Frank's friends wandered about the place and investigated the mine, watching operations.
The calm of the valley was most deceptive, and both Ready and Gallup declared they could not conceive any possible danger lurking near. Hodge, however, professed to feel a warning in the very peacefulness, which he declared was the calm before a storm.
Jim Tracy sulked. His treatment by Frank was altogether displeasing to him, and he felt that he had been humiliated, which caused him to register a secret vow of vengeance.
Pablo was generally found lingering about Frank's cabin or somewhere near Merry.
"He knows a good thing when he sees it," said Ready sagely, "and he means to stick to it. He doesn't seem in any great hurry about rushing to the rescue of his 'seestar.'"
Frank smiled in a knowing manner, observing:
"Perhaps he has reasons to know that his sister is in no great peril at present, and he is satisfied to stay here."
"He's a gol dern lazy little beggar!" said Gallup. "An' he oughter hev to wash his face once in a while."
The evening was cool and agreeable. The sun dropped peacefully behind the mountains and the[Pg 150] shadows gathered deeply in the gorges and cañons. The roar of the stamps sank to silence, and peace lay like a prayer on the valley.
Frank and his friends sat about the cabin door and chatted of old times. Sometimes they sang little snatches of the old songs.