A Desperate Chance | Page 3

necessary for me to do so."
"It was?"
"Yes."
"How so?"
"I need food; I have not struck any game lately. The fact is, I've been up in the peaks where there is no game. I hope you have a cold snack here, my friends, and some tobacco, for I have not had a regular tobacco smoke or chew for over a month."
"We were just about to prepare some coffee and make a meal."
"Good enough; did you say coffee? Well, I have struck Elysium; I haven't tasted a cup of coffee in a year. You see I was snowbound away up in the mountains; fortunately I had plenty of dried meat, and I was compelled to wait until I was thawed out."
Brooks commenced making the coffee, and while doing so the woodsman asked:
"Are you regular hunters?"
"No."
"Ever in the mountains before?"
"Never."
"You've been taking great chances."
"We have?"
"Yes."
"How so?"
"The mountains are full of bad Indian fugitives, and they are very ugly. Some are parts of a raiding gang of bucks, and others are rascals who have made a kick out at the reservation. I've met twenty of them in the last ten days; they are in squads of twos and threes, and they are full of fight."
"We have met some of them."
"And you managed to escape?"
"We had a fight with one party."
"You did?"
"Yes."
"How did you come out?"
"Ahead, I reckon, or we would not be here."
The conversation was between the woodsman and Desmond.
"What brought you into the mountains--are you tourists?"
"No."
"On business?"
"Yes."
"Surveyors?"
"No."
"I thought not; no use to survey out this way. I suppose you are looking for a lost mine."
"Well, we might take in a lost mine or find a new one, it don't matter."
"Ah! I see; well, so far you've been lucky, but you've been taking desperate chances."
"Oh! that's a way we have."
CHAPTER II.
A RECOGNITION--THE WOODSMAN'S DISCLOSURES--A CHANCE AFTER ALL--THE BIVOUAC--DESMOND'S DISCOVERY--SAVAGES GALORE.
The coffee was soon prepared and Brooks produced some dried meat and a few crackers, and the three men, so strangely met, sat down to enjoy their meal. The woodsman was offered the first cup of coffee, and as he drank it down, all hot and steaming, he smacked his lips and exclaimed:
"Well, that was good; that cup of coffee makes us friends. I may do you a good turn."
"Good enough; we are ready for a good turn. We've had rather hard luck so far."
"So you are after a mine, eh?"
"Yes."
"You are regular prospectors?"
"Yes."
"You have to strike a surface ledge to make any money. Don't think a claim would amount to much out here unless you found a nest of them so as to attract a crowd, and a town, and a mill, and all that. According to my idea the mines out here all need capital to work 'em in case you should strike one."
Regardless of possibilities, as the night was a little chilly, Brooks had created quite a blaze, and by the light of the fire he had a fair chance to study the woodsman's face, and finally he asked abruptly:
"Stranger, what is your name?"
The woodsman laughed, and said:
"I thought you'd ask that question."
"You did?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Well, it's natural that you should, but that ain't the reason I thought so."
"It is not?"
"No."
"Well, why did you think so?"
"I was going to ask your name."
"Certainly; my name is Brooks."
"I thought so."
"You did?"
"Yes."
"What made you think my name was Brooks?"
"Can't you guess?"
"No."
"Why did you ask my name?"
"As you said, it was a natural question."
"That ain't the reason you asked it."
"It is not?"
"No."
"Well, you may tell me the true reason."
"You've been studying my face."
"I have."
"You think you've seen me before somewhere?"
"Well, you did see me before."
"I did?"
"Yes."
"When and where?"
"Just look sharp and see if you can't place me."
"I can't."
"It was a great many years ago."
"It must have been; but to tell the truth, there is something very familiar in your face."
"Yes, and you discovered it at the start, but you don't place me; I placed you. I didn't until you mentioned your name."
"You now recall?"
"I do."
"Where have we met?"
"Try to remember."
"Tell me your name."
"Oh, certainly, by and by; but in the meantime pay me the compliment of remembering who I am."
"You have the advantage."
"How?"
"I told you my name."
"I will tell you mine in good time, but try to remember."
"I give it up."
"You do?"
"I do."
The woodsman laughed, and said:
"We slept together one night."
"We did?"
"Yes."
"When and where?"
"And now you can't recall?"
"I cannot."
"You are a square man, but there has come a change over you."
"Did we meet often?"
"No."
"Were we intimate?"
"Well, yes, for the time being."
"I give it up."
"You don't place me?"
"No."
Again the woodsman laughed and said:
"Do you remember about fifteen years ago a young fellow, tired, wet, and hungry, tried to find shelter in a freight car?"
"Hello! you are not Henry Creedon?"
"Yes, I am, and this is the second time you've fed me. You appear to be my good angel; I may prove