“I got a pint measure that’ll do as well,” Pop replied shortly. “Anyhow, good luck to you.”
Teddy glanced over at Silent. The puncher was gazing straight ahead, as though he heard nothing of what was going on around him.
“What are you planning to do?” Teddy asked.
“Huh? Who, me?” Silent appeared startled. “Oh, you mean if I find gold?” He thought for a moment. “I tell you, boys,” he said finally. “There’s other things besides money in this here world. An’ there’s other things besides gold in a mining camp.” He touched his gun with his hand, then looked at the mules. “Get along there, you!”
CHAPTER XIV
Some Shooting
By eleven o’clock the Manley boys and their companions were twenty miles from the X Bar X, and on the first leg of their journey to Nugget Camp. The day was cool, and the riding was pleasant, even considering the slow pace they had to take on account of the mules. Silent himself seemed more cheerful and talked freely of mining conditions and what they might hope to find at the gold camp.
“Course, it won’t be like a new field. It’s been a mining camp before this, ain’t it?”
“Yes, it has,” Teddy answered. “But those who worked it barely made a living wage. Now that this has happened—”
“It’ll start the fireworks,” Nick drawled. “I reckon we’ll see Gus and the others. Hope so. Gus owes me three bucks.”
“Three bucks will be like nothing to you, once you start picking nuggets off the ground,” Roy laughed. “I understand they charge five dollars for a can of beans.”