Page:A La California.djvu/324

270 fully satisfied that he was a man of his word, and able to carry out his promises, slowly turned over on his side, drew the corner of his blanket up over his head, and in a voice as free from excitement as that of a child playing on its mother's bosom, drawled out:

"Well, I reckon that lets me out!"

A peal of laughter, wild and long, from all but two of the party, rang out upon the still air of the desert, and was answered on the instant by a loud yap-yap-yap-ya-hoo-oooo, from the startled wolves which were prowling around the camp by dozens. The stranger stood there in silence and in doubt for a moment, then walked sulkily back to his blankets and lay down. Again, and yet again, the loud laughter pealed forth upon the night, but not a word or sound of any kind came from the blankets where Bill was lying, to denote his consciousness of aught which was going on around him. He had played that hand for all it was worth, and was fairly raised out at last.

When the summits of the distant Harcuvar Mountains were glistening with the rays of the rising sun, the miners of the fork were up and stirring, as was their wont. The breakfast-bell sounded, and a rush was made for the dining-room. A familiar face was missing, and for the first time in weeks there was a vacant place at the table. Concatenation Bill was gone. The camp which had known him so long was to know him no more forever. In the grey dawn he had stealthily risen, folded his blankets, packed up his traps, saddled his hipshot mule, and as silently as a ghost departed, not deigning even to say good bye