"Thank Heaven you are back again, Pard Seldon, for I had begun to fear for your safety." "And I was sure that I would never meet you again in life, Lucas, for I believed you at the bottom of that mountain of rocks that fell from the cliff and crushed out our little home," and the hands of the two men met in a warm grasp. "It would have been so but for a warning I had, when working in the mine. I saw that the cliff was splitting and settling, and running out I discovered that it must fall, and before very long. "I at once got the two mules out of the canyon above, packed all our traps upon them, and hastened away to a spot of safety. Then I returned and got all else I could find, gathered up our gold, and came here and made our camp. "To-night the cliff fell, but not expecting you to arrive by night, I was to be on the watch for you in the morning; but thank Heaven you are safe and home again." "And I am happy to find you safe, Lucas. I was within an eighth of a mile of the cliff when it fell, and I shall never forget the sight, the sound, the appalling dread for a few moments, as I fled to a spot of safety, my horses bearing me along like the wind in their mad terror." "It was appalling, and I have not dared leave my camp since, far as I am from it, for it resounded through the canyons like a mighty battle with heavy guns. But come, comrade, and we will have supper and talk over all that has happened." The horses were staked out up the canyon, where grass and water were plentiful, and then the two men sat down to supper, though neither seemed to have much of an appetite after what had occurred. But Savage, the huge, vicious-looking dog, felt no bad results from his fright of a few hours before, and ate heartily. When their pipes were lighted the man who had lately arrived said: "Well, Lucas, I brought back provisions and other things to last us a year, and I care not to go again from this canyon until I carry a fortune in gold with me." "Yes, here we are safe, and I feel that something has happened to cause you to say what you do, pard." "And I will tell you what it is," impressively returned the one who had spoken of himself as the Hermit of the Grand Canyon. "Yes," he added slowly. "I will tell you a secret, comrade." CHAPTER II. THE MINER'S SECRET. "Pard, after what has happened, the falling of the cliff, and our narrow escape from death, I feel little like sleep, tired as I am, so, as I said, I will tell you a secret," continued Andrew Seldon, speaking in a way that showed his thoughts were roaming in the past. "You will have a good listener, pard," was the answer. "Yes, I feel that I will, and you having told me that you were a fugitive from the law, that your life had its curse upon it, I will tell you of mine, at least enough of it to prove to you that I also dare not show my face among my fellow men.