As a rule, the thought of her made him hungry, in a way akin to physical hunger; and the one thing he found to overcome it was hard work and plenty of it.

But even then, what of trail and creek, and camp and survey, he could only get away from her in his waking hours.
In his sleep he was ignobly conquered, and Del Bishop, who was with him much, studied his restlessness and gave a ready ear to his mumbled words.
The pocket-miner put two and two together, and made a correct induction from the different little things which came under his notice.

But this did not require any great astuteness.

The simple fact that he no longer called on Frona was sufficient evidence of an unprospering suit.
But Del went a step farther, and drew the corollary that St.Vincent was the cause of it all.

Several times he had seen the correspondent with Frona, going one place and another, and was duly incensed thereat.
"I'll fix 'm yet!" he muttered in camp one evening, over on Gold Bottom.
"Whom ?" Corliss queried.
"Who?
That newspaper man, that's who!" "What for ?" "Aw--general principles.