He took a deep gulp and handed it to Hickey, whose bleary eyes had watered at the very sight of the flask. François turned to Handsome.
"Where is ze trail?" he asked.
"Over yonder," growled the big fellow in surly tones and making a sweeping gesture with his arm which embraced every quarter of the compass.
"Rather indefinite, I should say," smiled the valet. "Where you go? Are you on ze way to ze mines?"
Handsome Jack took another pull at the flask. His good humor returning in proportion as he felt warmed up by the spirits, he said more amiably:
"I guess not. My pal and I have enough of the cursed place—ain't we, Hickey?"
The sailor man glanced dolefully at his limping foot, and nodded his head in acquiescence.
"You show us the trail home. My boss is very rich man," interrupted François quickly. "He pay anything."
Handsome pricked up his ears.
"Oh, he's rich, is he?"