returned to the larger room.

Kells had lifted a plank of the floor, and was now in the act of

putting small buckskin sacks of gold into his pockets. They made his

coat bulge at the sides.

"Joan, stick some meat and biscuits in your pockets," he said. "I'd

never get hungry with my pockets full of gold. But you might."

Joan rummaged around in Bate Wood's rude cupboard.

"These biscuits are as heavy as gold--and harder," she said.

Kells flashed a glance at her that held pride, admiration, and

sadness. "You are the gamest girl I ever knew! I wish I'd--But

that's too late! ... Joan, if anything happens to me stick close to

Cleve. I believe you can trust him. Come on now."

Then he strode out of the cabin. Joan had almost to run to keep up

with him. There were no other men now in sight. She knew that Jim

would follow soon, because his gold-dust was hidden in the cavern

back of her room, and he would not need much time to get it.

Nevertheless, she anxiously looked back. She and Kells had gone

perhaps a couple of hundred yards before Jim appeared, and then he

came on the run. At a point about opposite the first tents he joined

Kells.