“I wouldn’t mind running a gold mine for a day or two,” grinned Andy. “It might give me a chance to fill my pockets with nuggets.”
“I want to warn you boys to be careful of what you say and what you do when we get to the mining region,” answered Tom Rover. “Some of the men out there are desperate characters and some are very touchy. You say the wrong thing to a touchy man and he may pull a gun on you.”
“Oh, we know enough to watch out,” answered Jack. “Just the same, Uncle Tom, if we fellows can help you in any way, don’t you hesitate to call on us.”
Early the following morning the Rovers bade farewell to Hans Mueller, who had them taken to the railroad station.
“If I could only get avay already, I’d go mit you in a minute,” declared the genial delicatessen dealer. “I haf not forgot what a good time I haf ven I go to Big Horn Ranch dat time.”
“Yes, and what a dandy outing we did have, every one of us,” declared Randy.
Soon the Rovers were aboard the train bound westward. As before, they had a double section and proceeded to make themselves as much at home as possible.
As the hours went by Tom Rover gave the boys some of the particulars regarding his interview with the mine’s stockholders.
“There is a fellow at the mine named Garrish—Peter Garrish—who is now in charge. He’s a promoter from Canada and an unusually slick individual. From what I can make out, Garrish is going to do his best to squeeze us out and put himself and his friends in complete possession of the Rolling Thunder mine.”
“But you say you have your representative there—this old miner named Lew Billings,” said Jack.