Had old Stebbins and Black Tom been single men, it is very doubtful whether the attraction of gold would have been sufficient to lead them into a region that was known to contain such an anomaly; but the prospect of placing their families in easy circumstances for life drew them onward, and thus we find them prosecuting their search for the precious metal in the face of such a hideous monster. It is not often that a man finds a short and easy road to wealth; and, besides the ever-threatening peril of the beast, they made the unwelcome discovery that there were people in this region ahead of them. This proved that our friends were not alone in their knowledge of the presence of gold in this secluded part of the world, and it looked no ways improbable that they might encounter serious opposition and trouble from them. Thus they had the four-legged terror, the Blackfeet, and the unknown white men to encounter before they could hope to go back to the United States with “coffers filled.” It will be recollected that on the night of Teddy O’Doherty’s first encounter with the brute, he saw and spoke to a strange man that passed near him--a stranger who was on foot, and who refused to pause and make known his identity to him. The presence of this white man, they believed, indicated the presence of others, and it thus behooved our friends to use the utmost circumspection in their movements. They were scarcely a half day’s journey from their destination, and it lacked yet an hour or two of noon, when they reined up their horses for what they intended should be the long halt. Here was capital hunting-grounds, and it was only a few miles beyond this where it was better, and where they had spent several years in the business. There were hills and mountains, rivers, streams, cañons, prairies, woods, and the most romantic diversification of land; there were abundant places where they could approach within a dozen feet of a foe, without seeing him. They knew the ground well, and the wonder was that as gold seemed to be all about them in such abundance, they had never detected the indications of it before. A secluded place was discovered, where their horses were turned loose to roam free and get themselves in prime condition, while their owners were seeking to put their pockets in the same healthy state. In a rude, cavern-like structure, made by the jumbling of immense masses of rock together in a remote period of the world, the trappers placed their saddles and luggage, while, carrying their rides and spades, they set out upon a prospecting tour. “I wonder if that ar’ critter is anywhar ’bout yer,” remarked Black Tom, as they moved away together. “I don’t,” replied old Stebbins. “Why not?” “’Cause yonder he is this very minute.”