The shadow left the face of the Little Giant, and his eyes glistened as Will produced the precious map, spreading it before him. After examining it carefully, he said:
"Ef you fight off many thousand Sioux, run through fifty or a hundred mountain blizzards, starve a dozen times, freeze twenty times an' stick to it three or four years you'll git that thar gold."
Then the Little Giant sighed, and his face clouded again—it had perhaps been years since his face had clouded twice in one day.
"You fellers are in great luck. I wish you well."
"We wish ourselves well," said Boyd, watching him closely.
A sudden thought seemed to occur to the Little Giant and his face brightened greatly.
"Do you two fellers want a hired man?" he asked.
"What kind of a hired man?" said Boyd.
"A likely feller, not very tall, but strong an' with a willin' heart, handy with spade an' shovel, understandin' hosses an' mules, an' able to whistle fur you gay an' lively tunes in the evenin', when you're all tired out from the day's work in the richest mine in the world."
"No, we don't want any hired man."