Still she was not alone; Thirlwell had promised to help and she knew he would not fail her.

She meant to let him help, not because she wanted to get rich, but because she really knew what had influenced him, and suspected that he was not as strong as he thought.
For all that, she kept out of his way as much as possible while they camped by the creek, although she was careful to talk with easy friendliness when they met at meals.

Thirlwell, however, was generally occupied, and when he had made a rough survey of the claims they started south.

The loads were light now and he forced the pace because he was anxious, and felt responsible.

There was another prospecting party, with an unscrupulous leader, not far off, and one's title to a mineral claim is open to dispute until the record is filed.