Once again he became the pioneer, hardy, brilliant, taking colossal chances, blazing the way, grasping a fortune--a million in a single day.

All the bigness of his nature leaped up again within him.

At the magnitude of the inspiration he felt young again, indomitable, the leader at last, king of his fellows, wresting from fortune at this eleventh hour, before his old age, the place of high command which so long had been denied him.

At last he could achieve.
Abruptly Magnus was aware that some one had spoken his name.

He looked about and saw behind him, at a little distance, two gentlemen, strangers to him.