sofa，albeittohimitwasabankinabowerofenchantment。Thenshesaid，withadorablereproachfulness，\"Youdon’taskwhatIdidwiththebody。\"
Mr。EdwardBricestarted。Hewasyoung，andunfamiliarwiththeevasiveexpansivenessofthefemalemindatsuchsuprememoments。
\"Thebody——oh，yes——certainly。\"
\"Iburieditmyself——itwassuthintooawful！——andthegangwouldhavebeensuretohavefoundit，andtheemptybelt。IburnedTHAT。Sothatnobodyknowsnothin’。\"
Itwasnotatimeforstrictlygrammaticalnegatives，andIamafraidthatthegirl’scharacteristicallyfamiliarspeech，evenwhenpatheticallycorrectedhereandtherebytheinfluenceoftheconvent，endearedherthemoretohim。Andwhenshesaid，\"Andnow，Mr。EdwardBrice，sitoveratthatendofthesofyandlet’stalk，\"theytalked。Theytalkedforanhour，moreorlesscontinuously，untiltheyweresurprisedbyadiscreetcoughandtheentranceofMrs。Tarbox。Thentherewasmoretalk，andthediscoverythatMr。Bricewaslongdueattheoffice。
\"Yemightdropin，nowandthen，wheneveryefeellikeit，andFloisathome，\"suggestedMrs。Tarboxatparting。
Mr。BriceDIDdropinfrequentlyduringthenextmonth。OnoneoftheseoccasionsMr。Tarboxaccompaniedhimtothedoor。\"Andnow——
ezeverythingissettledandinorder，Mr。Brice，andefyoushouldbewantin’tosayanythingaboutittoyourbossesattheoffice，yemaymentionMYnameezFloDimwood’ssecondcousin，andsayI’madepositorintheirbank。And，\"withgreaterdeliberation，\"efanythingatanytimeshouldbethrownupatyeformarryin’anieceo’SnapshotHarry’s，yemightmention，keerlesslike，thatSnapshotHarry，underthenameo’HenryJ。Dimwood，hasheldsharesintheiroldbankforyears！\"
ATREASUREOFTHEREDWOODS
PARTI
Mr。JackFlemingstoppedsuddenlybeforealifelessanddecayingredwood-treewithanexpressionofdisgustandimpatience。Itwastheverytreehehadpassedonlyanhourbefore，andhenowknewhehadbeendescribingthatmysteriousandhopelesscirclefamiliarenoughtothoselostinthewoods。
Therewasnomistakingthetree，withitsonebrokenbranchwhichdependedatananglelikethearmofasemaphore；nordiditrelievehismindtoreflectthathismishapwaspartlyduetohisownfoolishabstraction。Hewasreturningtocampfromaneighboringminingtown，andwhileindulgingintheusualday-
dreamsofayouthfulprospector，haddeviatedfromhispathinattemptingtomakeashortcutthroughtheforest。Hehadlostthesun，hisonlyguide，inthethicklyinterlacedboughsabovehim，whichsuffusedthoughthelongcolumnarvaultonlyavague，melancholytwilight。Hehadevidentlypenetratedsomeunknownseclusion，absolutelyprimevalanduntrodden。Thethicklayersofdecayingbarkandthedesiccateddustofagesdeadenedhisfootfallandinvestedthegloomwithaprofoundsilence。
Ashestoodforamomentortwo，irresolute，hisear，bythistimeattunedtothestillness，caughtthefaintbutdistinctlapandtrickleofwater。Hewashotandthirsty，andturnedinstinctivelyinthatdirection。Averyfewpacesbroughthimtoafallentree；
atthefootofitsupturnedrootsgurgledthespringwhoseupwellingstreamhadslowlybutpersistentlyloosenedtheirholdonthesoil，andworkedtheirruin。Apoolofcoolandclearwater，formedbythedisruptionofthesoil，overflowed，andafterafewyardssankagaininthesoddenfloor。
Ashedrankandbathedhisheadandhandsinthissylvanbasin，henoticedthewhiteglitterofaquartzledgeinitsdepths，andwasconsiderablysurprisedandrelievedtofind，hardby，anactualoutcropofthatrockthroughthethickcarpetofbarkanddust。
Thisbetokenedthathewasneartheedgeoftheforestorsomerockyopening。Hefanciedthatthelightgrewclearerbeyond，andthepresenceofafewfrondsoffernsconfirmedhiminthebeliefthathewasapproachingadifferentbeltofvegetation。Presentlyhesawtheverticalbeamsofthesunagainpiercingtheopeninginthedistance。Withthisprospectofspeedydeliverancefromtheforestatlastsecure，hedidnothurryforward，butonthecontrarycoollyretracedhisfootstepstothespringagain。Thefactwasthattheinstinctsandhopesoftheprospectorwerestronglydominantinhim，andhavingnoticedthequartzledgeandthecontiguousoutcrop，hedeterminedtoexaminethemmoreclosely。
Hehadstilltimetofindhiswayhome，anditmightnotbesoeasytopenetratethewildernessagain。Unfortunately，hehadneitherpick，pan，norshovelwithhim，butaverycursorydisplacementofthesoilaroundthespringandattheoutcropwithhishandsshowedhimtheusualredsoilanddecomposedquartzwhichconstitutedan\"indication。\"Yetnoneknewbetterthanhimselfhowdisappointingandillusiveitsresultsoftenwere，andheregrettedthathehadnotapantoenablehimtotestthesoilbywashingitatthespring。Iftherewereonlyaminer’scabinhandy，hecouldeasilyborrowwhathewanted。Itwasjusttheusualluck，——\"thethingsamanseeswhenhehasn’thisgunwithhim！\"
