And it was high time, for the pot was slowly sinking into the fast-crumbling oven.

Concho uttered a jubilant "God and Liberty," but Don Jose Wiles bade him be silent and bring stakes to support the pot.

Then Don Jose bent over the seething mass.

It was for a moment only.

But in that moment this accomplished metallurgist, Mr.Joseph Wiles, had quietly dropped a silver half dollar into the pot! Then he charged them to keep up the fires and went to sleep--all but one eye.
Dawn came with dull beacon fires on the near hill tops, and, far in the East, roses over the Sierran snow.