The claims had yielded enormously.

The camp was jealous of its privileges and looked suspiciously on strangers.

No encouragement was given to immigration, and, to make their seclusion more perfect, the land on either side of the mountain wall that surrounded the camp they duly preempted.

This, and a reputation for singular proficiency with the revolver, kept the reserve of Roaring Camp inviolate.

The expressman--their only connecting link with the surrounding world--sometimes told wonderful stories of the camp.