“You did; by the way you sneaked along there; and why was you goin’ to climb over the wall here, ’stead of goin’ in through the gate? A blind man could tell somethin’ was up by them things.” “Don’t talk so loud!” He advanced a step and caught Smallpox Dave by the arm. “And listen! I’m glad you’re here, for I need you. You’re always ready to earn money, and I’m ready to pay you more for this job than any you ever undertook for me.” “It’s about ther nugget?” “Don’t speak of that--here! Do you understand? Keep your mouth shut about that. And now, listen.” “I’m listenin’,” was the answer. “You have a horse here, or near?” “Right out yender.” “I thought so. What brought you here?” “Well, say, it was that letter you sent me. It mixed me all up. What did you mean by askin’ me fer ter marry ye, and callin’ me yer sweetheart and all them kind of things? Say, now, wouldn’t that run any man crazy? What did ye mean by it? Er was it some sort of a cipher letter you thought mebbe I’d be able to read. I tried to figger it out, thinkin’ maybe that ‘sweetheart’ meant ther nugget, and that when you said you wanted ter marry me you was only tryin’ to tell me you wanted ter see me bad. I didn’t know but maybe you was afraid ther letter would be opened, and----” “Curse the letter!” Barlow snarled. “Don’t speak of it!” “But why did ye send it?” “It was a mistake--a piece of extreme carelessness on the part of the fellow who carried it. Understand?” “Well, he didn’t stop fer nothin’; he jes’ skipped the letter ter me as he rid along, and then on he flew, as if ther Cheyennes was after his scalp. What’d that mean?” “That meant that he was simply in a hurry; that I had told him to ride to another place and back, and he had to rush to do it and get back in the time allowed.” “I reckon he killed his hoss, then!” “No, he came in all right, and the horse was all right.” “I don’t jes’ understand about that mistake?” “That was a letter I sent to a girl, and the letter with the nugget in it, which I meant for you to get, she got, all through the work of that fool messenger.” Smallpox Dave whistled softly. “Oh-o, I see. So you wasn’t intendin’ to call me all them sweet names? But about ther nugget, and the letter I didn’t git?” “It was the gold nugget, and the letter appointed a place where we could meet for a talk. But you’re here now.” “And the nugget?” “I’ll tell you all about it when I have more time. Just now I want you to help me. Stay right here, and soon I’ll come to you. How long will it take to get to your horse?” “’Bout three jumps and a half,” said Smallpox Dave, with a laugh. “It’s clost ter hand.” “Have your horse ready, so that you can help me with that. And here--remember that I pay well. We may have to get out of here to-night, if we want to get hold of the rest of those nuggets.”