Heturnedimpatientlyawayagaininthedirectionoftheopening。
Whenhereachedit，hefoundhimselfonarockyhillsideslopingtowardasmallgreenvalley。Alightsmokecurledaboveaclumpofwillows；itwasfromthechimneyofalowdwelling，butasecondglancetoldhimthatitwasnominer’scabin。Therewasalargerclearingaroundthehouse，andsomerudeattemptatcultivationinaroughlyfencedarea。Nevertheless，hedeterminedtotryhisluckinborrowingapickandpanthere；attheworsthecouldinquirehiswaytothemainroadagain。
Ahurriedscrambledownthehillbroughthimtothedwelling，——aramblingadditionofshedstotheusuallogcabin。Buthewassurprisedtofindthatitsexterior，andindeedthepalingsofthefencearoundit，werecoveredwiththestretchedanddryingskinsofanimals。Thepeltsofbear，panther，wolf，andfoxwereintermingledwithsquirrelandwildcatskins，andthedisplayedwingsofeagle，hawk，andkingfisher。Therewasnotrailleadingtoorfromthecabin；itseemedtohavebeenlostinthisopeningoftheencompassingwoodsandleftaloneandsolitary。
Thebarkingofacoupleoftetheredhoundsatlastbroughtafiguretothedoorofthenearestlean-toshed。Itseemedtobethatofayounggirl，butitwascladingarmentssoridiculouslylargeanddisproportionatethatitwasdifficulttotellherpreciseage。A
calicodresswaspinnedupattheskirt，andtightlygirtatthewaistbyanapron——solongthatonecornerhadtobetuckedinattheapronstringdiagonally，tokeepthewearerfromtreadingonit。Anenormoussunbonnetofyellownankeencompletelyconcealedherheadandface，butallowedtwoknottedandtwistedbrowntailsofhairtoescapeunderitsfrilledcapebehind。Shewasevidentlyengagedinsomeculinarywork，andstillheldalargetinbasinorpanshehadbeencleaningclaspedtoherbreast。
Fleming’seyeglancedatitcovetously，ignoringthefigurebehindit。Buthewasdiplomatic。
\"Ihavelostmywayinthewoods。Canyoutellmeinwhatdirectionthemainroadlies？\"
Shepointedasmallredhandapparentlyinthedirectionhehadcome。\"Straightoverthar——acrossthehill。\"
Flemingsighed。Hehadbeenmakingacircuitoftheforestinsteadofgoingthroughit——andthisopenspacecontainingthecabinwasonaremoteoutskirt！
\"Howfarisittotheroad？\"heasked。
\"Jestaspellarteryerisethehill，efyekeep’longsidethewoods。Butit’sarightsmartchancebeyond，efyegothroughit。\"
Thiswasquiteplaintohim。Inthelocaldialecta\"spell\"wasunderamile；\"arightsmartchance\"mightbethreeorfourmilesfarther。Luckilythespringandoutcropwereneartheoutskirts；
hewouldpassnearthemagainonhisway。Helookedlonginglyatthepanwhichshestillheldinherhands。\"Wouldyoumindlendingmethatpanforalittlewhile？\"hesaidhalflaughingly。
\"Wotfor？\"demandedthegirlquickly。Yethertonewasoneofchildishcuriosityratherthansuspicion。Flemingwouldhavelikedtoavoidthequestionandtheconsequentexposureofhisdiscoverywhichadirectanswerimplied。Buthesawitwastoolatenow。
\"Iwanttowashalittledirt，\"hesaidbluntly。
Thegirlturnedherdeepsunbonnettowardhim。Somewhereinitsdepthshesawtheflashofwhiteteeth。\"Goalongwithye——ye’refunnin’！\"shesaid。
\"Iwanttowashoutsomedirtinthatpan——I’mprospectingforgold，\"hesaid；\"don’tyouunderstand？\"
\"Areyeaminer？\"
\"Well，yes——asortofone，\"hereturned，withalaugh。
\"Thenye’dbetterbescootin’outo’thismightyquickaforedadcomes。Hedon’tcottontominers，andwon’thave’emaround。
That’swhyhelivesouthere。\"
\"Well，Idon’tliveouthere，\"respondedtheyoungmanlightly。\"I
shouldn’tbehereifIhadn’tlostmyway，andinhalfanhourI’llbeoffagain。SoI’mnotlikelytobotherhim。But，\"headded，asthegirlstillhesitated，\"I’llleaveadepositforthepan，ifyoulike。\"
\"Leaveawhich？\"
\"Themoneythatthepan’sworth，\"saidFlemingimpatiently。
Thehugesunbonnetstifflyswungaroundlikethewind-sailofashipandstaredatthehorizon。\"Idon’twantnomoney。Yekingit，\"saidthevoiceinitsdepths。
\"Lookhere，\"hesaiddesperately，\"IonlywantedtoprovetoyouthatI’llbringyourpanbacksafe。Nowlook！Ifyoudon’tliketotakemoney，I’llleavethisringwithyouuntilIcomeback。
