“I suppose so,” Joshua agreed. “But the best of it is that a good powderman has a chance to get somewhere, it seems to me, and I’m going to try for a foreman’s job as soon as a chance offers.”
“Ye’re pretty young.”
“I realize that. But I’m confident that I can get something before very long. The outfit is as yet short of men—there ought to be a chance for me. Well, until I get on my feet, anyway, I won’t see Madge.”
“She’s used to tramps enough,” mused Bill. “But that ain’t sayin’ she’ll fall in love with one. I’m bettin’ on ye, though, Tony. Don’t get discouraged. An’ whatever ye do, don’t give up astronomy. That’s what ye’ve set yer heart on, an’ that’s what ye know best. Get on yer feet, make up to Shanty Madge, make her love ye, an’ then get outa here an’ go on with yer studies. If Madge is what I think she is, she’d say the same. An’ she’ll wait f’r ye, too. That is, that’s the way I’m bettin’. You’ll win, Tony—it’s in yer eye. Ye been through hell, an’ ye come out of it rarin’ an’ prancin’ an’ gnawin’ yer bit. Ye’re a fightin’ fool—my money’s on ye, son! Now here we go ’round the east end o’ the lake. Come three o’clock we’ll be there, an’ then—”
“Then I’ll begin my life,” said Joshua.
California Bill sighed deeply and looked away over Stirrup Lake toward Saddle Mountain, red in the sunlight. “Then ye’ll begin,” he muttered softly. “Lord! Lord! What must it be like to be young and talkin’ about beginnin’!”
CHAPTER XVII
AMBITIONS
HALF of the outfit of Demarest, Spruce and Tillou went into permanent camp on a timbered plateau three miles from the lake, thus establishing Camp Number One. The other half journeyed on six miles down the mountain valley that extended in the direction of the coast, where it became Camp Two.
Joshua Cole remained at Camp One, which grew to a white-tent city during the several closely following days. This mountain country thrilled him. The air was light and cool, and the objects of Nature’s handiwork stood out in bold relief. The pine forests looked as if they had been newly painted, so bright were the greens, so contrasting the delicate browns. Lofty peaks covered with untarnished snow looked down upon the camp, and the placid lake lay like a blue teardrop in the hollow of a gigantic, caressing hand. Lush meadows surrounded the lake, and here grazed innumerable cattle, the property of Box-R Ranch, down on the desert. All winter long they had cropped bunchgrass that grew under sage bushes on the sandy waste, and had just been driven into the mountains for the summer pasture of saltgrass and bluejoint. Occasionally Joshua saw cowpunchers working with them and heard their shouting from afar.
He had gone to work as soon as the big camp was established, swinging a striking hammer on a drill head, with three others to complete the crew. The work was represented by a gigantic cut through solid rock, and, but for that in the hands of Shanty Madge, was the most difficult on the entire job.