Cargunka manages to prevent the newcomer, George Monkton, from murdering Kessel, who upon regaining consciousness promptly runs away. Monkton is weak with hunger and Cargunka feeds him, while listening to his story. We learn that Monkton is a gold miner who recently staked a claim. Claim-jumpers have muscled in on his claim; Kessel is the man who actually filed the paperwork. Monkton recruits Cargunka to help him drive off the claim jumpers, and recover his gold in exchange for half the proceeds.