"Over there," answered Virgie, vaguely. "I don't remember. Can't I have it? Isn't it gold? That's a gold mine." "Maybe it is gold, from the True Blue mine. You can tell your father you mined it," bantered Harry. "Goody!" And Virgie tightly clutched it. "And I can buy Duke with it. They're going to make him fight a bear and I don't want him to fight a bear." "What's that?" Harry's voice rang sharply. "Who said so?" "Sure," affirmed George. "We saw him, in a show. And there's a sign up telling folks to bring in a bear and have a match." "Great Scotland! Why didn't you mention it before?" Harry was visibly disturbed. "I did, to Terry." "Yes, he did, but I'd forgotten," supported Terry. "I was intending to speak about it, but these other things put me off the track." "What'd you sell him for?" taxed George. "Shouldn't think you'd have sold him. He's awful peaked, shut up there." "Well, we didn't sell him for that, anyway," declared Harry. "Good-bye. You fellows stay here. I'm going." "Where?" "Down there--to Denver and Auraria. We'll go and rescue Duke, won't we, Virgie?" "_You_ don't need to go, do you? The folks can rescue him. We'll tell Virgie to ask them to," proposed Terry. "They'll do it." "No, sir!" rapped Harry. "I got him into that mess and I'll get him out if it takes every cent we have. We can pay Father Richards by selling the mine, if necessary; but Duke sha'n't fight any bear. That wasn't the bargain." And he bolted into the cabin. Terry gazed at George; George solemnly gazed at Terry. It was a day of sudden changes in plans. "Shucks! Duke oughtn't to be made to fight a bear, though," murmured Terry. "I should say not--I call that downright cruel," agreed George. "But the bear wasn't there yet. Anyway, maybe the man won't sell." "He'll have to, if Harry once gets after him. And the folks will help now," reminded Terry, hopefully. "I'll help," chirped Virgie. "I'll help with my mine." Harry bustled out. He had his blanket and a small package in some sacking. "Of course there's no use in the rest of you going," he said. "I've taken most of our 'pile,' Terry, but I've left you a pinch of dust and the two pies, and there's flour and stuff yet. I'll leave you Jenny, too. You and George and Jenny can be getting me a job while you're getting for yourselves. I'll be back as soon as I save Duke from being bear meat. If you can't find any paying jobs here, sell the blamed old claims, and we'll prospect in better diggin's. Climb on your pony, Virgie. Tell 'em good-bye." "You mustn't sell my mine," objected Virgie, from the saddle of the Indian pony. "I don't want it sold." "Well, they can sell the Golden Prize, if they have to," laughed Harry. "So long, fellows. You'll see Duke and me later." Away he strode at rapid limp--dear old Harry!--with Virgie on her ambling pony keeping pace beside him, into the gulch and on. "Guess we'll have to rustle," spoke Terry, to George, as they watched him and Virgie out of sight.