Lanky was watching his father closely, anticipating the hearing of important news.
"I reckon now, Dad," he finally broke out, "by the way you're smiling, the thing's come out about as you wished. Did they select you instead of Mr. Ambrose Gilman to be president of the bank when Mr. Carberry retires next month?"
"So this letter informs me, son," replied the gentleman. "I left my address at the bank, as a matter of course, for I'd heard rumors you know, that either Gilman or I were in line for the place. Thank you a dozen times, Minnie, and you too, Lige, for getting me the news with the least possible delay."
Before attempting to transport all that gold to the place where it could be loaded on the ponies, it was decided a reconnaissance should be made.
Accordingly, Jerry, Zander Forbes and Lige Smith set off to scour the country and learn if indeed their late enemies had passed down the canyon and dropped out of the search for the gold in disgust.
This was found to be the case, as the three experienced punchers were clever hands at discovering and reading signs that those less knowing in woodcraft might have passed heedlessly by.
One piece of good luck fell their way. In some fashion—they never knew how—two of the pack ponies belonging to the Nash Yesson outfit were left behind. Possibly they had wandered away. At any rate, they were found close to the corral. Some intuition apparently had caused them, once loose, to go to the place where so many of their species were gathered.
The addition of this pair made the problem of getting that heavy weight of gold nuggets to faraway Rockspur Ranch a less knotty one.
It was no easy task to carry such burdens on their backs from the outlet of the five-fingered cave to the deserted mining camp. By resting at frequent intervals on the way amidst the wreckage caused by the slide, they managed the work successfully.
Three days afterwards they started forth, descended the canyon, and after putting the foothills behind, commenced the long ride toward home.