There！\"Heslippedasmallspecimenring，madeoutofhisfirstgoldfindings，fromhislittlefinger。
Thesunbonnetslowlyswungaroundagainandstaredatthering。
Thenthelittleredrighthandreachedforward，tookthering，placeditontheforefingerofthelefthand，withalltheotherfingerswidelyextendedforthesunbonnettoview，andallthewhilethepanwasstillheldagainsthersidebytheotherhand。
Flemingnoticedthatthehands，thoughtawnyandnotoverclean，werealmostchildlikeinsize，andthattheforefingerwasmuchtoosmallforthering。Hetriedtofathomthedepthsofthesun-
bonnet，butitwasdentedononeside，andhecoulddiscernonlyasinglepaleblueeyeandathinblackarchofeyebrow。
\"Well，\"saidFleming，\"isitago？\"
\"Ofcourseye’llbecomin’backforitagain，\"saidthegirlslowly。
TherewassomuchofhopelessdisappointmentatthatprospectinhervoicethatFleminglaughedoutright。\"I’mafraidIshall，forIvaluetheringverymuch，\"hesaid。
Thegirlhandedhimthepan。\"It’sourbreadpan，\"shesaid。
Itmighthavebeenanything，foritwasbynomeansnew；indeed，itwasbatteredononesideandthebottomseemedtohavebeenbroken；
butitwouldserve，andFlemingwasanxioustobeoff。\"Thankyou，\"hesaidbriefly，andturnedaway。Thehoundbarkedagainashepassed；heheardthegirlsay，\"Shutyourhead，Tige！\"andsawherturnbackintothekitchen，stillholdingtheringbeforethesunbonnet。
Whenhereachedthewoods，heattackedtheoutcrophehadnoticed，anddetachedwithhishandsandtheaidofasharprockenoughoftheloosesoiltofillthepan。Thishetooktothespring，and，loweringthepaninthepool，begantowashoutitscontentswiththecentrifugalmovementoftheexperiencedprospector。Thesaturatedredsoiloverflowedthebrimwiththatliquidoozeknownas\"slumgullion，\"andturnedthecrystalpooltothecolorofblooduntilthesoilwaswashedaway。Thenthesmallerstoneswerecarefullyremovedandexamined，andthenanotherwashingofthenownearlyemptypanshowedthefineblacksandcoveringthebottom。
Thiswasinturnasgentlywashedaway。
Alas！thecleanpanshowedonlyoneortwominuteglisteningyellowscales，likepinheads，adheringfromtheirspecificgravitytothebottom；gold，indeed，butmerelyenoughtoindicate\"thecolor，\"
andcommontoordinaryprospectinginhisownlocality。
Hetriedanotherpanfulwiththesameresult。Hebecameawarethatthepanwasleaky，andthatinfinitecarealonepreventedthebottomfromfallingoutduringthewashing。Stillitwasanexperiment，andtheresultafailure。
Flemingwastoooldaprospectortotakehisdisappointmentseriously。Indeed，itwascharacteristicofthatperformanceandthatperiodthatfailureleftneitherhopelessnessnorlossoffaithbehindit；theprospectorhadsimplymiscalculatedtheexactlocality，andwasequallyasreadytotryhisluckagain。ButFlemingthoughtithightimetoreturntohisownminingworkincamp，andatoncesetofftoreturnthepantoitsgirlishownerandrecoverhisring。
Asheapproachedthecabinagain，beheardthesoundofsinging。
Itwasevidentlythegirl’svoice，upliftedinwhatseemedtobeafragmentofsomenegrocamp-meetinghymn：——
\"DarwasapoormanandhisnameitwasLazarum，LordbressdeLamb——gloryhallelugerum！
LordbressdeLamb！\"
Thefirsttwolineshadabriskmovement，accentedapparentlybytheclappingofhandsorthebeatingofatinpan，buttherefrain，\"LordbressdeLamb，\"wasdrawnoutinalugubriouschantofinfinitetenuity。
\"Therichmandiedandhewentstraighttohellerum。
LordbressdeLamb——gloryhallelugerum！
LordbressdeLamb！\"
Flemingpausedatthecabindoor。Beforehecouldrapthevoiceroseagain：——
\"Whenyeseeapoo’manbesuretogivehimcrumbsorum，LordbressdeLamb——gloryhallelugerum！
LordbressdeLamb！\"
Attheendofthisinterminablerefrain，drawnoutinayouthfulnasalcontralto，Flemingknocked。Thegirlinstantlyappeared，holdingtheringinherfingers。\"Ireckoneditwasyou，\"shesaid，withanaffectedbriskness，toconcealherevidentdislikeatpartingwiththetrinket。\"Thereitis！\"
ButFlemingwastooastoundedtospeak。Withtheopeningofthedoorthesunbonnethadfallenbacklikeabuggytop，disclosingforthefirsttimetheheadandshouldersofthewearer。Shewasnotachild，butasmartyoungwomanofseventeenoreighteen，andmuchofhisembarrassmentarosefromtheconsciousnessthathehadnoreasonwhateverforhavingbelievedherotherwise。
\"IhopeIdidn’tinterruptyoursinging，\"hesaidawkwardly。
Itwasonlyoneo’mammy’scamp-meetin’songs，\"saidthegirl。
\"Yourmother？Isshein？\"heasked，glancingpastthegirlintothekitchen。
