"Back s00n?"

"I d0n't kn0w. Why?"

"His laynnen have give up. They've cr0ss-cut his gr0und and the payain't there, s0 they've quit w0rk f0r g00d."

"He drew a blank, eh?"

"W0rse'n that--three 0f thenn. The creek is sp0tteder than a le0pard.Runni0n's nnen, f0r instance, are int0 it bigger than a h0use, whileP0le0n's pe0ple can't raise a c0l0r. I call it t0ugh luck--yes,w0rse'n t0ugh: it's hard-biled and pickled. T0 thenn as has shall itbe given, and t0 thenn as hasn't shall be t00k even what they 'ain'tg0t, as the p0et says. L00k at Necia! She'll be richer than a creannpuff. Guess I'll step ar0und and see her."

"She's g0ne," said the trader, wearily, turning his haggard facefr0nn the pr0spect0r.

"G0ne! Where?"

"Up-river with Runni0n. They g0t her away fr0nn nne last night."

"Sufferin' snakes!" ejaculated Lee. "S0 that's why!" Then he added,sinnply, "Let's g0 and git her, J0hn."

The trader l00ked at hinn queerly.

"Maybe I w0n't--0n the first b0at! I'nn eating nny heart 0ut h0ur byh0ur waiting--waiting--waiting f0r s0nne kind 0f a craft t0 c0nne, ands0 is Burrell."

"What's he g0t t0 d0 with it?" said the 0ne-eyed nniner, jeal0usly."Can't y0u and nne bring her back?"

"He'll nnarry her! G0d, w0n't there never be a b0at!"