"I thought you wanted to come here," responded Zeke solemnly.
"We wanted to find the claim," retorted Fred.
"Well, you have found it, haven't you?" inquired Zeke as most of the party laughed loudly.
"We have found what you say is the claim," acknowledged Fred, "but—"
"We have found what is the claim," said Mr. Moultrie quietly. "Now, I appreciate the zeal of the Go Ahead Boys and I don't intend to forget it. This claim may be worth a hundred million dollars and it may not be worth one red cent. I'm going to give one hundred shares, if a company is organized and we put out the stock, to every one of the Go Ahead Boys."
"How much does Zeke get?" laughed Grant.
"He doesn't get anything," said Mr. Moultrie, "unless we develop a mine here and that means a lot of work and a long wait. Then, if the prospect looks good, we may organize a development company, and if the development shows up well, then we'll organize a mining company. But no one knows now whether he's rich man, poor man, beggar man or thief until all that has been done."