"All right," announced Shorty, lowering his gun and grinning at the Chinaman with lips that twitched. "We'll toddle on, Ole Timer. Sorry can't have yer company."
"You may need it," tranquilly replied Prince Chu, commencing deftly to pick up his scattered things. "I shall not be far behind."
The gunman laughed unpleasantly. "I guess yuh'll keep outa gun range," he retorted, backing away a few steps.
"Which way?" inquired Shorty, loaded with the appointed articles. They contemptuously turned their attention from their late victim, now that they had rendered him harmless, they thought, and disabled by lack of water.
"Wait uh minute," the Squint interjected. "Let's see the rock. I wanna look at it close."
Shorty dug the great black opal from an inner pocket and was about to hand it to the other, when he halted suspiciously.
"Yuh ain't startin' nothin', Squint, are yuh?" he inquired.
"Com' on, yuh boob," protested the other. "How could I? We're t'gether, ain't we? Ain't there enough in it fer both uv us, anyhow? I jus' wanna see how the thing feels. Gee, she's some rock!" he exulted, as Shorty released the great jewel unwillingly. He allowed his attention to be consumed by the fascinating opal for a moment, and then he slipped the stone into an inner vest pocket.
"Hey, you! Wot're yuh comin' on me?" challenged the ragged one.
"Yer pockets're apt t' have holes in 'em, Shorty——"