"Jack, wait till you see Alder Creek!" ejaculated Smith, wagging his
grizzled head. "Three thousand men, old an' young, of all kinds--
gone gold--crazy! Alder Creek has got California's '49 and' '51
cinched to the last hole!" And the bandit leader rubbed his palms in
great glee.

That evening they all had supper together in Kell's cabin. Bate Wood
grumbled because he had packed most of his outfit. It so chanced
that Joan sat directly opposite Jim Cleve, and while he ate he
pressed her foot with his under the table. The touch thrilled Joan.
Jim did not glance at her, but there was such a change in him that
she feared it might rouse Kells's curiosity. This night, however,
the bandit could not have seen anything except a gleam of yellow. He
talked, he sat at table, but did not eat. After supper he sent Joan
to her cabin, saying they would be on the trail at daylight. Joan
watched them awhile from her covert. They had evidently talked
themselves out, and Kells grew thoughtful. Smith and Pearce went
outside, apparently to roll their beds on the ground under the porch
roof. Wood, who said he was never a good sleeper, smoked his pipe.
And Jim Cleve spread blankets along the wall in the shadow and and
lay down. Joan could see his eyes shining toward the door. Of course
he was thinking of her. But could he see her eyes? Watching her
chance, she slipped a hand from behind the curtain, and she knew
Cleve saw it. What a comfort that was! Joan's heart swelled. All
might yet be well. Jim Cleve would be near her while she slept. She
could sleep now without those dark dreams--without dreading to
awaken to the light. Again she saw Kells pacing the room, silent,
bent, absorbed, hands behind his back, weighted with his burden. It
was impossible not to feel sorry for him. With all his intelligence
and cunning power, his cause was hopeless. Joan knew that as she
knew so many other things without understanding why. She had not yet
sounded Jesse Smith, but not a man of all the others was true to
Kells. They would be of his Border Legion, do his bidding, revel in
their ill-gotten gains, and then, when he needed them most, be false
to him.