“I’m afraid it doesn’t go very far,” Scott remarked.  “The law requires that the discoverer stakes off the ground he is entitled to and then registers the claim at the nearest record office.  After this he must do a certain amount of development work before he gets his patent and becomes the owner of the mine.  The claim has not been recorded yet.”

“No; it has lapsed,” Agatha agreed.  “This means that any adult British citizen may make a re-discovery record.  Well, we must do so, as soon as we can.”

“Developing a mine is rough work for a woman.”

Agatha smiled.  “There’s something about the discoverer being allowed to appoint a deputy, and perhaps Mr. Thirlwell will look after my interests.  But won’t you see about getting us all that he thinks needful?”

“I’ll see about it now,” said Scott, who took Thirlwell away, but stopped when they were hidden by the pines.

“Strange has given you a useful clue, but that’s all,” he said.  “You’ll find the lode if you find the valley, but you may look for a long time.”

Thirlwell made a sign of agreement.  “Yes; there’s something curiously elusive about this ore.”

“All the same, it’s certainly worth a proper search; but you’ll need a large quantity of truck and one or two extra packers.  I understand Miss Strange insists upon everything being done at her cost.  Has she money enough?”

“I think not.”

“You know she has not!  Looks as if you had forgotten you showed me her letter when she stated the sum.  It’s hard to see how it covers expenses up to date.”

Thirlwell looked embarrassed and Scott laughed.  “You seem to have been generous, particularly as you didn’t believe in the lode; but anything you have saved from your wages won’t carry you far.  Well, you can take the truck and tools you need, and I’ll give you two of the boys.  Miss Strange can pay me when she gets her patent, or, if she likes, I’ll butt in on a partnership basis and run my risk.  She can decide which line she’ll take after she locates the ore.”

“Thanks; I’ll take the truck,” said Thirlwell.

He knew Scott wanted to help him and not to gain something for himself, but it might be an advantage for Agatha to make an arrangement with him when she owned the mine.

“There’s another thing,” Scott went on.  “Since the Clermont isn’t paying, I might lend you to Miss Strange if you were anxious to undertake the development work, but the law doesn’t require very much of this.  What are you going to do when the patent’s granted?”

Thirlwell made an abrupt movement.  Until that morning he had doubted if Agatha would find the vein, but he was forced to admit the possibility of her doing so.  When the vein was proved and she owned the claim she would no longer need him as she needed him now; nor would he be able to neglect his duties and follow her about as unpaid adviser.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do.  I haven’t thought about it yet.”