"
For a moment this astonishing speech was followed by absolute silence.
Then, as if with one accord, the men all cheered in admiration.
"Let's git the parson back right off," cried the carpenter. "I kin
build the finest steeple ever was!"
"Send a gang to fetch him here to-day!" said Webber.
"I wouldn't lose no time, or he may git stuck on Fremont, and never
want to budge," added Lufkins.
Field and half a dozen more concurred.
"I'll be one to go myself," said the blacksmith, promptly. "Two or
three others can come along, and we'll git him if we have to steal
him--wife, little gals, and all!"
But the party was yet unformed for the trip when the news of the
council's intentions was spread throughout the camp, and an ugly
feature of the life in the mines was revealed.
The gambler, Parky, sufficiently recovered from the wound in his arm to
be out of his house, and planning a secret revenge against old Jim and
his friends, was more than merely opposed to the plan which had come
from the shop of Webber.
"It don't go down," said he to a crowd, with a sneer at the parson and
with oaths for Bone. "I own some Borealis property myself, and don't
you fergit I'll make things too hot for any preacher to settle in the
camp.
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