The Colonel thought a moment, and then said: “Don’t bother yo’self, Mr. Gilder, it’s a matteh of vehy little importance, anyway, I assure yo’, suh; I know my men. Most of them have been workin’ fo’ me oveh a year, and I feel perfectly confident they will stand by me until we finish the work, even if I haven’t the ready money with which to pay them. They’re a grand lot of fellows, I assure yo’ they are, and between yo’ and me, every one of them has great confidence in Gray Rocks; wonde’ful confidence, yes, suh.” The Colonel [213] bade Vance good-day and started for his mine, and Vance turned to his case with a heavy heart. The winter was late in coming; though it was the first of November, yet the air was comparatively mild, and the breezes soft, yet invigorating. That evening, Rufus Grim walked back and forth on his wide porch contemplating his own importance. After a little, he walked down through the village and followed a by-path along the mountain side, up toward the old prospect shaft on the Peacock. The night was still and beautiful. The moon was in the last quarter; but her rays were obscured by lazy, drifting clouds, that hung idly in the heavens. Arriving at the old prospect shaft, he took off his hat, and pushed his fat fingers through his heavy hair. He [214] even unbuttoned his coat and leaned against the low wall about the old shaft. Far below him were the lights of Gold Bluff shining from many windows. He looked toward his home and thought of Bertha. “Yes, she loves me,” he mused aloud, “she is a darling little angel. I always thought she returned my love, and now I know it. What a coy way she has about her! What slender hands! Gad; but it was an ordeal, the declaring of my love for her, but I fancy no one could have done better. No, sir, Rufus Grim is always equal to any occasion. “I have made myself what I am. After we are married, we will go to New York city and Washington. They will say I have the loveliest little wife in America—they cannot say otherwise. The men will envy me for owning such a jewel. How different she is from other women! “Bertha!” he mused, “the loveliest name in the world! The little minx! Yes, she suspected that I loved her. She refused ‘em all for me; that scoundrel J. Arthur Boast, among the rest. He is a clever dog, though, and I rather feared him, but now it is all over. “I wish my law-suit was settled; that is the only speck on my horizon, but the decision in the courts above, I feel sure, will be the same as in the lower courts. Yes, I am lucky; there’s none luckier on the whole face of the earth. I came into this camp with nothing—now look at my possessions.” He chuckled to himself, and in an absent way kicked his foot against the old wall.