At length the miners began to turn their attention toward gold seeking, the real object that had caused them to risk life in journeying thus far beyond the confines of civilization. As for Buffalo Bill and Tom Sun, they cared little for gold, and were thorough plainsmen, spending their time in scouting and hunting for their respective camps.
But Lone Dick had caught the fever of avariciousness and was preparing to dig his way to fortune, if he had to go clear through to China. Separated only by a score of miles from each other, the different members of the gold seekers’ camps became most friendly, and many were the young miners who loved to ride over to the Ramsey stronghold and sun themselves in the bright glances of Ruth Ramsey’s eyes, for, of the half a dozen girls in her party, she was decidedly the belle.
Thus the days and weeks glided by. With the exception of a skirmish now and then, the Indians had not disturbed the two camps, and daily the miners worked away for gold, while Tom Sun and Buffalo Bill scouted and hunted through the hills and valleys.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE WHITE AND RED CHIEFS.
Let us go back now to the point where that singular man, Red Hand, so nearly met death at the hands of the stranger. When Red Hand walked away from the girl and her father, there was a silence of several minutes; then the old man said:
“Pearl, you must not wander thus far from the retreat, in future, for my scouts bring me news of an invasion into our territory.”
“Are soldiers coming into the hills, father?”
“Soldiers or citizens, they are all the same to me, and I am determined to make these hills too hot to hold them. The man who has just left us doubtless belongs to one of these invading bands.”