\"Yeain’tafearedo’theroadagents？\"suggestedabystander;\"theyjustswarmongalloper’sRidge，andthey’heldup’thedownstageonlylastweek。\"
\"They’renotsolivelysincethedeputy-sheriff’sgotanewideaaboutthem，andhasbeenlyinglowinthebrushnearBaldTop，\"
returnedSkinner。\"Anyhow，theydon’tstopteamsnor’packs’
unlessthere’sachanceoftheirgettingsomefancyhorsefleshbyit;andIreckontharain’tmuchtotemptthemthar，\"headded，withasatiricalsideglanceathiscustomer’scattle。ButKeywasalreadystandingintheexpress-wagon，givingafarewellshaketohispatientcompanion’shand，andthisingenuouspleasantrypassedunnoticed。Nevertheless，astheexpress-wagonrolledaway，hisactivefancybegantoconsiderthisnewdangerthatmightthreatenthehiddenwealthofhisclaim。Buthereflectedthatforatime，atleast，onlythecrudeorewouldbetakenoutandshippedtoMarysvilleinashapethatofferednoprofittothehighwaymen。
Haditbeenagoldmine！——buthereagainwastheinterpositionofProvidence！