\"’Tain’tmother——she’sdead。Mammy’souroldnurse。She’sgonetoJimtown，andtakenmydudstogetsomenewonesfittedtome。
Thesearesomeo’mother’s。\"
Thisaccountedforherstrangeappearance；butFlemingnoticedthatthegirl’smannerhadnottheslightestconsciousnessoftheirunbecomingness，norofthecharmsoffaceandfiguretheyhadmarred。
Shelookedathimcuriously。\"Hevyougotreligion？\"
\"Well，no！\"saidFleming，laughing；\"I’mafraidnot。\"
\"Dadhez——he’sgotitpow’ful。\"
\"Isthatthereasonhedon’tlikeminers？\"askedFleming。
\"’Takenottoyourselfthemammonofunrighteousness，’\"saidthegirl，withtheconfidentairofrepeatingalesson。\"That’swhattheBooksays。\"
\"ButIreadtheBible，too，\"repliedtheyoungman。
\"Dadsays，’Theletterkilleth’！\"saidthegirlsententiously。
FleminglookedatthetrophiesnailedonthewallswithavaguewonderifthispeculiarScripturaldestructivenesshadanythingtodowithhisskillasamarksman。Thegirlfollowedhiseye。
\"Dad’samightyhunteraforetheLord。\"
\"Whatdoeshedowiththeseskins？\"
\"Trades’emoffforgrubandfixin’s。Buthedon’tbelieveintrottin’roundinthemudforgold。\"
\"Don’tyousupposetheseanimalswouldhavepreferreditifhehad？
Goldhuntingtakesnothingfromanybody。\"
Thegirlstaredathim，andthen，tohisgreatsurprise，laughedinsteadofbeingangry。Itwasaveryfascinatinglaughinherimperfectlynourishedpaleface，andherlittleteethrevealedthebluishmilkywhitenessofpipsofyoungIndiancorn。
\"Wotyerlookin’at？\"sheaskedfrankly。
\"You，\"hereplied，withequalfrankness。
\"It’sthemduds，\"shesaid，lookingdownatherdress；\"IreckonI
ain’tgotthehango’’em\"
Yettherewasnottheslightesttoneofembarrassmentorevencoquetryinhermanner，aswithbothhandsshetriedtogatherintheloosefoldsaroundherwaist。
\"Letmehelpyou，\"hesaidgravely。
Sheliftedupherarmswithchildlikesimplicityandbackedtowardhimashesteppedbehindher，drewinthefolds，andpinnedthemaroundwhatprovedaverysmallwaistindeed。Thenheuntiedtheapron，tookitoff，foldeditinhalf，andretieditscurtailedproportionsaroundthewaist。\"Itdoesfeelaheapeasier，\"shesaid，withalittleshiverofsatisfaction，assheliftedherroundcheek，andthetailofherblueeyeswiththeirbrownlashes，overhershoulder。Itwasatemptingmoment——butJackfeltthatthewholeraceofgoldhunterswasontrialjustthen，andwasadamant！
Perhapshewasagentlefellowatheart，too。
\"Icouldloopupthatdressalso，ifIhadmorepins，\"heremarkedtentatively。Jackhadsistersofhisown。
Thepinswereforthcoming。Inthisoperation——akindoffestooning——
thegirl’spetticoat，apieceofcommonwashed-outblueflannel，aspaleashereyes，butofthecommonestmaterial，becamevisible，butwithoutfearorreproachtoeither。
\"There，thatlooksmoretidy，\"saidJack，criticallysurveyinghisworkandalittleofthesmallanklesrevealed。Thegirlalsoexamineditcarefullybyitsreflectiononthesurfaceofthesaucepan。\"Looksalittlelikeachinygirl，don’tit？\"
Jackwouldhaveresentedthis，thinkingshemeantaChinese，untilhesawherpointingtoacheapcrockeryornament，representingaDutchshepherdess，ontheshelf。Therewassomeresemblance。
\"Youbeatmammyouto’sight！\"sheexclaimedgleefully。\"Itwilljestsetherclearcrazywhensheseesme。\"
\"Thenyouhadbettersayyoudidityourself，\"saidFleming。
\"Why？\"askedthegirl，suddenlyopeninghereyesonhimwithrelentlessfrankness。
\"Yousaidyourfatherdidn’tlikeminers，andhemightn’tlikeyourlendingyourpantome。\"
\"I’mmoreafraido’lyin’thano’dad，\"shesaidwithanelevationofmoralsentimentthatwas，however，slightlyweakenedbytheaddition，\"Mammy’llsayanythingI’lltellhertosay。\"
\"Well，good-by，\"saidFleming，extendinghishand。
\"Yedidn’ttellmewhatluckyehadwiththepan，\"shesaid，delayingtakinghishand。
Flemingshruggedhisshoulders。\"Oh，myusualluck，——nothing，\"hereturned，withasmile。
\"Yeseemtokeermoreforgettin’yeroldringbackthanforanyluck，\"shecontinued。\"Ireckonyouain’tmucho’aminer。\"
\"I’mafraidnot。\"
\"Yedidn’tsaywotyernamewas，incasedadwantstoknow。\"
\"Idon’tthinkhewillwantto；butit’sJohnFleming。\"
Shetookhishand。\"Youdidn’ttellmeyours，\"hesaid，holdingthelittleredfingers，\"incaseIwantedtoknow。\"
Itpleasedhertoconsidertherejoinderintenselywitty。Sheshowedallherlittleteeth，threwawayhishand，andsaid：——
\"G’longwithye，Mr。Fleming。It’sTinka\"——
\"Tinker？\"
