Time had served to dim the ardour of its hopes in this direction; but the mine was still an enticing enterprise when exciting novelties in the way of adventure were wanting, and would always be a hiding-place in which a youthful fugitive from injustice might defy all authority so long as the members of the Company remained true to their oath.

Now that oath was quite the most solemn and impressive thing of the kind that Dick Haddon and Phil Doon had been able to discover after consulting the highest literary authorities.
The quarrel between Dick and Jacker McKnight that originated under the school was quite forgotten in the resulting excitement.

It was a mere incident in any case, and would have made no material difference in their friendship.

It had not kept Jacker from visiting the Mount of Gold on the same night with information and supplies, and now the boy was cheerfully unconscious of the black eye that still ornamented his broad visage.
There were two well-worn shovels and a miner's pick in the drive.

Jacker seized the pick.
'Might as well put in a bit of work,' he said.
'Hold hard,' replied Dick, 'Smoke-ho, old man.