“Yep, Red Ruin. There’s a mile or so at the lower end unstaked, and if there ain’t gold there, my name ain’t what it is. Dave staked 250 feet yesterday, and he’s sure nuts on gold.”
Dan nodded.
“You hike there, Jim, afore it goes to someone else.”
“Ain’t a healthy sort of name—Red Ruin,” said Jim with a laugh.
“Names don’t count.”
Jim was finally persuaded to try his luck there. He left the party, followed by their best wishes for success, and made for the camp up the hill. 132 He found Angela in a fit of revolt. She had done nothing since he left that morning. Dirty pans and dishes littered the ground and blankets were lying in heaps all round.
“Angela!”
She looked at him.
“You ain’t bin hustling overmuch.”
She flared up in an instant.