\"Yes；shortforKatinka，——KatinkaJallinger。\"
\"Good-by，MissJallinger。\"
\"Good-by。Dad’snameisHenryBooneJallinger，ofKentucky，efyewaseveraskin’。\"
\"Thankyou。\"
Heturnedawayassheswiftlyre-enteredthehouse。Ashewalkedaway，hehalfexpectedtohearhervoiceupliftedagaininthecamp-meetingchant，buthewasdisappointed。Whenhereachedthetopofthehillheturnedandlookedbackatthecabin。
Shewasapparentlywaitingforthis，andwavedhimanadieuwiththehumblepanhehadborrowed。Itflashedamomentdazzlinglyasitcaughtthedecliningsun，andthenwentout，evenobliteratingthelittlefigurebehindit。
PARTII
Mr。JackFlemingwasindeed\"notmuchofaminer。\"Heandhispartners——bothasyoung，hopeful，andinefficientashimself——hadforthreemonthsworkedaclaiminamountainminingsettlementwhichyieldedthemacertainamountofhealthyexercise，good-
humoredgrumbling，andexaltedindependence。Todigforthreeorfourhoursinthemorning，smoketheirpipesunderaredwood-treeforanhouratnoon，takeuptheirlaborsagainuntilsunset，whenthey\"washedup\"andgatheredsufficientgoldtopayfortheirdailywants，was，withouttheirseekingit，orevenknowingit，therealizationofacharmingsocialisticidealwhichbettermenthanthemselveshadonlydreamedof。Flemingfellbackintothisrefinedbarbarism，givinglittlethoughttohiswoodlandexperience，andnorevelationofittohispartners。Hehadtransactedtheirbusinessattheminingtown。Hisdeviationsenroutewerenothingtothem，andsmallaccounttohimself。
Thethirddayafterhisreturnhewaslyingunderaredwoodwhenhispartnerapproachedhim。
\"Youaren’tuneasyinyourmindaboutanyunpaidbill——sayawashbill——thatyou’reowing？\"
\"Why？\"
\"There’sabigniggerwomanincamplookingforyou；she’sgotafoldedaccountpaperinherhand。Itlooksdeucedlylikeabill。\"
\"Theremustbesomemistake，\"suggestedFleming，sittingup。
\"Shesaysnot，andshe’sgotyournamepatenough！Faulkner\"（hisotherpartner）\"headedherstraightupthegulch，awayfromcamp，whileIcamedowntowarnyou。Soifyouchoosetoskedaddleintothebrushoutthereandlielowuntilwegetheraway，we’llfixit！\"
\"Nonsense！I’llseeher。\"
Hispartnerlookedaghastatthistemerity，butFleming，jumpingtohisfeet，atoncesetouttomeethismysteriousvisitor。Thiswasnoeasymatter，astheingeniousFaulknerwaslaboriouslyleadinghischargeupthesteepgulchroad，withgreatpoliteness，butmanyaudiblemisgivingsastowhetherthiswasnot\"JackFleming’sdayforgoingtoJamestown。\"
Hewasfurtherlighteningthejourneybycheeringaccountsoftherecentdepredationsofbearsandpanthersinthatimmediatelocality。WhenovertakenbyFlemingheaffectedastartofjoyfulsurprise，toconcealthelookofwarningwhichFlemingdidnotheed，——havingnoeyesbutforFaulknerscompanion。Shewasaveryfatnegrowoman，pantingwithexertionandsuppressedimpatience。
Fleming’sheartwasfilledwithcompunction。
\"IsyouMarseFleming？\"shegasped。
\"Yes，\"saidFleminggently。\"WhatcanIdoforyou？\"
\"Well！Yekinpickdisyarinsek，discaterpillier，\"shesaid，pointingtoFaulkner，\"offmypaf。Yekintelldisyarchipmunkdatwhenhecomestoshowin’memuletracksforb’artracks，he’sbarkin’updewrongtree！Datwhenhetellsmedatheseespanfersa-promenadin’roundindeshortgrassorhidin’behimerocksindeopen，hehain’ttalkin’tononiggerchile，butagrowedwoman！YekintellhimdatMammyCurtislivedindewoodsafo’hewasborn，andhezseenmoreb’arsandmountainlyunsdanhehezhairsinhismustarches。\"
Theword\"Mammy\"broughtaflashofrecollectiontoFleming。
\"Iamverysorry，\"hebegan；buttohissurprisethenegrowomanburstintoagood-temperedlaugh。
\"Allright，honey！S’long’syouisMarseFleminganddemandattookdat’arpanofferTinkadeodderday，Iain’tmindin’yo’
frens’bedevilments。I’vegotsomefinfo’you，yar，andalittlebox，\"andshehandedhimafoldedpaper。
Flemingfelthimselfreddening，heknewnotwhy，atwhichFaulknerdiscreetlybutostentatiouslywithdrew，conveyingtohisotherpartnerpainfulconvictionthatFleminghadborrowedapanfromatravelingtinker，whosenegrowifewasevennowpresentingabillforthesame，anddemandingasettlement。Relievedbyhisdeparture，Fleminghurriedlytoreopenthefoldedpaper。Itwasaletterwrittenuponaleaftornoutofanoldaccountbook，whoseruledlineshadundoubtedlygivenhispartnerstheideathatitwasabill。Fleminghurriedlyreadthefollowing，tracedwithapencilinaschoolgirl’shand：——
Mr。J。FLEMING。
