BILL MCCLAIN PROSPECTOR 207 



stones, and timber. The searchers were nearly 

 exhausted, and, feeling that by this time McClain 

 surely was dead, the search was abandoned and 

 all hands started for the Graybird. The plan 

 was to return on the morrow with a number of 

 miners, and continue the search for McClain' s 

 body. 



The instant Joe was dug out, he began crawl- 

 ing around, smelling among the debris. He 

 appeared to realize that somewhere his master 

 must be beneath. He refused to go with the 

 men, so there was nothing else to do but leave 

 him. 



A short distance down the gulch Williams 

 stopped. He was troubled over leaving Joe 

 behind. As he stood thinking, he heard the 

 echo of a dog's bark on the mountain side above. 

 Instantly he started back to Joe. The other 

 men went on down the gulch. When he came 

 in sight, Joe was trying to dig with his one 

 sound paw. As Williams approached him, he 

 began tearing furiously at timbers with his 

 teeth. Once on the spot, Williams made haste 

 to pry the timbers apart. Beneath lay McClain. 



Though unconscious, badly bruised, and ter- 

 ribly chilled, he was still alive. In the cabin 

 Williams quickly revived him. By this time 

 the stars were shining. 



As soon as McClain had rested and eaten a 



