"Don't laugh, fellows," he admonished. "You have seen one of your own bare his soul, if you can understand what that means. It takes a brave man to do that, boys, a man of wonderful courage. I wonder how many of you would have the courage to do the same. I'll have more to say on the subject of Spike in a moment. First, I want to thank you for your loyalty to us. We could not have won out if you hadn't been loyal. We are going to make money, as I have told you before, and you boys who have helped to make it are going to get your share." "Give 'em a little rough stuff. They'll understand that better than they do this soul business," suggested Hippy, and the jacks grinned. "As for Spike, he forgot to carry out his threat to resign--" resumed Tom. "I quit, and I--" interrupted Spike, flushing hotly. "Sit down!" commanded Hippy, forcing him back into his seat, from which Spike had started to rise. "Mr. Wingate and I have had several talks about affairs here," resumed Tom. "Among other things, we have decided that we have need of a foreman, a foreman who can get out the work with the new men--you fellows do not need a foreman--and carry out our orders in other directions. Before coming here for this little party, we had already decided on a man for the job of foreman, and I, for one, am glad we picked the man we did, but I want you boys to approve of our appointment. What you say _goes_. Stand up!" commanded Tom Gray sternly, fixing his gaze on the red-headed jack, who, from sheer force of habit, obeyed that tone instantly. "There's the man I've picked," announced Tom, pointing to Spike. A dead silence greeted the announcement, a silence broken only by the heavy breathing of the lumberjacks, and the shrill voice of Joe Shafto back in the cook-house abusing Willy Horse. "What do you say, fellows?" urged Tom quietly. Something seeped slowly into the brain of those rough and ready two-fisted lumbermen. To advance a confessed crook to foreman, a man who had bargained to do a traitorous thing to his Big Boss--it was big, it was unheard of in their rough lives. Even the girls of the Overland party, not one of whom had known of Tom's and Hippy's purpose, felt a thrill, but no one spoke. "Well, fellows?" urged Tom gently. "_Yes!_" The word was uttered in a roar, a mighty roar that was heard in the cook-house and by the lumberjacks at their Christmas dinner in the old bunk-house. Nora Wingate, carried away by her emotions, sprang to her feet and threw wide her arms. "Boys! Boys!" she cried almost hysterically. "You're rough, but you're men--loyal, splendid fellows, and I love you, every one of you!" Spike, with burning face, bolted for the door. "Come back here!" bellowed Hippy Wingate. "You've forgotten something," pointing to the gold-piece that lay where Emma Dean had placed it before Spike's plate. "I never did see anyone so careless with money."