[Illustration: "'D'yer see this?' "At the same time he pulled out of his pocket, a lot of 'queer' or counterfeit bills."--_Page 34._] "How rich you be!" I ejaculated, with an innocent look of wonder. "Do you think so?" he asked, with a sly wink and chuckle. "Good Lord!" I cried out, as if the idea had just come to me. "They're not--" "Ya-as! They ar'--but don't make sich a row about seeing them." As he said this, he glanced around as if he had been afraid somebody might have been within earshot of us. "I only wish I could get hold of some of the blamed stuff." "If yer do," replied he, "I'll introduce yer to them as makes it." "Will you--re-eelly, do that?" "Ya-as! young fellow, I will." Accordingly, we started on the day after our return down the river, and having passed Dutchman's Rapids, entered upon what is called the jaws of the Little Dalls, at the Shingle. Thence, going by the Devil's Elbow and the Sag safely enough, we came out at the foot of the Dalls proper. Here my companion showed me the entrance to the cave in which the work of the gang was carried on. He then told me I would have to wait at Portage City, until he could see his fellows in the business and obtain their permission to introduce a new recruit to them. Otherwise, it might be dangerous. Afterwards, he himself returned to the neighborhood of the Sag. While remaining at Portage, I met portions of my party, to whom I communicated the success I had met with. After talking the matter over with them, it was suggested by me that I should enter into the drinking-saloon business, which would not only afford me an apparent opportunity for disposing of the false money, but render it easy for me to bring my companions in contact with the counterfeiters. This was agreed upon, and when the pilot returned, I suggested it to him. He literally jumped at the idea, and ostensibly helped me in hunting up a location for my _débût_ in rum-selling, as well as vouching for me most strongly to the individual from whom I hired it. The rascal was well known in the place. The whole of the time since I had arrived in Portage City, I was in constant correspondence with Pinkerton, who thoroughly approved of every step I was taking, and gave me to understand he would be ready at any moment to join me.