198 THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
into any trouble up there. It's perfectly clear," he added 
aloud. Old Gray Beard found out about that cellar, 
which was probably built by the traders to store their furs 
in, where they could be neither stolen nor injured, either 
by Indians or elements. It probably was unfinished when 
the fort was built. The crafty old medicine-man, know- 
ing he was closely watched in his own tribe, found out 
about this cellar, got down into it some day when nobody 
was round, taking a pickaxe from Russian stores in the 
fort. Then carried his treasures with him, intending to 
hide them, like every old miser that ever lived, where 
nobody could find them but their owner. While he was 
digging, and planning future trips to his haunted Red 
Mountain, the steel point of the pick struck open an 
empty pocket in the ledge, reaching to a blast of that 
fearful fire-damp. It only came out slowly, and I sup- 
pose he didn't know what was the matter, but sat down 
at the table to take another look at his precious docu- 
ments. He never got up again from that chair." 
" Do you suppose those Hebrew writings tell about the 
mountain ? " 
That's more than I know. The main point is that 
the map is probably correct, and, if we have the pluck to 
put this thing through, the Buttons are the wealthiest 
family in the United States ! " 
Peeschee now withdrew, but not till his master had given 
his hand a hearty shake as a token of restored confidence. 
The Indian's eyes glistened, but he said nothing. 