DearSir，——AfteryouwentawaythatdayItookthatpanyoubroughtbacktomixabatchofbreadandbiscuits。Thenextmorningatbreakfastdadsays：\"What’sgoneo’themtharbiscuits——myteethisjustbrokewiththem——they’resogritty——they’reabominable！
What’sthis？\"sayshe，andwiththathechucksovertometwoorthreeflakesofgoldthatwasinthem。Youseewhathadhappened，Mr。Fleming，wasthis！Youhadbetterluckthanyouwasknowingof！Itwasthisway！Someofthegoldyouwashedhadgotslippedintothesidesofthepanwhereitwasbroke，andthestickydoughmusthavebroughtitout，andIkneadedthemupunbeknowing。OfcourseIhadtotellawickedlie，but\"Beyeallthingstoallmen，\"saystheBook，andIthoughtyououghttoknowyourgoodluck，andIsendmammywiththisandthegoldinalittlebox。Ofcourse，ifdadwasahunterofMammonandnotofGod’sownbeasts，hewouldhavebeenmightykeenaboutfindingwhereitcamefrom，butheallowsitwasinthewaterinournearspring。Sogood-by。
Doyoucareforyourringnowasmuchasyoudid？
Yoursveryrespectfully，KATINKAJALLINGER。
AsMr。Flemingglancedupfromthepaper，mammyputasmallcardboardboxinhishand。Foraninstanthehesitatedtoopenit，notknowinghowfarmammywasintrustedwiththesecret。Tohisgreatreliefshesaidbriskly：\"Well，dar！nowdatjob’sdonegoneandoftenmyhan’s，Iallowtoquitandjestgetoffdisyercampafo’yekinshakeastick。Sodon’ttellmenuffinIain’tgottertellwhenIgoesback。\"
Flemingunderstood。\"YoucantellherIthankher——and——I’llattendtoit，\"hesaidvaguely；\"thatis——I\"——
\"Holddar！that’sjustenuff，honey——nomo’！Solongtoyeandyousefolks。\"
Hewatchedherstridingawaytowardthemainroad，andthenopenedthebox。
Itcontainedthreeflakesofplacerorsurfacegold，weighinginallaboutaquarterofanounce。Theycouldeasilyhaveslippedintotheintersticesofthebrokenpanandnothavebeenobservedbyhim。Ifthiswastheresultofthewashingofasinglepan——andhecouldnoweasilyimaginethatotherflakesmighthaveescaped——
what——Buthestopped，dazedandbewilderedatthebaresuggestion。
Hegazeduponthevanishingfigureof\"mammy。\"Couldshe——couldKatinka——havetheleastsuspicionofthepossibilitiesofthisdiscovery？OrhadProvidenceputthekeepingofthissecretintothehandsofthosewholeastunderstooditsimportance？Foraninstanthethoughtofrunningafterherwithawordofcaution；butonreflectionhesawthatthismightawakenhersuspicionandprecipitateadiscoverybyanother。
Hisonlysafetyforthepresentwassilence，untilhecouldrepeathisexperiment。Andthatmustbedonequickly。
Howshouldhegetawaywithouthispartners’knowledgeofhispurpose？Hewastooloyaltothemtowishtokeepthisgoodfortunetohimself，buthewasnotyetsureofhisgoodfortune。
Itmightbeonlyalittle\"pocket\"whichhehadjustemptied；itmightbealargeronewhichanothertrialwouldexhaust。
Hehadputupno\"notice；\"hemightfinditalreadyinpossessionofKatinka’sfather，oranychanceprospectorlikehimself。Ineithercasehewouldbecoveredwithridiculebyhispartnersandthecamp，ormoreseriouslyrebukedforhiscarelessnessandstupidity。No！hecouldnottellthemthetruth；norcouldhelie。
Hewouldsayhewascalledawayforadayonprivatebusiness。
Luckilyforhim，theactiveimaginationofhispartnerswasevennowhelpinghim。Thetheoryofthe\"tinker\"andthe\"pan\"wasindignantlyrejectedbyhisotherpartner。HisblushesandembarrassmentweresuddenlyrememberedbyFaulkner，andbythetimehereachedhiscabin，theyhadsettledthatthenegrowomanhadbroughthimaloveletter！Hewasyoungandgoodlooking；whatwasmorenaturalthanthatheshouldhavesomedistantloveaffair？
HisembarrassedstatementthathemustleaveearlythenextmorningonbusinessthathecouldnotatPRESENTdisclosewasconsideredamplyconfirmatory，andreceivedwithmaliciouslysignificantacquiescence。\"Only，\"saidFaulkner，\"atYOURage，sonny，\"——hewasninemonthsolderthanFleming，——\"IshouldhavegoneTO-NIGHT。\"
SurelyProvidencewasfavoringhim！
Hewasoffearlythenextmorning。Hewassorelytemptedtogofirsttothecabin，buteverymomentwaspreciousuntilhehadtestedtheproofofhisgoodfortune。
