Rodney was received by Jefferson Pettigrew with open arms.
"Welcome home, boy!" he said. "I was very much worried about you."
"I was rather uneasy about myself," returned Rodney.
"Well, it's all over, and all's well that ends well. You are free andthere has been no money paid out. Fred and Otto have done a good thingin ridding the world of the notorious Dixon brothers. They will bewell paid, for I understand there is a standing reward of one thousanddollars for each of them dead or alive. I don't know but you oughtto have a share of this, for it was through you that the outlaws weretrapped."
"No, Mr. Pettigrew, they are welcome to the reward. If I am not mistakenI shall make a good deal more out of it than they."
"What do you mean?"
Upon this Rodney told the story of what he had seen in the cavern.
"When I said I, I meant we, Mr. Pettigrew. I think if the gold there isas plentiful as I think it is we shall do well to commence working it."
"It is yours, Rodney, by right of first discovery."
"I prefer that you should share it with me."
"We will go over tomorrow and make an examination. Was there any oneelse who seemed to have a claim to the cave except the Dixons?"
"No. The negro, Caesar, will still be there, perhaps."
"We can easily get rid of him."
The next day the two friends went over to the cavern. Caesar was stillthere, but he had an unsettled, restless look, and seemed undecided whatto do.
"What are you going to do, Caesar?" asked Pettigrew. "Are you going tostay here?"
"I don't know, massa. I don't want to lib here. I'm afraid I'll see theghostes of my old massas. But I haven't got no money."
"If you had money where would you go?"
"I'd go to Chicago. I used to be a whitewasher, and I reckon I'd getwork at my old trade."
"That's where you are sensible, Caesar. This is no place for you. NowI'll tell you what I'll do. I'll give you a hundred dollars, and you cango where you like. But I shall want you to go away at once."
"I'll go right off, massa," said Caesar, overjoyed. "I don't want tocome here no more."
"Have you got anything belonging to you in the cave?"
"No, massa, only a little kit of clothes."
"Take them and go."
In fifteen minutes Caesar had bidden farewell to his home, and Rodneyand Jefferson were left in sole possession of the cavern.
"Now, Mr. Pettigrew, come and let me show you what I saw. I hope I havemade no mistake."
Rodney led the way to the narrow passage already described. By the lightof a lantern Mr. Pettigrew examined the walls. For five minutes not aword was said.
"Well, what do you think of it?" asked Rodney anxiously.
"Only this: that you have hit upon the richest gold deposits in Montana.Here is a mining prospect that will make us both rich."
"I am glad I was not mistaken," said Rodney simply.
"Your capture by the Dixon brothers will prove to have been the luckiestevent in your life. I shall lose no time in taking possession in ourjoint name."
There was great excitement when the discovery of the gold deposit wasmade known. In connection with the killing of the outlaws, it was noisedfar and wide. The consequence was that there was an influx of miningmen, and within a week Rodney and Jefferson were offered a hundredthousand dollars for a half interest in the mine by a Chicago syndicate.
"Say a hundred and fifty thousand, and we accept the offer," saidJefferson Pettigrew.
After a little haggling this offer was accepted, and Rodney foundhimself the possessor of seventy five thousand dollars in cash.
"It was fortunate for me when I fell in with you, Mr. Pettigrew," hesaid.
"And no less fortunate for me, Rodney. This mine will bring us in a richsum for our share, besides the cash we already have in hand."
"If you don't object, Mr. Pettigrew, I should like to go to New York andcontinue my education. You can look after my interest here, and I shallbe willing to pay you anything you like for doing so."
"There won't be any trouble about that, Rodney. I don't blame you forwanting to obtain an education. It isn't in my line. You can come outonce a year, and see what progress we are making. The mine will becalled the Rodney Mine after you."
The Miners' Rest was sold to the steward, as Mr. Pettigrew was too busyto attend to it, and in a week Rodney was on his way to New York.