"Now, there is something else," said the Superintendent, and his voice grew deep and solemn. "Can you spare me your man?"
"No, sir!" said the Kid, promptly.
"Not much!" echoed Perault, and in this feeling all emphatically agreed.
"Do you know where we can get such a man?" said the Superintendent, "such a prospector?"
There was no answer. "I do not either. Now, what are you going to do?"
Then Sinclair spoke up.
"Do you mean, Doctor, to remove Mr. Macgregor from us? That would seem to be very hard upon this field."
"Well, perhaps not; but can you spare him for six months, at least?"
For some minutes no one made reply. Then Ike spoke.
"Well, I surmise we got a good deal from our Prospector. In fact, what we aint got from him don't count much. And I rather opine that we can't be mean about this. It's a little like pullin' hair, but I reckon we'd better give him up."