"It stands to reason the pay runs between where I first found it and where we've struck it now. That alone means a tidy stake for each of us. Say, boys, if you were to cover all that distance with twenty-dollar gold pieces six feet wide, and packed edge to edge, I wouldn't take them for our interest in that bit of ground. I see a fine big ranch in Manitoba for my share; ay, and hired help to run it. The only thing that sticks in my gullet is that fifty per cent. to the Company."
"Well, we can't kick," I said; "we'd never have got the lay if they'd had a hunch. My! won't they be sore?"
Sure enough, in a few days the news leaked out, and the Manager came post-haste.
"Hear you've struck it rich, boys."
"So rich that I guess we'll have to pack down gravel from the benches to mix in before we can sluice it," said the Prodigal.
"You don't say. Well, I'll have to have a man on the ground to look after our interests."
"All right. It means a good thing for you."
"Yes, but it would have meant a better if we had worked it ourselves. However, you boys deserve your luck. Hello, the devil——"
He turned round and saw the Halfbreed. He gave a long whistle and went away, looking pensive.