Both Clymer and Plunkett were subdued, and they obeyed the command.
Then Prawle, keeping his eye on them until out of close range, drove on.
CHAPTER X.
GIDEON PRAWLE AND HIS ASSOCIATES TAKE POSSESSION OF THE MINE.
“Now, boys,” said Gideon Prawle, after the party had reached Trinity and returned the rig to the stable where it belonged, “I’ve been considering your proposal that we make arrangements to go by water to the mine—which is now ours past all doubt—camp there, and with suitable tools start in to dig out a carload or two of copper, in order to show what the yield of the mine looks like.”
“I hope you’ve looked at it in a favorable light, Mr. Prawle,” said Jack Howard, eagerly. “Charlie and I have talked the matter over, and Meyer has also had his little say, and it is agreed between us that we’d like nothing better than a four or six weeks’ whack at the copper deposit, which seems to promise such handsome results.”
“Well, I don’t know as I have any special objections to falling in with your idea,” replied the big prospector, heartily. “The experiment won’t cost such a lot of money, and as the copper is right in sight on the ground level, why, so long as you are aching for a bit of hard work to limber up your muscles, and are satisfied to rough it and take things as they come, you can consider the matter settled, as far as I am concerned.”
“Hurrah!” shouted Charlie, throwing his cap in the air.
“Shimmany cribs! I like me dot,” chipped in Meyer. “I vould sooner monkey mit dot gobber mines den I vould gone back to Sackville und vork apoud der drug shops.”
“Then the sooner we get down to business the better, I think,” said Jack, in his breezy way. “Of course you will make all the preparations, Mr. Prawle, as you are well acquainted with such matters. We shall want a flat boat, I should think, to float our cargo of copper to this town, and afterward reship it east to market. We ought to be able to get a good bit of ore out of the mine before Charlie has to return home.”