41 Lure O Gold 1904

The Lure o
Gold
Again I thought of the infamous Bill, and as I did so
it seemed to me that by going down to the lighter,
which, no doubt, had returned from the Flying Mist, I
might get some sight of the rascal and possibly capture
him. All this time I had been carrying my rifle, though
I had not often been reminded of it, as it was a light
weapon.
Its presence on my shoulder was quite com
forting, however, as I strode down the beach to the
place where the lighter had been stranded with the
other shore-lying craft. But when I found the flatboat
in the darkness there was no sign of life on or about the
square
little hulk. So I walked back toward the Gol
den North, away from the sound of the melancholy
surf, the voice of which seemed doubly sad to me, stag
gering as I was under this heavy stroke of misfortune.
The warmth of the big stove in the tavern and the
lingering food smells that haunted the little diningroom,
which was also sitting-room, public room and
office all in one, reminded me of how miserably cold
and hungry
I was, for I had eaten nothing since morn
ing and my feet were still wet and cold from wading in
the surf.
The landlord, who was still
out of bed, although it
was nearly midnight, was greatly surprised when he
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