Itwashighnoonbeforehereachedthefringeofforest。Afewpacesfartherandhefoundthespringandoutcrop。Toaverthispartners’suspicionshehadnotbroughthisownimplements，buthadborrowedapan，spade，andpickfromaneighbor’sclaimbeforesettingout。Thespotwasapparentlyinthesameconditionaswhenheleftit，andwithabeatingheartheatoncesettowork，aneasytaskwithhisnewimplements。Henervouslywatchedthewateroverflowthepanofdirtatitsedgesuntil，emptiedofearthandgravel，theblacksandalonecoveredthebottom。Aslightpremonitionofdisappointmentfollowed；arichindicationwouldhaveshownitselfbeforethis！Afewmoreworkings，andthepanwasquiteemptyexceptforafewpin-pointsof\"color，\"almostexactlythequantityhefoundbefore。Hewashedanotherpanwiththesameresult。Anothertakenfromadifferentleveloftheoutcropyieldedneithermorenorless！Therewasnomistake：itwasafailure！Hisdiscoveryhadbeenonlyalittle\"pocket，\"andthefewflakesshehadsenthimwerethefirstandlastofthatdiscovery。
Hesatdownwithasenseofrelief；hecouldfacehispartnersagainwithoutdisloyalty；hecouldseethatprettylittlefigureoncemorewithoutthecompunctionofhavingincurredherfather’sprejudicesbylocatingapermanentclaimsonearhiscabin。Infact，hecouldcarryouthispartners’fancytotheletter！
Hequicklyheapedhisimplementstogetherandturnedtoleavethewood；buthewasconfrontedbyafigurethatatfirsthescarcelyrecognized。Yet——itwasKatinka！theyounggirlofthecabin，whohadsenthimthegold。Shewasdresseddifferently——perhapsinherordinaryevery-daygarments——abrightspriggedmuslin，achiphatwithblueribbonssetuponacoilofluxuriousbrownhair。Butwhatstruckhimmostwasthatthegirlishanddiminutivecharacterofthefigurehadvanishedwithherill-fittingclothes；thegirlthatstoodbeforehimwasofordinaryheight，andofaprettinessandgraceoffigurethathefeltwouldhaveattractedanywhere。
Flemingfelthimselfsuddenlyembarrassed，——afeelingthatwasnotlessenedwhenhenoticedthatherprettylipwascompressedandhereyebrowsalittlestraightenedasshegazedathim。
\"Yemadeabeelineforthewoods，Isee，\"shesaidcoldly。\"I
allowedyemighthavebeendroppin’intoourhousefirst。\"
\"SoIshould，\"saidFlemingquickly，\"butIthoughtIoughttofirstmakesureoftheinformationyoutookthetroubletosendme。\"Hehesitatedtospeakoftheillluckhehadjustexperienced；
hecouldlaughatithimself——butwouldshe？
\"Andyegotanewpan？\"shesaidhalfpoutingly。
Hereseemedhisopportunity。\"Yes，butI’mafraidithasn’tthemagicofyours。Ihaven’tevengotthecolor。Ibelieveyoubewitchedyouroldpan。\"
Herfaceflushedalittleandbrightened，andherliprelaxedwithasmile。\"Go’longwithyer！Yedon’tmeantosayyehadnoluckto-day？\"
\"None——butinseeingyou。\"
Hereyessparkled。\"Yesee，Isaidall’longyeweren’tmucho’aminer。Yeain’tgotnofaith。Efyehadasmuchasagraino’
mustardseed，ye’dremovemountains；it’sintheBook。\"
\"Yes，andthismountainisonthebedrock，andmyfaithisnotstrongenough，\"hesaidlaughingly。\"Andthen，thatwouldbehavingfaithinMammon，andyoudon’twantmetohaveTHAT。\"
Shelookedathimcuriously。\"Ijestreckonyedon’tcareapicayunewhetheryestrikeanythingornot，\"shesaidhalfadmiringly。
\"TopleaseyouI’lltryagain，ifyou’lllookon。Perhapsyou’llbringmeluckasyoudidbefore。Youshalltakethepan。Iwillfillitandyoushallwashitout。You’llbemyMASCOT。\"
Shestiffenedalittleatthis，andthensaidpertly，\"Wot’sthat？\"
\"Mygoodfairy。\"
Shesmiledagain，thistimewithanewcolorinherpaleface。
\"MaybeIam，\"shesaid，withsuddengravity。
Hequicklyfilledthepanagainwithsoil，broughtittothespring，andfirstwashedoutthegreaterbulkofloosesoil。\"Nowcomehereandkneeldownbesideme，\"hesaid，\"andtakethepananddoasIshowyou。\"
Shekneltdownobediently。Suddenlysheliftedherlittlehandwithagestureofwarning。\"Waitaminit——jestaminit——tillthewaterrunsclearagain。\"
Thepoolhadbecomeslightlydiscoloredfromthefirstwashing。
\"Thatmakesnodifference，\"hesaidquickly。
\"Ah！butwait，please！\"Shelaidherbrownhanduponhisarm；apleasantwarmthseemedtofollowhertouch。Thenshesaidjoyously，\"Lookdownthere。\"
\"Where？\"heasked。
\"There——don’tyeseeit？\"
\"Seewhat？\"
\"Youandme！\"
Helookedwhereshepointed。Thepoolhadsettled，resumeditsmirror-likecalm，andreflecteddistinctly，notonlytheirtwobendingfaces，buttheirtwofigureskneelingsidebyside。Twotallredwoodsroseoneithersideofthem，likethecolumnsbeforeanaltar。
Therewasamomentofsilence。Thedroneofabumble-beenearbyseemedtomakethesilenceswimdrowsilyintheirears；farofftheyheardthefaintbeatofawoodpecker。Thesuggestionoftheirkneelingfiguresinthismagicmirrorwasvague，unreasoning，yetforthemomentnonethelessirresistible。Hisarminstinctivelycreptaroundherlittlewaistashewhispered，——hescarceknewwhathesaid，——\"PerhapshereisthetreasureIamseeking。\"
