Jack looked quickly in Watson’s direction. For an instant their eyes met and the answering glance told that in Ulster County was still another spring where, in durance vile, was being served what seemed an unjust term.
After a long silence, Watson shook himself like a great dog and turning to Jack said,—“Young man, I reckon you think I’ve come just in compliment to your irrigation plant, but you’re mighty mistaken if you do. They’ve made a big strike of gold down in the Llano District. I’ve always believed there was gold there, for the formation is similar to that of the well-known mining camps in Colorado. Some years ago in panning the gravel in the streams and gullies I found colors of gold. The granite in that section has been crumbling away for ages, the debris covering the formation. Report is, that in the side of the gully at the foot of Mt. Fisher, a narrow seam of quartz not more than an inch wide that shows gold and assays eighty dollars to the ton, has been discovered.”
“The very thought of exploiting another vein makes me sick,” said Jack.
“But,” replied Watson, “already a number of loads of high-grade selected ore have been taken from the surface trenches and sent on to the Colorado smelters. The mine is being rapidly developed, and assays are running up into the thousands. Are you going to let a chance like that go by?”
“I want nothing to do with it,” Jack insisted.
“Further report says,” continued Watson, “that the strike in the Mt. Fisher Mine is of such a remarkable character, both in richness and extent of the veins, as to prove beyond a doubt that this belt is as rich in ore as any in Colorado.”
Jack remained stolidly indifferent and, really annoyed, Watson said hotly,—“Reckon you can leave your damned irrigation plant long enough to ride over there along o’ me in the morning?”
“I’ll go with pleasure—would really enjoy the ride with you. When do you propose to start?”
“Long afore daylight.”
Nights are always cool enough to sleep under a cover in Texas and the morning that Watson and Jack started for the mining camp, they found it necessary to wrap themselves in their blankets.