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Rh its a fac'. Nigh on to eighty years ago, when the United States made a treaty with Guadalupe Hidalgo of Mexico to take over all this territory, before, durin' and after the war with Mexico, our Gov'mint gave a solemn pledge to give the Indians all the rights of American citizenship, includin' the ballot. Wal, they ain't bin let to vote none. But they ain't forgot it. I don't hold myself in favour of Indians in general, or 'Paches in special, but they got some real grievances. If they see us diggin' gold they's goin' to be an argyment. No use side-steppin' that fac'. An', I don't want to discouridge ye, but I don't believe they's gold in this region. If there was they'd be some on these bars an' I washed this crick pritty thorough up as fur as Stone Men Cañon."

Larkin's face was ludicrous in its disappointment.

"I 'ad a 'unch it was hall a bunk," he said. Stone laughed. He took from his pocket a metal matchbox into which he had emptied the contents of the quills. The specimens from the Madre d'Oro he did not display. Harvey opened the box and shook out some of the gleaming grains on to his palm.

"Prime stuff," he said, "but you didn't see it taken up."

"We're lookin' for a dry placer, Harvey," said Stone. "Isn't it possible, if this placer once drained into this creek we're on, that a log or a ledge of rock at its mouth might form the core of a sandbar big enough to stop the freshets from washing down the gold into the main stream?"

"Yes, sir," answered Harvey, "that might happen.