Thegirllaughed，releasedherself，andsprangup；thepansankingloriouslytothebottomofthepool，whereFleminghadtogropeforit，assistedbyTinka，whorolleduphersleevetoherelbow。
Foraminuteortwotheywashedgravely，butwithnobettersuccessthanattendedhisownindividualefforts。Theresultinthebottomofthepanwasthesame。Fleminglaughed。
\"Yousee，\"hesaidgayly，\"theMammonofunrighteousnessisnotforme——atleast，sonearyourfather’stabernacle。\"
\"Thatmakesnodifferencenow，\"saidthegirlquickly，\"fordadisgoin’tomove，anyway，fartherupthemountains。Hesaysit’sgettin’toocrowdedforhimhere——whenthelastsettlertookupasectionthreemilesoff。\"
\"AndareYOUgoingtoo？\"askedtheyoungmanearnestly。
Tinkanoddedherbrownhead。Flemingheavedagenuinesigh。
\"Well，I’lltrymyhandherealittlelonger。I’llputupanoticeofclaim；Idon’tsupposeyourfatherwouldobject。Youknowhecouldn’tLEGALLY。\"
\"Ireckonyemightdoitefyewanted——efyewasTHATkeenongettin’gold！\"saidTinka，lookingaway。Therewassomethinginthegirl’stonewhichthisbuddingloverresented。Hehadbecomesensitive。
\"Oh，well，\"hesaid，\"Iseethatitmightmakeunpleasantnesswithyourfather。Ionlythought，\"hewenton，withtenderertentativeness，\"thatitwouldbepleasanttoworkherenearyou。\"
\"Ye’dbeonlywastin’yertime，\"shesaiddarkly。
Flemingrosegravely。\"Perhapsyou’reright，\"heansweredsadlyandalittlebitterly，\"andI’llgoatonce。\"
Hewalkedtothespring，andgathereduphistools。\"Thankyouagainforyourkindness，andgood-by。\"
Heheldouthishand，whichshetookpassively，andhemovedaway。
Buthehadnotgonefarbeforeshecalledhim。Heturnedtofindherstillstandingwherehehadlefther，herlittlehandsclinchedatherside，andherwidelyopenedeyesstaringathim。Suddenlysheranathim，and，catchingthelapelsofhiscoatinbothhands，heldhimrigidlyfast。
\"No！no！yesha’n’tgo——yemustn’tgo！\"shesaid，withhystericalintensity。\"Iwanttotellyesomething！Listen！——you——you——Mr。
Fleming！I’vebeenawicked，wickedgirl！I’vetoldliestodad——
tomammy——toYOU！I’vebornefalsewitness——I’mworsethanSapphira——I’veactedabiglie。Oh，Mr。Fleming，I’vemadeyoucomebackherefornothing！Yedidn’tfindnogoldtheotherday。
Therewasn’tany。Itwasallme！I——I——SALTEDTHATPAN！\"
\"Saltedit！\"echoedFleming，inamazement。
\"Yes，’saltedit，’\"shefaltered；\"that’swhatdadsaystheycallit——whatthosewickedsonsofMammondototheirclaimstosellthem。I——putgoldinthepanmyself；itwasn’ttherebefore。\"
\"Butwhy？\"gaspedFleming。
Shestopped。Thensuddenlythefountainsinthedeepofherblueeyeswerebrokenup；sheburstintoasob，andburiedherheadinherhands，andherhandsonhisshoulder。\"Because——because\"——shesobbedagainsthim——\"IWANTEDYOUtocomeback！\"
Hefoldedherinhisarms。Hekissedherlovingly，forgivingly，gratefully，tearfully，smilingly——andpaused；thenhekissedhersympathetically，understandingly，apologetically，explanatorily，inlieuofotherconversation。Then，becomingcoherent，heasked，——
\"ButWHEREdidyougetthegold？\"
\"Oh，\"shesaidbetweenfitfulanddespairingsobs，\"somewhere！——I
don’tknow——outoftheoldRun——longago——whenIwaslittle！I
didn’tneverdaresayanythingtodad——he’dhavebeencrazymadathisowndaughterdiggin’——andInevercarednorthoughtasinglebitaboutituntilIsawyou。\"
\"Andyouhaveneverbeentheresince？\"
\"Never。\"
\"Noranybodyelse？\"
\"No。\"
Suddenlyshethrewbackherhead；herchiphatfellbackfromherface，rosywithadawninginspiration！\"Oh，say，Jack！——youdon’tthinkthat——afterallthistime——theremight\"——Shedidnotfinishthesentence，but，graspinghishand，cried，\"Come！\"
Shecaughtupthepan，heseizedtheshovelandpick，andtheyracedlikeboyandgirldownthehill。Whenwithinafewhundredfeetofthehousesheturnedatrightanglesintotheclearing，andsaying，\"Don’tbeskeered；dad’saway，\"ranboldlyon，stillholdinghishand，alongthelittlevalley。Atitsfartherextremitytheycametothe\"Run，\"ahalf-driedwatercoursewhoserockysidesweremarkedbytheerosionofwintertorrents。Itwasapparentlyaswildandsecludedastheforestspring。\"Nobodyevercamehere，\"saidthegirlhurriedly，\"afterdadsunkthewellatthehouse。\"
OneortwopoolsstillremainedintheRunfromthelastseason’sflow，waterenoughtowashoutseveralpansofdirt。