Collie glanced at Saunders, who had said nothing. "Got anything to offer on the subject, Silent?" he asked.
"Nope. I take mine out in thinkin'."
"You're going to have a chance to do a whole lot more of it before long," said Collie; and he said it with a suggestiveness that did not escape the taciturn foreman, Brand Williams.
CHAPTER XXI
BORROWED PLUMES
"He speaks of a pretty round sum," said Walter Stone, returning the letter that Collie had asked him to read. "I don't know but that the land you speak of is a good investment. You were thinking of raising stock—horses?"
"Yes, sir. The Oro people are making good at it. The land north of you is good grazing-land and good water. Of course, I got to wait for a while. Red says in the letter that my share of the claim so far is five thousand. That wouldn't go far on that piece of land, but I've saved some, too."
"You might make a payment to hold the land," said Stone.