Running up the hill again, puffing with added explosiveness, Keno could
hardly contain his excitement.
"I've told em!" he panted. "They know he's alive and smart as mustard!"
CHAPTER IV
PLANNING A NEW CELEBRATION
The cream, as it were, of the population of the mining-camp were ready
to receive the group from up on the hill. There were nearly twenty men
in the delegation, representing every shade of inelegance. Indeed,
they demonstrated beyond all argument that the ways of looking rough
and unkempt are infinite. There were tall and short who were rough,
bearded and shaved who were rougher, and washed and unwashed who were
roughest. And there were still many denizens of Borealis not then on
exhibition.
Webber, the blacksmith; Lufkins, the teamster; Bone, the "barkeep";
Dunn, the carpenter, and Field, who had first discovered precious ore
at Borealis, and sold out his claims for a gold watch and chain--which
subsequently proved to be brass--all these and many another shining
light of the camp could be counted in the modest assemblage gathered
together to have a look at the "kid" just reported by Keno.
Surprise had been laid on double, in the town, by the news of what had
occurred. In the first place, it was almost incredible that old
"If-only" Jim had actually made his long-threatened pilgrimage to fetch
his promised pup, but to have him back here, not only with the dog in
question, but also with a tiny youngster found at the edge of the
wilderness, was far too much to comprehend.
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