Roy Norton

“ Salting a claim is about the meanest thing a man can do in a mining country. It's a sneak's work. But Hugh, much as he hated it, decided there was but one way, and that was to turn “salter.”
One night when it rained, and the skies were black, and the big trees dripping water, a big, burly man in rubber boots and rubber coat worked over the sluice-boxes on The Grand Reunion. He was very methodical, because he knew how it must be done, and that lack of care would show the partners that something was wrong. ”

“ The next evening Hugh made the partners a visit, but they didn't have anything to say, not having “cleaned up” the sluices. In those days it wasn't customary in small pay-diggings to lift the riffles every night. Civilization hadn't arrived to make daily clean-ups and locks on windows and doors necessary.
On the following evening McCarthy was tired, and went to his own cabin early. He was just filling his pipe when he heard a noise at the door. He turned round, and there stood Abner and Ezra looking happier than he had ever seen them. ”

“ Most would have felt, in commencing life all over again at seventy years, that fate had dealt harshly, but not so with them. To them the hills and forests were home, the good God in heaven a very close friend, and to work was natural. ”

“ They all arose and turned toward the cabin door. It was quite dark, and they couldn't see each other very plainly, so it was less embarrassing to say things from the heart. That is probably the reason why Abner, in his fine old way, said tremulously, as if offering thanks was very hard work:
“Hugh, me and Ezry is gittin' a trifle old, p'raps, to do as much work as some men. We're mighty thankful to the Lord and you, and feels we must do our share. We decided to-day you'd better call us an hour earlier than the others, because them that can't work as fast as some must work longer.” ”

“ Then Hugh got to thinking maybe he had talked too sharply when he called them a pair of “cantankerous old fools,” and decided he would go up through the darkness, the trail being fairly well worn, and apologize. As he was coming round the corner of the cabin he heard them talking, and stopped.
“We jest can't explain,” Abner was saying very gently. “But he don't know how bad I feel, and how bad I know you feel, Ezry. This is a wonderful cabin, and it's a mighty rich claim; but it ain't right for us to keep it, and, besides—besides, it ain't home, somehow.”
At last McCarthy understood. ”

“ This is a mighty rich claim, and no mistake
He wadded some freshly cut tobacco in the palm of his hand, while both the partners said: “Yes, Hugh, it's mighty rich.”
“Now, we all got to be fair and honest with each other, ain't we? Well, I thought it was no good till you proved it up. If you went away I'd have the cabin left, and I've come to buy you out. I'll give you three thousand for The Grand Reunion back, and you keep the last clean-up.”
That was “a powerful sight” of money, and Hugh had to fairly bully them into taking it. ”