“Your questions are rather pointed, Tom, and such as I deem too pointed you will permit me to decline answering.”
“Sartinly; you needn’t answer any, if they don’t suit you.”
“I am aware of that, Tom; therefore, I am not hunting for gold for the simple reason that I don’t need it. There is considerable of the precious metal about here, but it can only be obtained by hard labor, and when I am at home I am in comfortable circumstances. Is that satisfactory, Tom?”
“Yas. Wal, I’m poor, and so are all the chaps that be with me, and we think we see a chance to better ourselves.”
“So you do; go ahead and you will do well enough.”
“You’ve been here several months?”
“Yes; during most of the season.”
“And hain’t huntin’ arter gold?”
“Not at all.”
“See yer,” suddenly exclaimed Black Tom, “have you seen any thing of that striped and speckled critter that chaws up red-skins whole?”