"Men," said he, raising his clenched fist, "I know not what your notions of humanity may be, or your ideas of justice, but this I know, that the man who has the power to help a fellow-mortal in deadly distress and holds back his hand, is worse than a beast, for he has reason to guide him, and a beast has not. I and my comrade Joe Graddy, at least, will remain behind, even though we should be left alone, but I am convinced that we shall _not_ be left alone. Meanwhile," he added, addressing the guide, "I shall pay you my share of what is due, after which you may go, and I shall wish you no worse luck than that your conscience may go with you and be a lively companion." "There is more to be said than that," observed the Yankee at this point. "You are so very fond of fulfilling your duty, mister guide, that I have concluded to relieve you of some of it. One of these mules is loaded entirely with my goods. Now, I guess, I'll remain behind with Mister Allfrey, and keep the mule at a reasonable valuation." "I'll not part with him at any price," said the guide with a sneer. "I'll carry your goods to the diggings or I'll unstrap them, stranger, and let you carry them the best way you can, but I'm not bound to sell my mules to you." "Now, men," cried the Yankee, springing forward and addressing his comrades, "I appeal to you all in the name of fair-play! Here am I, willin' to pay this man a fair price for his mule. There's not a pick or shovel belongin' to any one else on its back, so I'm doin' damage to nobody by the proposal. This critter is bent on refusin' me out of spite; now, I propose to settle the question here with the rifle or pistol or bowie-knife. He is welcome to choose his weapon--it matters nothin' to me, and whichever falls loses the day." There was a burst of laughter at this, and the majority insisted that the guide should give in, while a few, who were fond of excitement, suggested that the two should be allowed to fight it out, but this the guide refused to do; and when his comrade, the second guide, stepped forward and said he would join those who wanted to remain, he grumblingly agreed to part with the mule for its full value. The bargain was soon made. The one party continued their journey; the other, with an abundant supply of water, returned to those who had been left behind, and reached them in time to save their lives. That night, as Frank and Graddy lay together under the same blanket, the latter observed that, "he had travelled a goodish bit over the univarse, but that he had niver before comed across nothin' like the experiences of the last two days; and that, if the end of their diggin' for goold woe to be as bad as the begginin', the sooner they set about diggin' their graves the better!" With which sentiment Frank Allfrey heartily agreed, and thereafter fell asleep. CHAPTER FOUR. DESCRIBES AN INCIDENT OF DEVOURING INTEREST, AN UNEXPECTED VISIT, AND A VIOLENT ASSAULT.