Kells held Joan a second, as if he meant to embrace her, but he did
not. "Lord, it's good to see you! I never expected to again. ... But
you can tell me all about yourself after you rest. ... I was just
having breakfast. I'll fetch you some."

"Were you alone here?" asked Joan.

"Yes. I was with Bate and Handy--"

"Hey, Kells!" roared the gang, from the outer room.

Kells held aside the blanket curtain so that Joan was able to see
through the door. The men were drawn up in a half-circle round the
table, upon which were the bags of gold.

Kells whistled low. "Joan, there'll be trouble now," he said, "but
don't you fear. I'll not forget you."

Despite his undoubted sincerity Joan felt a subtle change in him,
and that, coupled with the significance of his words, brought a
return of the strange dread. Kells went out and dropped the curtain
behind him. Joan listened.

"Share and share alike!" boomed the giant Gulden.

"Say!" called Kells, gaily, "aren't you fellows going to eat first?"

Shouts of derision greeted his sally.

"I'll eat gold-dust," added Budd.

"Have it your own way, men," responded Kells. "Blicky, get the
scales down off of that shelf. ... Say, I'll bet anybody I'll have
the most dust by sundown."