“Why, Hap!” Ken drawled. “Can’t stand the gaff any more?”
The question was asked in jest. As the four explorers knew well, their leader, a former FBI man, could stand up under grueling physical punishment. This he had proven during recent adventure trips to Peru and Emerald Valley in Colombia.
“I feel sort of lazy tonight,” Hap confessed. “Riding herd over War at Philmont must have worn me out.”
“Dragging him away from the ranch was the hardest,” Jack recalled, his blue eyes twinkling.
“Well, there was so much to do,” War defended himself. “I wanted to make another pack trip on the trail Kit Carson once rode. And I wanted to visit the old mine.”
From his shirt pocket he pulled out a handkerchief in which were wrapped several bits of sparkling rock.
“Still hoarding that junk?” Ken asked with a grin.
“Junk! Just see it shine in the sunlight!”
Ken pretended to cover his eyes. “The glow blinds me!” he chuckled.
“Well, it’s genuine gold,” War said indignantly. “I panned it at Philmont.”