“What are you aiming to do with ’em?”
“I’ll have them assayed. But first I’m staking out a claim to this section of the valley.”
“Sure someone hasn’t beaten you to it?”
“This is unclaimed valley—the entire hollow. Ranier told me so. That dirty, low-down scamp deserted me. I’ll get even with him when I get back to Elks Creek.”
“Listen,” Warner said in exasperation, “you’ve had your little joke. Now let us out of here. We can’t raise that rock from below, but you can roll it aside.”
“Maybe I can, but I’m not going to do it,” Walz retorted coolly. “You trailed me to Headless Hollow, but you’re not going to beat me filing a claim.”
“Who wants to file one, you stupid ox?”
“You!” the motel owner accused. “I’ve risked everything to get this gold. Nothing is going to stop me now. Nothing!”
“You’re welcome to the gold—whatever you can find,” Warner said wearily. “Just let us out.”
“Never.”