“Yis,” answered Teddy, with a significance which the speaker did not get. “Well, you are right,” added Hammond, with great earnestness; “there is enough gold within your reach to make you all rich, and I have come here on purpose to show you where to find it.” He paused and looked at them, and they at each other, but never a syllable was uttered. “Now,” he resumed, “it may seem that I am not entirely unselfish in this matter. There is a young lady among the Indian tribe near at hand, who has consented to accompany me home, and to become my wife. It was not _gold_ that brought _me_ here--it was _she_; and,” said Hammond, his face aglow with pleasure, “I have obtained her. Well, we are to start eastward, on our horses, never to return here. You know, as well as I, the dangers that beset such a journey, and it’s for that reason I wish your company.” “But how kin we go without the spondulicks?” asked Black Tom. “I don’t wish you to do so, and therefore I am going to put you in the way of obtaining all the wealth you want in a few hours.” “Would you have told us ef it hadn’t been you wanted us to take care of yerself and gal?” asked old Stebbins, with considerable bluntness. “It is not I that wish to be protected and taken care of, but Lamora, the lady who accompanies me; but I will answer your question. When I first saw you in this vicinity and suspected what you were after, I had not the remotest idea of imparting to you the secret I had obtained from my lady; but, when I had seen enough of you to believe that you were honest men, and deserving of better success, I suggested to Lamora that we should put you in the way of instantly acquiring that for which you were so anxiously searching, and she gave me permission, without a moment’s hesitation, to do so.” “That makes it all right,” said Black Tom, much pleased with the frankness of their visitor; “we’ll shake hands on that.” “Yis; that makes things plisent, as me cousin obsarved, whin he and his gal broke their shillalehs over aich ither’s heads.” “I exact only one condition,” said Hammond, “and that is that you will each and all give me your promise to keep this matter a secret. It has been long known to the friendly Indians near at hand, and to some of the Blackfeet, and it is worth a great deal to them, while, if it should become generally known among the hunters and trappers, you know this place would be overrun with lawless men, and the Meagans would be compelled to leave the home which they hope to keep for the remainder of their lives.” The promise was readily given by all, and then Hammond proceeded to explain with great minuteness the very cavern which Teddy O’Doherty had explored. The three listened, until he had finished, and then the Irishman astounded Hammond, by remarking, with his peculiar chuckle: “We’re obleeged to you, Misther Hammond, _but we’ve already been thar_!” CHAPTER XII. HUNTING WEALTH BY FIRELIGHT.