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In the ordinary course of events it was likely to be the laundry boy, or Thurza with coal, or one of the musicians who lived in the house, or perhaps a collector. It might have been almost any one but the liveried footman who now stood at the door, hat in hand, with a look of inquiry upon his face. Von Barwig stared at the man in astonishment. Liveries in Houston Street were most uncommon.
The coyotes howled o' nights; now and then Houston, as he worked, saw the tracks of a bear, or the bloody imprints of a mountain lion, its paws cut by the icy crust of the snow as it trailed the elk or deer. The world was a quiet thing, a white thing, a cold, unrelenting thing, to be fought only by thick garments and snowshoes. But with it all, it gave Houston and Ba'tiste a new enthusiasm.
That evening, at the boarding house, Houston sat apparently interested in a game of chess between Miss Gladden and Rutherford, but in reality, paying close attention to a conversation carried on in low tones between Mr. Blaisdell and Morgan. Only an occasional sentence was audible, but he could gather enough to satisfy himself regarding the nature of their plans.
Messages were few from Tabernacle; it had been an easy matter for him to come upon the originals of the telegrams he sought, in spite of the fact that they had been sent more than two weeks before. Already he was reading the first of the night letters: Barry Houston, Empire Lake Mill and Lumber Co., 212 Grand Building, Boston, Mass. Please order six-foot saw as before.
In case the dire predictions failed to materialize the Lord had listened to their protestations that he was not doing the proper thing and "repented him" the Immutable had changed his mind! The prophets were supposed to make a man prosperous as a Tammany politician by blessing, or poor as a Houston Post editorial by laying a curse upon him.
He wrote to Houston that "he had named the place Fort Defiance, and was resolved to defend it." This decision distressed Houston, for Fannin's men were of the finest material young men from Georgia and Alabama, fired with the idea of freedom and the spread of Americanism, or perhaps with the fanaticism of religious liberty of conscience.
As they came out together, half an hour later, and started for the office, Van Dorn drew a small piece of ore from his pocket, saying: "I've discovered now where that fine ore on the dump of the famous Sunrise lode came from." "Yes," said Houston, "and you will make other discoveries, shortly."
"What's the matter, my boy?" he asked, in a low, laughing tone, "Are you spell-bound?" "Spell-bound? well, slightly!" responded Rutherford. "Great Heavens, Houston! do they have such women as those out here?" "Evidently they have some fine samples of the genuine article, but I am not prepared to state how large a stock they carry.
On returning from giving the agreed signal to Jack and Mike, he heard Bull-dog's voice above him in the shaft, calling his name and shouting the warning. "Come, my boy," shouted Houston in return, "we'll start for the tunnels." "Yes sir, I'm a comin', I know the way, but don't you wait fer me 'cause you may git catched."
Lyle had said nothing, but had listened to the conversation, a thoughtful, far-away look stealing into her eyes; and the rest of the boarders arriving just then, nothing more was said on the subject. Haight greeted Houston with his usual smiling politeness, but Morgan looked sullen, and Mr. Blaisdell was gloomy and taciturn. Haight's influence was working, and he could afford to smile.
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